COACHELLA, Calif. — Magdalena Bentancourt has lived in the United States for 35 years but this November is the first time she has ever been able to vote.

Bentancourt, a North Shore resident, said she was motivated to work toward obtaining her U.S. citizenship when fees for renewing her green card were becoming too expensive.

“I started noticing that the prices to renew my green card kept increasing and I also started to worry more about [the green card] maybe getting taken away from me,” Betancourt said in Spanish.

Aside from studying for the citizenship test, Bentancourt had two other concerns about applying for citizenship: how she would pay the $680 application and biometrics fee and how she would take the test in English.

According to local advocates, application fees and the English language requirement are two of the biggest barriers to citizenship for many people living in the rural, mostly farmworker community of the eastern Coachella Valley.

“A lot of the people applying are farmworkers living paycheck to paycheck, so  applying for citizenship is seen as a luxury,” said Luz Gallegos, community programs director at the TODEC Legal Center. “The first priorities are rent, their household and food for their kids.”

But many residents don’t know that help is available. Gallegos said the TODEC Legal Center offers help to residents who want to apply for citizenship or want to learn more about the application process. The community-based nonprofit has been organizing citizenship classes, sometimes up to three classes a week, since May.

This is where Betancourt found out she qualified for a fee waiver. Betancourt said many of her neighbors were not aware the waiver even existed.

“When I talk to people in my neighborhood about becoming citizens, they often tell me that they can’t afford all that money at once and would rather just pay to renew their green card,” Betancourt said.

“Most of our people are working all day and they don’t have time to go to school because their whole life is working,” Gallegos said. “We see this in the eastern Coachella Valley and across the region in farmworker communities.”

Karen Borja, associate director of Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC), said she also sees this issue with many community members who show up for ICUC’s citizenship clinics.

Borja said many people who have worked in the fields for decades never had to learn English before applying to become a U.S. citizen.

“If you’re doing the same kind of labor for 30 years and you’ve always done it without needing English, then where is the necessity to learn English?” Borja said. “However,  they are paying into a system, they are participating in a system that really needs them to become U.S citizens.”

There are, however, exemptions to the English language requirement based on age, length of residency and disability.

Although Betancourt qualified for the language exemption, she decided to take the civics test in English because she was determined to study in English.

She signed up for English classes at the Coachella Adult School.

Gallegos said she has seen other cases of people who wanted to learn English in order to vote in the 2016 election.

“They say, ‘It doesn’t matter. I’m going to try to learn English because it’s important for me to become a U.S. citizen,’” she said. “People are very motivated by what’s going on in our county. It has motivated our community.”

Completing the naturalization process and becoming a U.S. citizen has opened the doors to more opportunities, according to Betancourt.

“I would tell anyone considering it to remain focused because it’s worth it,” she said.

Amber Amaya contributed to this report.

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

Editor’s Note: A 2005 recording of Donald Trump bragging about forcing himself on women was released earlier this month. Since the release of the hot-mic recording, the Republican presidential nominee has dismissed his comments as nothing more than “locker room talk.” This has led several women to come forward with their own claims of being sexually assaulted by Trump and has energized a national conversation about violence against women. Coachella Uninc. youth reporters recently weighed in on Trump’s comments. Read their responses below:

His comments are extremely harmful and are so terribly disgusting. It’s horrible knowing that he actually believes it’s okay and he dismisses it as “locker room talk.” That right there promotes sexism, notifying men that it’s okay to talk about a woman as long as no one else knows, as long as it’s behind closed doors. It’s terrifying to know that people support him and his racist, misogynistic comments about women.

— Juliana Taboada

His comments exemplify rape culture and it’s sickening that a person like that can be allowed to run for president. I also find it offensive and harmful that mass media was dismissive of his acts by calling them “rude remarks” and “lewd comments.” They should call it what it is, sexual assault. His comments perpetuate rape culture. He’s been a joke from the start and it’s upsetting to see people like Trump use their privilege to continue oppressing women, people of color, people with disabilities, our environment, etc.

