I am on a journey of self-love, where I’m fighting myself. When I look in the mirror, I don’t see the same beauty I see on TV, the hourglass-shaped women with velvet like skin. Instead, I see a short, tanned, average-body girl. My dark skin stands out the most, the skin color I once hated. That’s the version of myself that not many get to see. The version that is self-conscious and full of rage. 

That rage lives a monster that brings out an immense amount of gray emotion. The monster ignites with hatred from what it sees online. It never ignores the criticism, it only uses it like fuel, making it harder to control. This is the version of myself that I hate the most.

 The voices this monster creates drive me insane, one saying I’m too dark another saying I’m too short. There are times when looking in the mirror is like a living nightmare. But trust me, I am learning how to tame this monster before it gets too powerful, before it devours me whole.

I never believed I had any type of physical beauty, but I had the wrong priorities. I was so caught up on trying to change my appearance when instead I should’ve learned to love it. I disliked feeling so insecure and jealous of others’ beauty. I wanted to change, for the better, and so I began to look beyond traditional standards.

I looked towards the things I was closest to, my culture above many others. I realized that my features were passed down by the most majestic people of Mexico. I then saw my tanned skin, which was the skin color of the indigenas, as my favorite feature. My azabache hair, as smooth as silk and my almond-shaped eyes did not fall behind. 

“I then saw my tanned skin, which was the skin color of the indigenas, as my favorite feature. My azabache hair, as smooth as silk and my almond-shaped eyes did not fall behind. “

I am beautiful, in fact, everyone is. We are all art pieces that were crafted very delicately. You might think you weigh too much or not near enough but if you’re healthy, why should anyone care about YOUR body. You might hate your skin color but our melanin reminds us we are alive. Regardless you are beautiful, don’t let society make you think you are something less than, you ARE living art. 

Don’t get me wrong, there are still times where all I see are my blemishes, where the monster regains control. But I will not let that rage of self-hate interfere with my happiness. I will continue to fight it no matter how many times it shoots me down, I will get back up.

 Many are currently going through the most gruesome criticism and peer pressure. Our weight is constantly shoved in our faces, especially during this pandemic where we’re expected to get as fit as possible. But I have my own definition of beauty, where I don’t have to change. I don’t have to erase who I am or even hide under a mask. I can finally stop pretending like I’m something I never was. I can happily embrace who I was always meant to be, myself. 

My community is beautiful. The people from the Eastern Coachella Valley  (ECV) are comforting and kind. I’ve lived in Thermal my entire life. I’m used to the way my community looks so it took me a while to realize how much our community was missing. I see the Western Coachella Valley and I envy their smooth roads, their sidewalks, their crosswalks at every corner. But why should my community be at a disadvantage because of infrastructures? Why should my classmates and I be envious of such simple things?

My daily routine consists of a lot of walking, especially in the morning. I walk through dirt roads out of my neighborhood and across streets full of holes and gravel. While walking I encounter speeding buses and cars, all in a school zone. Some cars slow down and honk. Some even follow me home in the afternoon. I don’t feel safe walking to school or back home. I’m thankful there’s a sidewalk but there isn’t a crosswalk near the school where I can safely cross the street. Instead, I have to wait for speeding cars and buses to pass. I have to run across the street to make it to school safely. When I cross the street, there isn’t a sidewalk on the other side until I reach school. 

We know what we need. We live in the ECV, so we experience many injustices daily.

-Rosa González Andrade

I’m not the only student who has to walk but many students are driven to school. Their parents drive them to school because they feel taking them would be a lot safer than sending them walking. Unfortunately, both my parents work early in the morning so I’m forced to walk to school. I love walking but not through a place where I feel my life is in danger. In the ECV, sidewalks are limited so many are forced to walk on gravel near the road. In the evening, people who walk are forced to do so in the dark since there are no streetlights. We are forced to walk with a limited light source and the danger of wild animals. Walking in the dark makes it easier for suspicious cars to approach you or even run you over. A person’s life can be cut short because of the lack of safe infrastructure.

