Coachella Unincorporated equips young people with tools to uplift their stories and the stories of their communities. Coachella Unincorporated is the first and only youth media program based in the Eastern Coachella Valley. We are proud to call the Eastern Coachella Valley our home.
Young people in Coachella Unincorporated identify the root causes of systemic inequities in their communities and uplift their own stories to bring about positive change. We produce multimedia content regularly through print publications and online through our website and Facebook and Instagram accounts. We also partner with traditional media outlets to further amplify youth and community narratives across the state.
Environmental Justice Campaign
In 2018, Coachella Unincorporated joined the Alianza (formerly Building Healthy Communities) Environmental Justice campaign in an effort to help our community, the Eastern Coachella Valley, better understand that Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income. Our rural, unincorporated community should be centered in the development and implementation of environmental policies, laws and regulations. Our community knows what it needs and our community has solutions.
Estamos Aquí: A Community Documentary
A team of Coachella Uninc. reporters produced a mini documentary that explores key issues related to the Salton Sea and that uplifts the stories of local Eastern Coachella Valley residents who are taking action to advocate for their communities. The film won Best Documentary at the 2019 Latino Film Festival and was awarded the Youth Leadership Award from the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Summer Walking Audits
The Summer Walking Audits were launched in summer 2022 are part of Coachella Unincorporated’s continued efforts to document the ways environmental issues affect the Eastern Coachella Valley. These audits allow youth to take a closer look at infrastructure and offer their unique insights into how quality of life is impacted by the investment in or neglect of this key aspect of the community.
Air Quality: Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)
In 2017, California Assembly Bill No. 617 recognized the ECV as having some of the worst air quality in Southern California. Yet the majority of our community is unaware of this fact or of the resources this bill made available.
Coachella Uninc. launched an air quality project in January of 2025 to engage youth leadership in addressing the impact of poor air quality on the health of low-income and historically underserved residents in the ECV.
Our Spring 2025 cohort led Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), conducting a total of 51 interviews and 185 surveys with their peers, teachers, family members and beyond. This data will shape our future community workshops and outreach efforts to inform people on health risks, pollutants, and ways to mitigate the health risks of air pollution. Our goal is to develop data-driven recommendations for improving air quality, bringing awareness and influencing policies.
Our Summer 2025 cohort analyzed the YPAR findings and developed a ‘zine, entitled, Take a Breath for the Future. We hope this zine will further inform readers on the air quality in the ECV, and inspire them to continue the conversation, demand resources and advocate to mitigate this public health issue. Read the zine below in both English and Spanish.
They also developed these PSA videos and a social media campaign to increase awareness on the issue.
Interested in Participating?
Coachella Unincorporated meets in person or virtually in the ECV during the Fall and Spring. We welcome all young people ages 15-25, who live in the ECV. To join please contact Cecilia Lemus at [email protected] or send us a message at 207-656-5899.
Resources in the ECV