— Olivia Rodriguez

Donald Trump sees women not as living people but as objects. His comments promote sexism and rape culture. He insults a Latina by calling her “Miss Housekeeping” and insults her weight by calling her an “eating machine.” He doesn’t have the right to offend people because of the way they look.

— Diego Centeno

Trump’s comments were uncalled for and very inappropriate. He quickly dismissed these comments and referred to them as “locker room talk.” However, it is not just something to ignore. These comments are harmful to all women. We should not be seen as objects to men, and I think these comments promote sexism. Trump’s comments do not represent how men should treat women. Instead, he has set a negative example for young men for future generations.

— Amanda Flores

Trump’s remarks are disrespectful and misogynistic; they perpetrate rape culture. The worst part about his comments is that he arrogantly speaks about them as “locker room talk.” Trump is setting up a platform for men to idealize him as a role model. If I could respond to him, I would present some data regarding rape culture in America and how it affects women, and I would also ask him if in the future he will still address women in such a disrespectful way.

— Anselmo Montez

Trump’s comments are really harmful because he’s talking negatively and inappropriately about women. Women deserve respect. For instance, with Alicia Machado, she worked really hard as a Latina to represent where she comes from. Even though she gained weight after becoming Miss Universe, her body belongs to her and nobody has to comment about her or any other woman.

— Liliana Nazario

MECCA, Calif. — Many residents of the eastern Coachella Valley want to vote but don’t have a way to get to the polls. Those without cars are often forced to walk more than a mile to the nearest bus stop or to pay $20 or more for a ride to their closest polling place.

For people in rural communities, lack of transportation can be one of the biggest roadblocks to voting.

Luckily, there’s an easy way for them to vote: casting a ballot by mail. When registering to vote, constituents can to request a vote-by-mail ballot.

“The vote by mail process can be more convenient for voters who are unable, or unwilling, to contend with going out of their way on Election Day,” said Luz Gallegos, community programs director at TODEC (Training Occupational Development Educating Communities) Legal Center. “Specifically in the Eastern Coachella Valley where [there is a] lack of infrastructure, with transportation being one of headlining issues, the vote-by-mail option is more convenient for residents.”

Juan Torres of Mecca is one of the residents who has opted for a mail-in ballot, although he still prefers to drop it off at his polling center.

“Although I have the vote-by-mail ballot, I still drop it off at a polling place because I would rather go in person, even if I have to pay someone to give me a ride,” he said in Spanish.

Gallegos said that in recent years, she has noticed more people like Torres opting for a vote-by-mail ballot.

“After people understand their options and the electoral process, more people are choosing to vote by mail,” she said.

But Gallegos said many residents still are unaware that voting by mail is an option.

Torres is 78 and does not have a car. He became a U.S. citizen a few years ago and didn’t know he could vote by mail. But now, he says, he is proud to be able to do it.

“I feel honored that I am able to vote in these elections,” he said. “I never thought I would be able to.”

The deadline to register to vote is October 24. If you are already registered to vote but would like to request a vote-by-mail ballot, you have until November 1 to do so.

For more information on registering to vote in Riverside County, visit www.voteinfo.net or call 951-486-7200.

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

By Olivia Rodriguez

I’m the proud daughter of farmworkers in Thermal. I live in a rural, low-income community consisting of migrant families who live and work in unhealthy conditions, lack access to affordable quality health care, and are experiencing a shortage of physicians.

This is far from the only barrier my community faces. We’re also experiencing a lack of transportation and quality education, unjust wages, support and representation for our youth, LGBTQ and undocumented people. It’s upsetting that we live under these conditions, yet knowing my community’s history and our ongoing injustices is what propels me to be civically engaged.

Through voting, I will lend my voice to amplify the issues in my community and collaborate with others to transform our realities. As a Latina, it has been vital for me to embrace my voice that has been historically silenced. Our ancestors fought for our fundamental human rights, it is our privilege and responsibility to exercise our power by being an engaged voter.

As I learn about the battles that have been fought by those who came before me, I realize my voice and my worth and how I can contribute to these ongoing movements that strive for health justice for all.