Car drivers also experience injustices while on the road. Many roads are run down and full of potholes and you can see the difference as soon as you drive into Coachella, where the roads are a lot smoother and a lot newer. The limited amount of adequate roads we have are constantly shut down to provide a place for a bicycle tournament that consists of many people from the Western Coachella Valley. The residents here can’t even get out of the ECV without waiting in a line for 20 minutes for traffic control to let them through or for cyclists to finish passing. It’s either that or they have to go around the entire Eastern Valley. 

“How can this change?” you may ask. Well, the solutions include a spread of information and a battle to end corruption. Information that can be spread would be the Census, which lets the government know where to send resources.

Some youth councils like Youth Organizing Council are successfully spreading information about the Census, which is exactly what the community needs. Since the Eastern Coachella Valley is composed of many unincorporated cities that don’t have a mayor or a city council, an alternative could simply be paying more attention to ECV necessities.

We can’t let our voices be shut by the dominant narrative any longer. We have to rise together to end the injustices that we have constantly and unfairly experienced.

-Rosa González Andrade

The people of Thermal, Mecca, North Shore, Oasis and Salton City can elect someone to represent them at the county level. These representatives can advocate for a change in infrastructure or even request funding for community improvements.

Overall, the urge for change has to come from within us because only we know what we need. We live in the ECV, so we experience many injustices daily. We have to unite to be heard and ultimately create a positive change in our community.

We can’t let our voices be shut by the dominant narrative any longer. We have to rise together to end the injustices that we have constantly and unfairly experienced.  

El incendiario basurero en la Avenida 66 y Polk Street en Thermal, Calif. ha empeorado gravemente la calidad de aire para los miembros de la comunidad que viven en el Este del Valle de Coachella. 

Las escuelas del Distrito Escolar Del Valle de Coachella han estado cerradas durante cuatro días escolares desde el viernes 18 de octubre. Sin embargo, un sensor de aire de la Administración de la calidad del aire de la Costa Sur (SCAQMD) que está ubicado en Toro Canyon Middle School mostró que la calidad del aire ha sido peligrosa desde que se instaló el sensor el jueves 17 de octubre.

Olivia Rodriguez, residente de Thermal y estudiante de posgrado de Loma Linda University, visitó la escuela Desert Mirage High School y condujo por la Avenida 66 con un Airbeam, un sensor de calidad del aire. Los resultados del sensor de calidad del aire se muestran a continuación.

Olivia Rodriguez, residente de Thermal y estudiante de posgrado de Loma Linda University, visitó la escuela Desert Mirage High School y condujo por la Avenida 66 con un Airbeam, un sensor de calidad del aire. Los resultados del sensor de calidad del aire se muestran a continuación.

Los puntos rojos en la Figura 1 muestran las áreas donde la calidad del aire es peor. Asimismo, la Figura 2 muestra los datos de los sensores de calidad del aire de PurpleAir. Durante la semana pasada los puntos de la calidad del aire, variaron de ‘aceptable’ a ‘condiciones de emergencia’. La Figura 2 demuestra que la calidad del aire alcanzó las “condiciones de emergencia” el jueves 17 de octubre y el lunes 21 de octubre, lo que significa que cualquier persona expuesta a estas condiciones podría experimentar efectos graves de la salud.

Miembros de la comunidad pueden dar seguimiento a la información proveída por los sensores de calidad del aire aquí y de los sensores de calidad del aire del PurpleAir aquí. Rodríguez dijo que la información sobre el incendio no es fácilmente accesible para los miembros de la comunidad.

“Estamos respirando este aire que ni sabemos qué contiene”, dijo Rodríguez. “He estado hablando con los miembros de mi familia y mis primos sobre el incendio. Todavía vemos el humo. Todavía es visible hoy y la gente todavía está enferma.”

