September is a month of transition. The long days of summer begin to soften into autumn, and our calendars turn toward reflection and renewal. It is also the time when Hispanic Heritage Month begins, offering an opportunity to celebrate the rich traditions, histories, and contributions of Hispanic and Latin communities across the United States.

 

For us as Black gay men, there is something deeply powerful about pausing to honor the heritage of another community. Our own history is filled with resilience, creativity, and survival in the face of exclusion. When we look closely at Hispanic Heritage Month, we find echoes of our own journey. We see the familiar themes of migration, struggle, resistance, and joy that shape life on the margins.

 

Labor rights movements are a striking example. Many of us know the names of leaders like César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, who organized farmworkers to demand fair wages and safe working conditions. What is less often told is how their fight connected with and was supported by Black activists who were also pushing for economic justice. These shared struggles remind us that liberation has never been a solo project. It has always been a chorus of voices rising together.

 

There are other threads too. Both Black and Latin communities have faced systemic racism, barriers to education, discriminatory housing policies, and health disparities. Yet in the face of these obstacles, both communities have built vibrant cultures rooted in music, art, spirituality, and storytelling. Think of the rhythms of salsa and jazz, the poetry of Langston Hughes and Pablo Neruda, the vibrant murals that tell the stories of neighborhoods from Los Angeles to Harlem. These are testaments to the ways our people have turned struggle into beauty.

 

For those of us living here in the desert, solidarity is not an abstract idea. It is a living practice. Our lives intersect daily with Hispanic and Latin friends, coworkers, neighbors, and chosen family. When we show up for each other, whether in activism, art, or celebration, we are weaving a stronger fabric of belonging.

 

Heritage months are not only about looking back. They are also about asking how we carry these legacies forward. How do we honor our own ancestors while also standing alongside others who share the weight of being marginalized? How do we celebrate difference while recognizing that our struggles for justice, visibility, and dignity are deeply intertwined?

 

This September, as Hispanic Heritage Month begins, I invite you to lean into that spirit of connection. Attend a cultural event, learn a story you did not know, or simply reach out to someone whose heritage is different from your own and share in the exchange. By honoring the heritage of others, we also expand the circle of our own humanity.

 

Our stories may begin in different places, but they move toward the same horizon: a future where all of us are seen, valued, and free.

Brothers of the Desert is excited to continue our monthly discussion group called Barbershop: A Black Gay Men’s Space for Honest Talk About Wellness, now in our second year!

 

Building upon the tradition of barbershops in Black communities, the discussion group is designed to encourage open and honest conversation. The meetings are welcoming a spectrum of Black men, gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary. The wellness topics discussed are diverse, ranging from dating and intimacy, aging considerations, how we get and offer support, and exploring our identities as Black men.

 

The group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:30 PM. There is no charge to attend. We begin with a meet and greet with dinner that begins at 5:30PM and the discussion group starts at 6PM. The group is facilitated by Stuart Huggins and Will Dean.

 

To register to attend the meetings email: willdean.boardmember@brothersofthedesert.org

For questions email Tim Vincent at president@brothersofthedesert.org

 

Brothers of the Desert members meet monthly to discuss recent and upcoming events, share updates on the organization, celebrate our accomplishments, and have an opportunity to connect with new and existing members.

 

Join us for our Monthly Members & Allies Lunch!

Both members and allies are welcome to attend (Cash and Carry).

Email: DavidMaurice.Jones@gmail.com

RSVP | Davidmaurice.jones@gmail.com before September 12, 2025

 

My name is Eric James Harris. My DJ name and official business name is NghtPhnx. Night can be a time of freedom and a phoenix can rise out of ashes and be reborn anew; that positive aspect of darkness was my inspiration for the name. I am assisted by my partner, Gary Gardner, who also serves as a city council member in Desert Hot Springs. I use he/they pronouns.

 

 

“NghtPhnx uses music, light, and sound to create a genre-bending style that goes beyond categories. NghtPhnx will bring the party and get the crowd turned up or create a chill vibe for that perfect backdrop to life's meaningful events.”

 

 

NghtPhnx provides DJ services for businesses, private functions, and outdoor events. NghtPhnx will go anywhere where personally curated music and quality sound is desired. I offer special rates for non-profit and charitable organizations and provide excellent services that are budget friendly. I also produce my own original music, mash-ups, and remixes.

 

One of the special things I offer is that I take time to work together with the client on exactly what kind of musical experience they want for their event. I am an “open format” DJ, so we won’t be limited to just one genre of music, or something that only reflects my personal taste. I love new hits by artists like Doechii, Dua Lipa and Bad Bunny, and I love to dance to house and techno music. I can also get people moving with disco, country swing, salsa, Tejano or Art Leboe style oldies. I’ve done private events that range from line-dance extravaganzas to parties with a world music, Latin and regional Mexican sound profile. While I may not be able to play every individual song request, I take it as my responsibility to learn all that I can about the music styles my clients want and the people I am playing for. My goal is to know my craft and earn enough trust so that the customer knows I will take them where they want to go sonically

 

 

NghtPhnx has served Riverside and the Coachella Valley for over three years. NghtPhnx will also travel, as needed, to venues outside of the area.

