Eastern Coachella Valley
The Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) is a rural, unincorporated area in Southern California with a thriving community, which includes indigenous folks, Purépecha community, immigrant communities, and the queer community. Our programs support young people to identify the root causes of systemic issues in their communities and to uplift their own stories to bring about positive change.
Coachella Unincorporated was the first youth media program based in the ECV, followed by ¡Que Madre! Media in 2018. More recently, we piloted our newest Youth Trusted Messenger program which trains and empowers young people to do outreach in the ECV communities surrounding various campaigns such as Extreme Heat, Mental Health Resources, and Air Quality Awareness. Our ECV office is also a member of the ECV Pride Planning Committee.
The ECV also provides a career pipeline for our youth participants by offering paid youth internships to help lead our programming. Our current Summer 2025 interns are Elissa Diane Castro and Vianey Holguin.
Current Programs
Past Programs
Timeline of Wins in Eastern Coachella Valley
Know the Signs PSA
The longer and closer proximity you are exposed to pollutants, the more at risk you are to developing a respiratory illness in your lifetime. Know the signs for potential respiratory … Continued
A Better World is Possible PSA
This public service announcement was created by ECV youth Ashley Vega with support of Migdalia Sanchez. The PSA was inspired by the testimonies and knowledge of our community members, neighbors, … Continued
Coachella City Council Presentation
yli ECV youth, Danna Garcia and Ashley Vega, along with program coordinator Cecilia Lemus, presented on the positive impacts from yli programs ¡Que Madre! and Coachella Unincorporated. This presentation also showcased their … Continued
Take a Breath for the Future
Introducing Take a Breath for the Future, a zine by Coachella Unincorporated. In 2017, California Assembly Bill No.617 recognized the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) as having some of the worst … Continued
Rooted in Hope: Small Wins & Collective Care for Community Healing
yli ECV youth Danna Garcia and Ashley Vega presented on the ¡Que Madre! Mental Health Art Gallery and Coachella Unincorporated’s air quality campaign. This presentation shared why it is important to … Continued
Healthy Desert, Healthy You Podcast
Healthy Desert, Healthy You (Podcast) – Program Coordinator, Cecilia Lemus, talks about the importance of youth programs, third spaces and youth lead work on air quality. Have a listen here!
The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit
The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit – yli ECV youth Danna Garcia presented at the youth panel titled Building Tomorrow: Youth in Action Today and Careers in Environmental Health.
What’s in the Air? Summer Data Walk
After months of research and data analysis by Coachella Unincorporated, ECV young people were invited to participate in an indoor “data walk” to review the Youth Participatory Action Research data … Continued
Mental Health Art Gallery
¡Que Madre! hosted a powerful youth-led art gallery centering healing, mental health, and resilience in the Eastern Coachella Valley.
Sana, Sana
¡Que Madre! youth launched their Spring 2025 zine where they developed content that centers youth voices and experiences, exploring the deep connections between mental health, cultural identity, and accessible spaces … Continued
The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit
yli ECV youth Daphne Ramirez presented at the Summit around Youth, Civic Engagement, and Environmental Action.
The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit
yli ECV youth Daphne Ramirez presented at the Summit around Youth, Civic Engagement, and Environmental Action. Click here to see photos from the day!