El martes 22 de octubre, el Supervisor del Condado de Riverside, V. Manuel Pérez, emitió una declaración reconociendo los esfuerzos de colaboración de la Oficina de Asuntos Indígenas de EE. UU. Manejo de Incendios Forestales, CAL FIRE / Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Riverside, Agencia de Transporte y Manejo de Tierras del Condado de Riverside y la Administración de la Calidad del Aire de la Costa Sur en el monitoreo del incendio.

La declaración incluyó la orientación del Dr. Cameron Kaiser, oficial de salud pública del condado de Riverside, que decía: “Los residentes deben evitar cualquier esfuerzo vigoroso al aire libre o bajo techo” y “Aquellos con enfermedades respiratorias o cardíacas, los adultos y los niños deben permanecer en el interior”. Sin embargo, reporteros juveniles de Coachella Uninc. han confirmado que los miembros de la comunidad que trabajan en los campos han continuado las horas de trabajo regulares.

CVUSD emitió una declaración el miércoles por la tarde en su sitio web dando una actualización sobre el cierre de escuelas.

“Seguirá habiendo humo hasta que se extinga el fuego, los estudios de la EPA han demostrado que el humo no es peligroso”, según una declaración en el sitio web de CVUSD.

La declaración señaló que las escuelas CVUSD reabrirán el viernes 25 de octubre.

Lea esta historia en inglés aquí.

La información sobre los sensores para este artículo fue validada por Olivia Rodríguez de Thermal y el Dr. Ryan Sinclair, profesor asociado de la Escuela de Salud Pública de Loma Linda University.

The dump fire on Ave 66th and Polk Street in Thermal, Calif. worsened the air quality last week for community members living in the Eastern Coachella Valley. 

Coachella Valley Unified School District schools have been closed for four school days, starting Friday, October 18th. However, a South Coast AQMD PurpleAir sensor located at Toro Canyon Middle School showed the air quality in Thermal has been periodically hazardous since the sensor was installed on Thursday, October 17th. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now reduced the warning for the air quality from the Thermal Dump Fire.

Olivia Rodriguez, a Thermal resident and current graduate student at Loma Linda University, visited Desert Mirage High School and drove down Ave 66 with an AirBeam air quality sensor. The results of the air quality sensor are shown below. 

The red dots in Figure 1 highlight the areas where the air quality is the worst. Similarly, the readings in figure 2 shows the data collected by PurpleAir air quality monitors. The spikes in air quality during the last week range from ‘acceptable’ to ‘emergency conditions’. Figure 2 shows the air quality reached ‘emergency conditions’ on Thursday, October 17th and on Monday, October 21st, meaning anyone exposed to these conditions could experience serious health effects.

Community members can track the Air Beam Readings here and can view the Purple Air sensor readings here. Rodriguez said information about the fire is not easily accessible to community members. 

“We’re breathing in this air and we don’t know what’s in it,” said Rodriguez. “I’ve been talking to my family members and my cousins about the fire. We still see the smoke. It’s visible still today and people are still sick.”

On Tuesday, October 22nd, Riverside County Supervisor, V. Manuel Perez released a statement acknowledging the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Wildland Fire Management, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Transportation & Land Management Agency and South Coast Air Quality Management District in monitoring the fire. 

The statement included guidance from Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser stating, “Residents should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion,” and, “Those with respiratory or heart disease, older adults and children should remain indoors.” However, Coachella Uninc. youth reporters have confirmed community members working in the fields have continued regular work hours.

CVUSD released a statement Wednesday afternoon on their website giving an update on school closures. 

“While there will continue to be smoke until the fire is extinguished, studies by the EPA have shown that the smoke is not hazardous,” according to a statement on the CVUSD website.

The statement noted that CVUSD schools will reopen on Friday, October 25th.

Read this story in Español here.

Information about the sensors for this article was validated by Olivia Rodriquez of Thermal and Dr. Ryan Sinclair, an associate professor at Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health.

Author’s Note: The sun shone bright against a bleach blue sky when I met up with Ruth Garcia (They/Them/Theirs), a close friend and 24 year old queer non-binary resident of Coachella. We sat across from what locals call Hidden Park, an isolated pocket of grass, cement, sand and benches tucked behind the houses of the neighborhood and reachable through pathways that you could drive right past and not think twice about it.

