The Adel community will hold a family-friendly event centered around mental health today.

A Summer Jam is being put on by the Caelen Peterson Memorial Scholarship Foundation. President Amber Rowley shares that Peterson was a teenager from Adel that took his own life in 2023 after being bullied. She describes that she’s been working closely with Peterson’s family to initiate a scholarship fund on February 8th, 2024, which was the one-year anniversary of his death. Rowley reveals that the event is providing a voice to erase the stigma surrounding mental health.

“Putting out there people who are professionals that can direct people to resources that they need them. We’re not only talking about mental health and making it okay to talk about mental health, but we’re also addressing the crisis of the shortage of providers by helping people get through school to become those mental health providers that are so needed in the community right now.”

Rowley explains that mental health providers will be on site to talk with any individuals who may need to. She notes the event will include food trucks, kids activities, a car show, a pie auction, a street dance, and more. Rowley adds that Peterson’s parents will be at the event to discuss his legacy as well as award a $5,000 scholarship to a 2026 graduating senior from Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High School, as that is when Peterson would’ve finished.

Rowley says the Summer Jam is taking place at the Bandshell and Pavillon on the corner of 10th Street and Main Street today in Adel from noon to 10pm.