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 air quality in Southern California. Yet the majority of our community is unaware of this fact or of the resources this bill made available. Our Spring 2025 cohort led Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), in which they conducted a total of 51 interviews and 185 surveys, gaining valuable insight of what the existing thoughts and feelings our community has on the topic of air quality in the ECV. Our Summer 2025 cohort analyzed the YPAR findings and developed this zine, a PSA video, and a social media campaign to increase awareness on the issue. 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.