I’ve heard from people discouraged to vote, saying they don’t think their vote will make a difference. I used to share this sentiment. Perhaps there is some truth here, but I am not expecting nor waiting on a single individual’s vote to make global changes. Throughout time, our community’s victories have shown us that greater changes are made in unity. Cesar Chavez alone did not fight for farmworker rights; one doctor alone cannot solve the physician shortage in my hometown; but our collective efforts can continue to make a difference. It was each individual’s contribution in the Chicano movement that helped bring greater liberation for workers and we must continue to recognize that collective strength.

Through such collective efforts our marginalized populations will, one day, have access to affordable and quality health care. It can be done. Just this year full-scope Medi-Cal coverage was expanded to include undocumented individuals! Californians must continue to educate themselves, unify and demand equity, if we are to continue what progress has been made. The voting process comes with a responsibility of being aware of our community’s issues so that collectively our voices are heard at all levels.

It takes a community to create real change. Although undocumented community members cannot vote, their voices are not suppressed. Many have come out of the shadows to march for immigration reform or are dreamers who continue to demand a right to an education. If our most vulnerable community members are willing to risk being separated from their lives and families to allow future immigrants to have a better life, I can at least do my part by exercising my right to vote. I will not remain voiceless.

After I go to the polls in November, my “I voted” sticker will represent a declaration for a better life for my parents, my neighbors, and many in our nation whose voices have yet to be acknowledged in our democratic system.

About the author: 

Olivia Rodriguez is from Thermal, Calif. She graduated from Desert Mirage High School in 2011 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley in 2015. Olivia joined Coachella Uninc. in 2015 and one day she hopes to be a health leader and work alongside other community leaders in the eastern Coachella Valley to address health Inequalities in her community.

Palm Desert ,CA (Entravision) – Jovenes residentes del este del valle buscan cambios en sus comunidades.

Por Olivia Rodríguez

Estoy orgullosa de ser la hija de un trabajador del campo de una comunidad no incorporada, Thermal, al Este del Valle de Coachella.

Vivo en una comunidad rural, de bajos ingresos, integrada por familias migrantes que viven y trabajan en condiciones poco saludables, que carecen de seguros de salud accesible y con pocos médicos disponibles. Y estas no son todas las barreras que mi comunidad enfrenta.

También experimentamos falta de transporte público, buena educación, salarios injustos, apoyo y representación para nuestra juventud, la comunidad LGBTQ y personas indocumentadas. Es pertubador vivir en estas condiciones, pero saber la historia de mi comunidad y las injusticias que enfrentamos es lo que me motiva a estar comprometida cívicamente.

Por medio del voto voy a usar mi voz para exponer abiertamente los desafíos de mi comunidad y colaborar con otros para transformar nuestras realidades. Como latina, fue vital para sumar mi voz que había sido históricamente silenciada. Nuestros ancestros lucharon por nuestros derechos humanos fundamentales, es nuestro privilegio y responsabilidad ejercer nuestro poder siendo votantes comprometidos a nivel local, estatal y nacional.

A medida que aprendo de las batallas que pelearon aquellos que vinieron antes que yo, realizo que mi voz, mi valor, y cómo puedo contribuir a estos movimientos actuales que claman por justicia y equidad en la salud pública, y confío que podamos continuar unificando nuestras voces para representar y votar en favor de nuestra comunidades en las cuales hay muchos que aún no pueden votar.

Por medio del esfuerzo colectivo que incluya a los jóvenes, padres, residentes y organizaciones comunitarias a lo largo del estado, nuestras comunidades marginadas podrán, algún día, tener atención médica accesible y de calidad. Se puede lograr. Por ejemplo, este año el Medi-Cal completo se extendió para cubrir a los indocumentados! Los californianos debemos seguir educándonos, unirnos y exigir igualdad si es que queremos continuar con los logros obtenidos hasta ahora.

El votar viene acompañado con la responsabilidad de saber de los problemas de nuestra sociedad, de esta manera nuestras voces se harán escuchar al votar por iniciativas y personas que nos representarán a todo nivel —sean miembros del consejo estudiantil, el alcalde, miembros del ayuntamiento, proposiciones estatales o nuestro próximo presidente.