Born in Indio and raised in Coachella, Ruth graduated from Coachella Valley High School and went on to finish college at UCLA in 2016, majoring in Classical Civilizations where they studied Ancient Greek and Roman Literature and minoring in Latin. They currently work for a hospital sterilizing surgical instruments in a sterilization processing department and have worked previously as a scribe in an emergency room. Their biggest ambition is to continue working in the healthcare field as a physician or a surgeon.

Before the interview we briefly talked about how their experience in the Humanities, STEM and healthcare fields made them more appreciative of the empathetic qualities that the Humanities offers, saying, “In healthcare you are working with people, right? So, you do really have to understand people and not just at a physical level but at a mental, emotional and psychological level and I feel like being able to analyze literature helps with that.”

From behind the dark frames of their glasses, Ruth, a Scorpio, took their time soaking in the questions before answering them. What follows is our brief interview about growing up queer, checking boxes and the future.

Joseph: Tell me what it was like to grow up in the ECV being queer and non-binary?

Ruth: Wow (laughs). Looking back at my childhood and upbringing, I knew I was queer, I knew I was non-binary but I didn’t want to accept it because I didn’t know these terms. I just knew that I was different and not being able to name how you’re feeling caused a lot of angst so I was a very angry and moody child growing up. You have that and you add this culture of intolerance [of LGBTQ+ folks in the ECV] and it makes it very difficult so honestly, I can’t really tell you a happy memory of my childhood because all I remember is the bad. I feel like that’s very sad. I feel like I was robbed of a childhood so I don’t really like talking about it because there really isn’t anything nice to say because I attribute my childhood to just bad memories.

Joseph: That’s real and it’s raw and sad how common it is amongst a lot of us where we have a lot of trauma associated with our childhood and we don’t look back on it fondly.

Ruth: Yeah, it really is. Even in high school I didn’t really like the person I was because that’s where I really started looking at women more and was like “Wow, I really like you,” but I was with a man at the time so I was like, “That’s not okay, right?” (Laughs) I guess the only thing I can say to sum it up is: teenage angst, anger and sadness.

Joseph: What are things or places nowadays that fulfill you and make you happy?

Ruth: Being around like minded individuals really helps. It’s very validating — that makes me happy. Obviously, being with my partner, being with my family, even though I haven’t confirmed that this isn’t a phase like they thought it would be, they still know that I’m queer. They don’t know that Diana is my partner but they have a feeling that she is. They’re the type of people that are just like, Lo que se ve no se pregunta, you know, Juna Ga? (Laughs) They don’t really say much. They don’t understand it but they accept it so that helps a lot. It makes hanging with my family much more enjoyable. I’m very much a home body so being around friends, being at home is when I’m my happiest.

Joseph: Tell me what your thoughts are on “Gender.”

Ruth: Gender is exhausting. I don’t know what to say about gender. It’s weird that we can only choose two at a sociological level. Personally, I don’t like either. I wouldn’t identify myself as female or male. I just understand that I’m a soul in a female-presenting vessel. I knew as a child I didn’t really feel like a girl but I never really felt like a boy either. I grew up thinking “I’m weird and I just have to accept that I am a woman.” But then I learned about what non-binary was and this was not too long ago. Maybe I was 23 when I found out what it was. I heard someone talking about their experiences and what they felt it meant to be non-binary and they were describing something that was essentially what I was feeling growing up. I remember thinking, This is… me? Is this what that is called? I really started accepting it myself a couple of months ago and then I came out on Twitter as non-binary and it’s helped me alot. I really feel at peace with myself. Slowly I’m starting to accept who I am and I’m starting to feel happy, finally.

Joseph: What does your ideal vision of the future look like? 

