There were smiles all around as TruEvolution founder and CEO Gabriel Maldonado proudly cut the ribbon to officially open the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, CA. surrounded by staff and supporters on Friday, September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
There were smiles all around as TruEvolution founder and CEO Gabriel Maldonado proudly cut the ribbon to officially open the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, CA. surrounded by staff and supporters on Friday, September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)

Overview: On Friday, September 3, the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic celebrated its grand opening in Riverside, marking a significant expansion of healthcare access for the Inland Empire’s LGBTQ+ community. Founded by Gabriel Maldonado under the nonprofit TruEvolution, the new facility offers primary, behavioral, and specialty care. The outdoor event brought together local supporters and politicians to honor this milestone in the organization’s twenty-year mission toward health equity.

S. E. Williams

Members of the Inland Empire community—both gay and straight—turned out in great numbers on Friday evening, September 3rd,  to celebrate the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside. 

It was not only a celebration of the importance of this facility for members of the region’s LGBTQ+ community, it represented the achievement of a meaningful milestone for TruEvolution, its members, supporters and supportive local politicians  who worked with determination, diligence and commitment to help make the clinic a reality.  

The opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic marked a major expansion of access to quality healthcare for LGBTQ+  residents across the Inland Empire. 

Maldonado founded the organization TruEvolution nearly 20 years ago. Over the years since its founding Maldonado has remained focused on expanding the impact of the organization in service to the LGBTQ+ community. During those 20 years, he has remained steadfast in his determination to address health equity and issues related to social justice. 

What began as a vision and evolved to a grassroots movement has come of age as a full-fledged operation providing 360 services to those in need. These services include housing development, workforce strategies and of course, public health. The TruHealth & Wellness Clinic expands the organization’s ability to provide health related services. 

The clinic will not only  provide primary care, behavioral health, specialty care, and wellness services; it will also maintain a laser-focus on reaching those who face the greatest barriers to care.

The outdoor, grand opening celebration featured food from Gram’s BBQ, Luigi’s Tacos, and The Beignet Spot. For attendees, it offered a wonderful evening for community connection as TruEvolution staff and supporters invited guests to experience the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic while also learning more about the services it is bringing to the inland region. 

The event coordinators successfully delivered a celebratory evening filled with information, joy and community. Black Voice News was there to capture the moment.

Gabriel Maldonado, founder and CEO of TruEvolution addressed the audience at the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, CA. on Friday, September 3, 2026.  Maldonao founded  TruEvolution nearly 20 years ago. His mission has remained focused on expanding the impact of the organization in service to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the areas of health equity and social justice. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
A large group of attendees are focused on comments from a number of dignitaries who spoke during the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, CA. on Friday, September 3, 2026. Many local dignitaries are seated in the front row. Beginning left to right: Board Chair, Dr. Brandon Brown, PhD.; Rachel Gonzaga, representing CA Senator Sabrina Cervantes, (further to the right) Gabriel Maldonado, and to the far right (four seats from the end) Riverside County First District Supervisor Jose Medina. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
Rachel Gonzaga, District Director for CA Senator Sabrina Cervantes, spoke on behalf of the Senator who was unable to attend. She expressed the Senator’s ongoing support of the efforts and achievements of TruEvolution,  and congratulated the organization on its milestone accomplishment.  (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
A number of  leaders joined the chorus of those celebrating the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, CA., on Friday, September 3, 2026.  Included among the dignitaries who spoke were (Upper Left) Marguerite Wheller-Lara, Chief Operating Officer, TruEvolution; (Upper Right) District 1 Riverside County Board Supervisor Jose Medina: (Lower Left) Dr. Brandon Brown, PhD, Chair of Executive Committee, TruEvolution and Professor, UCR School of Medicine; and (Lower Right) Ariel Savage, TruEvolution Director of Strategy & Advancement. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
Gabriel Maldonado, founder and CEO of TruEvolution  (L), welcomes guests inside the new TruHealth & Wellness Clinic  during the facility’s Grand Opening Celebration on Friday, September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
While some attendees toured inside the new TruHealth & Wellness Clinic facility, others gathered in community, enjoying the outdoor celebration during the clinic’s Grand Opening in Riverside on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
Dj Darjar sets the mood with music during the outdoor celebration of the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
Event attendees pursue the menu as they consider delicious options during the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
The Beignet Spot staff posed for a portrait during the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic Grand Opening celebration in Riverside, on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
A TruHealth & Wellness Clinic Grand Opening attendee, pauses to consider libation options as presented by volunteer wine connoisseurs who served guests during the outdoor celebration on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)
(L) Riverside County District 1 Board Supervisor Jose Median: Dr. Brandon Brown, PhD, Chair of Executive Committee, TruEvolution and Professor, UCR School of Medicine; Dawn Patillo Exum, TruEvolution Board of Directors, Member-at-Large, Executive Director of the West, State Government Affairs and Policy and Gabriel Maldonado, founder and CEO, TruEvolution, pose for a portrait. Exum holds a Certificate of Recognition presented to TruEvolution by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors during the Grand Opening of the TruHealth & Wellness Clinic in Riverside, on September 3, 2026. (Photo by Hunter Williams, BVN)

Stephanie Williams is executive editor of the IE Voice and Black Voice News. A longtime champion for civil rights and social justice in all its forms, she is also an advocate for government transparency and committed to ferreting out and exposing government corruption. Over the years Stephanie has reported for other publications in the inland region and Los Angeles and received awards from the California News Publishers Association for her investigative reporting and Ethnic Media Services for her weekly column, Keeping it Real. She also served as a Health Journalism Fellow with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. Contact Stephanie with tips, comments. or concerns at myopinion@ievoice.com.