 

 

NghtPhnx has supported the community by providing services for private events in the non-profit and political space such as campaign events for Lisa Middleton at Azure Palms in Desert Hot Springs. NghtPhnx has served the Elizabethan Club of Order of the Eastern Stars in Riverside, California, Democratic Women of the Desert and Young Women’s Empowerment Club in Coachella Valley and was honored to play at the wedding celebration for council member Grace Garner. I am always eager to support community members and organizations such as these with our services.

 

 

I could not have planned the path that lead to the start of NghtPhnx if I tried but I am fortunate that something good came out of something that can be perceived as bad. I have an eclectic music taste I acquired from my parents and grew up loving Prince’s amazing talent in my own right. DJing became a dream of mine during the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Black and queer DJs of that era could create a transcendent atmosphere in environments where the LGBTQ+ community could dance and be ourselves. More recently, during both lockdown due to COVID and the rapid advance of my fathers dementia, I was able to get equipment and hone my skills. Thanks to friend and mentor DJ Hapa Perdue of The DJ Coach, I met fantastic and experienced DJs from around the world which supercharged my learning and ability to create my own unique style. My father has since passed and social life has returned to a kind of new normal. I am able to heal my grief by following my dreams and I feel that my dad, and my late mother, would be proud to see that I am manifesting the creative path I always wanted.

 

 

Palm Springs and the neighboring area are such a destination for travelers and members of our own community, and I would be excited to DJ at one of the many wonderful clubs, restaurants, spas and outdoor venues here. That kind of referral would offer me the opportunity to take my skills to a whole new level and tailor musical soundscapes that suit both my own and the business owners tastes so that guests can have fun and enjoy themselves.

 

 

Honestly, I experience my lifelong dream every time I book a new gig. I always have a smile on my face when I DJ because I get to share music with others. I want to grow my business, keep improving and learning new skills and provide service for as long as I am able to in the Coachella Valley and Southern California area. The added fun comes from listening to old and new music of all kinds and making my own mark as well. I will always remain humble and grateful to be of service doing something I really love for the clients who are or will become dear friends and their families here in our desert community.

 

 

Web: www.nghtphnx.com

Instagram: @djnghtphnx

Mixcloud: NghtPhnx

Spotify: NghtPhnx

Ring in the New Year with style, elegance, and purpose! Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and giving at Brothers of the Desert New Year’s Eve Gala and Fundraiser.

Theme: Carnival

Date: December 31, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM – 1:00 AM
Location: Riviera Resort and Spa
Attire: Carnival Festive

Featuring: music, dancing, dinner, wine, midnight champagne toast, and more!

 

This unforgettable evening will raise critical funds for our Scholarship Fund and other educational programs, supporting the next generation of leaders, and changemakers in the Coachella Valley. We look forward to welcoming you to a night of joy, laughter, and celebration. Let's bid farewell to the old and welcome the new surrounded by our family, friends, allies and community.

 

Tickets go on sale on September 15, 2025. For more information, please visit www.brothersofthedesert.org.    

Summer has a way of carrying us along in its bright, buzzing energy. Vacations, gatherings, long days filled with sunshine and socializing. For many of us, the pace is fast, and the calendar feels full. Then September arrives. The days shorten just a little, the desert heat begins to shift, and we are invited to slow down.

 

This transition is the perfect moment for a mental health check-in. After the highs of summer, our bodies and minds often crave grounding. We may not notice it at first, but there can be a quiet fatigue that lingers after all the activity. The truth is, constant motion, even when it is joyful, takes a toll. Slowing down is not weakness, it is wisdom.

 

Checking in with ourselves can be simple. It starts by asking a few honest questions: How am I feeling, really? Am I carrying stress or sadness that I have been pushing aside? Am I getting the rest and nourishment I need? These questions do not require judgment, only curiosity. They open the door to giving ourselves the same care we so often give to others.

For Black gay men, this practice feels especially important. We are often navigating multiple layers of expectation, performance, and pressure in both our professional and personal lives. The summer season can be filled with joy, but it can also be a time when we mask exhaustion or loneliness behind smiles and celebration. Tending to mental health means acknowledging the full truth of our experiences.

 

Grounding practices can help. That might look like starting the morning with a few deep breaths, journaling your thoughts before bed, or taking a walk in nature and letting the rhythm of your steps calm your mind. It could be scheduling time with a therapist or calling a trusted friend to share what’s really on your heart. It could also mean giving yourself permission to rest without guilt.

 

Community plays a role too. One of the gifts of being part of Brothers of the Desert is knowing that we do not have to carry everything alone. When we gather, whether for a social event, a workshop, or a simple meal, we create spaces where honesty is welcome and support is real. That kind of connection is medicine for the soul.

 

So as September unfolds, I invite you to give yourself the gift of a mental health check-in. Let the shift in season be a reminder to pause, breathe, and ground yourself. Celebrate the highs of summer, but also honor your need for balance. Your wellbeing matters. Your rest matters. And when you care for yourself, you strengthen the community around you too.

 

Start your day with three slow, intentional breaths before checking your phone.

Take a weekly “unplugged hour” with no screens, just rest, reading, or journaling.

Set aside one evening for quiet reflection, prayer, or meditation.

Move your body in ways that feel good, whether that is walking, dancing, or stretching.

Reach out to a Brother and check in. Connection is part of wellness.