Se necesita del trabajo colectivo para lograr cambios reales, incluso el de aquellos que no pueden votar. En nuestras comunidades más vulnerables, algunos de sus miembros arriesgan ser separados de sus familias para ayudar a que futuros inmigrantes tengan una mejor vida.

Al menos puedo hacer mi parte ejerciendo mi derecho al voto. No me quedaré callada. Voy a unirme a mi comunidad y asegurar el progreso de California y de nuestra gente. Después de votar en noviembre, mi etiqueta de “I voted” (yo voté) representará una declaración por una mejor vida para mis padres, mis vecinos y para muchos en el país cuyas voces aún no han sido reconocidas en nuestro sistema democrático.

About the author: 

Olivia Rodriguez is from Thermal, Calif. She graduated from Desert Mirage High School in 2011 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley in 2015. Olivia joined Coachella Uninc. in 2015 and one day she hopes to be a health leader and work alongside other community leaders in the eastern Coachella Valley to address health inequalities in her community.

Editor’s Note: There are only three days left to register online for the California presidential primary and close to five months left to register for the November 8th general election. Coachella Unincorporated recently spoke to eastern Coachella Valley residents gearing up for the California primary about what qualities they look for in a presidential candidate and about the issues most important to them this election season. Read their answers here:

Climate change would be one of the top issues, in my opinion. We need to stop arguing about political problems and start thinking about the effects of our actions on our environment. A world where we need to wear gas masks to go outside is what we are heading for if we do not address these issues.

Climate change affects everyone. Presidential candidates should not just worry about the people of the United States but humanity as whole. I’d vote for Bernie, because we need a president to become a diplomat to help by  preserving the environment.

— Mireya Luna, Coachella

Presidential candidates should be taking climate change seriously. It’s my top issue because the effects are huge and will hurt the planet. I’d vote for Bernie Sanders because he’s bringing much needed attention to the dangers of climate change.

— Jose Torres, Coachella

I would vote for someone who is conscious about what is happening in our environment and who cares about the world we will be leaving to our future generation, but my main priority would be immigration because we have 11 million undocumented people who want nothing more than to be American citizens.

I am more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton because over the course of the debates she has been speaking openly about her concerns about immigration and the environment.

— Edith Lopez, Thermal

The economy is important and global warming, but on my list of priorities, I’d put the economy first. From what I’ve seen on TV and from what I’ve hear from other people, Bernie Sanders seems like a good candidate. Trump is last. I wasn’t really thinking about voting at first but in this election I want to contribute to society.

— Melinda Garcia, Coachella

I think presidential candidates should focus on how the country interacts with the world. On my list of priorities for voting, immigration is on the top of the list.

— Francisco Garcia, Thermal

Climate change would have to be one of the biggest issues I’m concerned about at the moment; It’s something that needs to be discussed. Because of this, I’ve been following Bernie Sander for some time, and it’s definitely going to stay that way.

— Melissa Luna, Coachella

The most important issues we need to deal with are ISIS and the economy. However climate change is also an important issue, and I feel we need to make a plan for how to deal with climate change now. I could never vote for Hillary or Trump; I like Bernie.

— Isaac Arreola ,Coachella

Candidates need to pay more attention to climate change and stop criticizing each other over their immigration stance. I am very concerned about climate change because I’ve been in the United States for over 20 years and it wasn’t a big worry in the ’80s. I’m rooting for a candidate who is willing to protect the beautiful America I came to when I was younger. I’m voting for Hillary Clinton. I loved her husband and I feel like she will defend the environment.

— Carlos Eusebio Flores, Coachella

About the authors: 

Karla Martinez has been a youth reporter with Coachella Unincorporated for four years, where she has produced numerous articles and reflections on issues like community violence prevention to voter registration. In April 2015, Karla won the Young Lady of the Year Award for Riverside County District 4 for her work with the Land Use Planning Awareness project. View Karla’s author page here.

Naomi Carrion is a senior at Nova Academy in Coachella, Calif. Naomi joined Coachella Uninc. last year and she is excited to make a difference in her community through her writing. Naomi also enjoys art and math. She hopes to attend college next year to major in math. View Naomi’s author page here.

