Coachella Unincorporated equips young people 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, led by Bryan Mendez and Olivia Rodriguez, 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)
This YPAR project was launched in January of 2025 with a cohort of 15 youth from the Eastern Coachella Valley. This project engages youth leadership to address and mitigate the impact of poor air quality on the health of low-income and historically underserved residents in the Eastern Coachella Valley. Youth have spearheaded the YPAR process by collecting surveys and conducting qualitative interviews with the community including 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.
Interested in Participating?
Coachella Unincorporated meets in person, and welcomes all young people ages 15-25 in the Eastern Coachella Valley. To join, please fill out this form or contact Cecilia Lemus at Clemus@yli.org.