Summer Cooling Event
yli ECV hosted a cooling event for young people where they received information on our programs and also heat safety tips from the HeatReadyCA Campaign. The event had various activities … Continued
Summer Cooling Event
Coachella Unincorporated Summer Data Walk
Coachella Unincorporated Summer Data Walk – After weeks of research and data analysis, ECV young people were invited to participate in an indoor ‘data walk’ to review the Youth Participatory … Continued
Restorative Justice Practices Convening
yli ECV and youth attend the Restorative Justice Practices Convening in La Quinta, CA alongside other youth and partners from the Community Justice Campaign. Youth had the opportunity to participate … Continued
Health Equity Report Presented to CVUSD
As part of Alianza’s Community Justice Campaign, ¡Que Madre! Media staff and youth presented Health Equity Report findings and recommendations to the Coachella Valley Unified School District LCAP Hearing and … Continued
Film Screening + Discussion: Estamos Aqui (We Are Here)
Coachella Unincorporated former youth/now staff Olivia Rodriguez Mendez participated in a panel following the screening of Estamos Aquí (We Are Here) alongside Silvia Paz of Alianza Coachella Valley, moderated by Margarita Castaneda … Continued
Public Comment Workshop Series (May-June)
yli ECV hosted a series of public comment workshop series where they taught public speaking, civic engagement, and advocacy. This event was open to ECV youth to learn about different … Continued
Youth host a zine storytelling workshop at the Palm Springs Art Museum
Youth host a COVID-19 & youth mental health event in Coachella, CA
Youth journalists publish Walk with Us (Summer 2023) / Camine con Nosotrxs (Verano 2023)
Eastern Coachella Valley youth co-publish Childhood Asthma and the Salton Sea Zine in collaboration with UC Riverside School of Medicine Center for Health Disparities Research
ECV Youth Complete Infrastructure Assessment
Salton Sea podcast wins 3rd place from Society of Environmental Journalists
The Society of Environmental Journalists awards Senior Program Coordinator Olivia and youth leaders Rosa and Adriana THIRD PLACE for their Salton Sea podcast. The Society is well established, and gives … Continued
5th Year of Supporting ECV Pride Planning
Wellness Centers officially opened across all 4 high schools within Coachella Valley USD
ECV Youth Co-Publish Childhood Asthma and the Salton Sea Zine
Community Member Publishes Op Ed on Salton Sea
Community Member and advocate, Conchita Pozar, publishes an OpEd demanding action on the Salton Sea in The Press-Enterprise.
¡Que Madre! Publishes Coloring Book Zine
View and download the ‘zine here!
Youth publish a COVID-19 ‘zine
Youth publish and distribute a COVID-19 collaborative booklet that includes youth narratives, resources guide, and access to local information regarding COVID-19.
COVID-19 Task Force is created
We collaboratively decided to create a youth task force that would have direct access to decision makers as well as received multimedia workshops.
The kNOw and Coachella Uninc. participate in publishing Behind Our Masks
Behind Our Masks, a statewide publication, centers on the issues affecting young adults in California.
PPE & informational booklets delivered to over 1,000 people
PPE and informational booklets are delivered to over 1,000 people in our community.
ECV office helps plan ECV Pride
The ECV offices sits on the Planning Committee of ECV Pride for the third year in a row.
¡Que Madre! publishes My Community, Mental Health & Me
We’re proud to present the Spring 2020 digital magazine from ¡Que Madre! Media. In this issue, you’ll find incredible youth art, narratives and a mental health resource guide.
Youth write letter to CVUSD School Board Members
Youth write to CVUSD school board members demanding that they prioritize young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Youth publishes article on the Salton Sea in The Desert Sun
Olivia Rodriguez publishes an article on Salton Sea communities, which needed relief long before coronavirus hit, in The Desert Sun.
ECV youth participate in Grassroots Womxn Rising Committee
The Grassroots Womxn Rising convening hosted hundreds of resilient womxn of color – including yli youth! – involved with the California Endowment’s health equity campaign, “Building Healthy Communities” (BHC).
Estamos Aquí wins ‘Best Documentary’ at the Official Latino Film & Arts Festival
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.
Estamos Aquí wins Youth Leadership in Air Quality Award
Estamos Aquí: A Community Documentary, receives the Youth Leadership in Air Quality Award from the South Coast AQMD Clean Air Awards.
ECV Youth Media Partners with KQED’s The California Report
Coachella Unincorporated and ¡Que Madre! Media programs partnered with KQED’s The California Report to create, edit and co-host a show uplifting stories from the Eastern Coachella valley related to mental health, community, education and youth power.
¡Que Madre! Media Launches Mental Health Publication
¡Que Madre! Media Hosts First Ever Mental Health Resource Fair
¡Que Madre! Media Supports Semana de La Mujer
¡Que Madre! Media co-hosts Semana de la Mujer at Desert Mirage Highschool in Thermal, CA. The week-long event featured resources and workshops for young women on campus.
Coachella Uninc. Presents at Rural Justice Summit
Coachella Uninc. youth filmmakers present Estamos Aquí: A Community Documentary at the California Institute for Rural Studies’ Rural Justice Summit in Merced, CA.
yli Eastern Coachella Opens New Office In Coachella
YLI Eastern Coachella Valley opens new office in Coachella, CA. This office houses both Coachella Unincorporated and ¡Que Madre! Media.
Coachella Uninc. Premieres Estamos Aquí: A Community Documentary
A team of Coachella Unincorporated youth filmmakers premiered Estamos Aquí: A Community Documentary in Coachella, CA.
Youth Leadership Institute Acquires YouthWire
YLI welcomed YouthWire, a cutting edge statewide youth media program, into the organization on October 1, 2018.