Eastern Coachella Valley
Coachella Unincorporated launched in 2011 as the first and only youth media program in the Eastern Coachella Valley. For much of the time, the program worked remotely, supporting youth at schools, community centers, libraries and coffee shops in the unincorporated communities of Thermal, Mecca, Oasis and North Shore.
In the summer of 2018, Youth Leadership Institute expanded into Southern California absorbing the Coachella Unincorporated program as well as its newest program, called ¡Que Madre! Media, a storytelling program for young women focused on mental health.
In 2019, yli ECV secured an office in Coachella, creating more opportunities to support youth in the City of Coachella.
Current Programs
Timeline of Wins in Eastern Coachella Valley
ECV Youth Media Partners with KQED’s The California Report
¡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.