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 ECV 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 2023 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.
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 Katy Torres at [email protected].
