The Community Translational Research Institute (CTRI) demonstrated its continued commitment to community-centered innovation and prevention-focused engagement through its participation in the Back-to-School Resource Fair held on July 26, 2025, at Jurupa Valley High School. The event provided families with essential resources including free backpacks, food, and haircuts and offered early access accommodations for students with special needs.
Designed specifically for Jurupa Unified School District students, the fair created an accessible entry point for community organizations to connect directly with families while supporting educational readiness and overall well-being.
CTRI Innovation in Action: The Vital Space AI Phone Booth
As part of its engagement strategy, CTRI supported the activation of The Vital Space AI Phone Booth, an interactive initiative designed to advance the development of an AI-powered community health worker assistant while amplifying community voice in the design of future health technologies.
Participants were invited to register and complete a brief five-minute conversation with the AI system, contributing insights intended to inform the evolution of digitally supported community
To encourage participation and create an engaging experience, attendees who interacted with the system were automatically entered into a raffle for a bicycle, reinforcing the event’s welcoming and family-oriented atmosphere.
The activation emphasized that “your voice matters,” inviting community members to share what is most important to them and their families—an approach consistent with CTRI’s longstanding philosophy of designing systems with communities rather than for them.
Strengthening Partnerships and Community Trust
The event brought together multiple community-serving organizations, reinforcing a shared regional commitment to supporting youth and families ahead of the academic year. CTRI’s participation highlighted its function not only as a research and training institute but also as a trusted community partner actively contributing to local resource ecosystems.
Through initiatives such as the Vital Space activation, CTRI continues to:
Elevate community voice in program design
Pilot forward-looking service models
Expand prevention infrastructure
Build pathways between technology and community care