By: Paulina Rojas

COACHELLA, Calif. — On Thursday night, the normally quiet streets of Old Town Coachella buzzed with energy during the Bernie Sanders for President Block Party, also known as Berniechella.

The block party featured art, live music, DJ sets, food and a beer garden.

Hundreds of people, young and old, made their way to the event Thursday night. Many of the Sanders supporters were from the Coachella Valley, but a few people, like Rick Massias, traveled from areas outside the desert to come and celebrate the presidential candidate.

“I am a big, big Bernie supporter. It’s Bernie or no one for me,” said Rick Massias, who drove more than an hour from Corona to be at the event. “Friends of ours told us about the event and were like, “Okay, we have to go.’”

Massias also said that blending music with politics is a good way of getting young people involved.

“It’s so important, especially for the young people. To be able to fuse music with politics is essential, especially for Bernie because his message reaches all boundaries,” he said.

Even though Sanders did not make an appearance at the event, he was still very present through the crowds of Bernie t-shirts, stickers and a life-sized cutout of the man himself. 

For many of the younger concert-goers, the event provided a space for them to get involved and meet others like-minded Sanders supporters.

“I am in college and I don’t think a lot of people really care [about the elections]. But if there were more events like this, people would be like, “Yeah, let’s go out,” said Kristen Soto, a College of the Desert student and Indio resident.

Local elected city officials were also at the event Thursday night, including Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez and Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (56th). 

For event organizers, there was no doubt that Coachella was the perfect place to host the event.

“It made perfect sense that something for Bernie be in the City of Coachella, in the eastern part of the valley,” said Tizoc De Aztlan, ‘Berniechella’ organizer. 

“Politics is all about people, people coming together,” Aztlan said.  “Being in an environment like this, I hope, encourages people to let their guard down more and be open to discourse, and if it takes really cool music and art to make that happen then so be it.”

About the author:

Paulina Rojas joined Coachella Uninc. as a beat reporter in February 2016 after working as a city reporter in the eastern Coachella Valley for more than a year. Although born and raised in New York City, Paulina feels right at home in the eastern Coachella Valley. She loves the warmth of the people and buying fresh bread from her favorite bakery in downtown Coachella. Paulina is a graduate of the University of Houston, and her work has appeared in The Las Vegas Review – Journal, The Houston Chronicle, HelloGiggles and Vivala. View her author page here.

“Today was my last day in Iowa campaigning with Mikva Challenge students. Although I had a lot of fun, I am ready to go home.

This morning, I woke up with my roommates one last time, and I said my goodbyes. I will miss all the people I have met, and I hope I get to see them again some day.

After breakfast, I headed off to my last activity at Drake University. I had the opportunity to listen to speakers who discussed their time in politics. I enjoyed asking the speakers questions about their life experiences and how they got involved in politics.

As all of us students prepared to leave, I thought about how everyone was heading back to their homes with  a lot more knowledge than we all arrived with. I had no idea that the political life was so complicated and time consuming. Candidates have to do everything possible to earn people’s votes. One of our speakers at Drake University said that when he was campaigning for himself, he knocked on thousands of doors so he could speak to people face-to-face. I found his story extremely impressive, especially considering the weather here in Iowa is freezing!

It’s almost time for us to drive to the airport. I know I will miss Iowa, especially the people I met during my time here. I have never done anything like this before, but meeting so many new people really helped open me up to the rest of the country. I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn more about politics and to witness presidential campaigns up close. I want to challenge other young people to be actively involved in the political process.

One thing I learned from talking with other Mikva youth was that education and funding for education is such an important issue. I have always known education is an important issue in my community of Coachella, but I learned a lot about how education is also important in communities across the county.

The phone calls, the canvasing, the selfies and the van rides were the best experiences for me. I am now inspired to go out and meet many more new people because I know I can learn more about life. This was an amazing  experience for me,  and I will never forget it.”

— Naomi Carrion

About the author:

Naomi Carrion is a senior at Nova Academy in Coachella, Calif. Naomi joined Coachella Uninc. this fall as an apprentice and she is excited to make a difference in her community through her writing. Naomi also enjoys art and math. She hopes to attend college next year to major in math. View Naomi’s author page here.