Ruth: My ideal world is one where labels don’t matter and I do understand why they matter, especially for trans people, but speaking on like society’s level I would love for labels not to matter so much. Like, why is it important for me to always check a box that says I am female or that I would prefer not to say or that I’m Latinx or Chicanx or Hispanic. Why is that necessary? When I think about it, I understand why it’s necessary but my ideal situation would be for a world to not constantly have to ask that. And if it didn’t matter then why would you have an option that says “prefer not to answer”, right? Why does it matter? That would be my ideal situation and I guess living in a world where we can all live under they/them pronouns — I’m so tired of being misgendered at work (laughs).

Joseph: How about for the ECV?

Ruth: Ideally, I would want the ECV to have all the resources that it needs and that means access to healthcare, having healthcare professionals that you wouldn’t have to wait 3 months to see, access to clean water, access to just having a livable enjoyable lifestyle. I know that’s very superficial but these are the basic things that people here just don’t have. Also, trying to educate people on LGBTQ issues so that maybe we can start that culture of acceptance that I so heavily desire.

Lenguas del Valle is a series of interviews from Eastern Coachella Valley LGBTQ+ residents that offer a glimpse into their perspectives, passions and the things that move them.

Author’s Note: An incoming junior at Desert Mirage High School, Adriana Torres is a gifted poet and strong advocate for mental health and body positivity. Coachella Uninc. youth reporter, Fatima Ramirez  sat down with Adriana to discuss her thoughts on what it means to be a Latina and her feelings about being part of a generation known for its involvement in social activism and advocacy.

FR: Do you identify as Latina?

AT: Yes, because I feel like the word Latina is inclusive, it’s like all of us together. The roots that come with it, all the history behind it, how our ancestors are proud to be Latina. Those are the things I identify with the most.

FR: Are there any stereotypes under that definition that you don’t agree with?

AT: Well just the idealism that comes with being a Latina, like a curvy body, all this hair, and a sassy attitude, bossy. When people use those words to describe a Latina, I feel like it takes away meaning from it, and to me the word Latina means including everyone. 

FR: Who do you think a feminist is?

AT: I think a feminist is anyone that believes men and women should be treated equally. I just hate the connotation that people have about feminists like you’re just too sensitive. I hate that  because it’s just not what it is, it’s about equality. Some people think we’re just asking for more and more and are so needy and it’s not that at all.

FR: When did you start getting into writing poetry?

AT: Probably around 8th grade. I started reading about it and then in 9th grade I started having more literature classes and more high school experiences of exploring more things. In my school we have a lot of multicultural literature so we’ll have months where we just focus on Latina poetry or African American poetry or Filipino poetry. Right now we’re reading a lot about Michelle Serros.

FR: One of my favorite things about your poetry is that it’s really positive and you talk about yourself with so much self love which is something that’s hard to do when you’re a teenager. How did you start thinking of yourself that way?

AT: I think it’s just acceptance. When I was younger I had all these ideas about what my body should look like but then, growing up you just start to see that it’s just not true or that if it is,it’s a lot of work to maintain and it’s not really a natural thing. Naturally our bodies are not like that. Mentally before, I would just spend so much time worrying about all these things about my body but, then I realized that I was just wasting my time and I had more important things to do and I should just learn to accept myself. 

FR: In some of your poetry you also talk about mental health, can you talk more about your experience with that?

AT: I feel like when I was younger, I would just overthink so many things and it would get to the point where I couldn’t get anything else done. I would focus on one thing and everything else would crumble down around me. I couldn’t find a balance. Then, I just told myself to not think about the small things and focus on the big picture and it just came naturally. Lately on the weekends and when I have time I’ve been painting as well. 

FR: Your generation has resulted in so many advocates and social activists in everything  from climate change to gun reform, what are your thoughts on that?

AT: I think it’s important. Before, you’d never listen to a kid and never expected them to have a say in things or even care about these subjects, but teens now know that it affects them or it will in the future. I feel like some adults don’t see how much we care or just discredit the things we do. If these problems are affecting us we’re going to speak about them, do something about it, make a change. 

FR: Environmentally, and politically, it seems like it would be hard to have hope about the future, what are your feelings about the future?
AT: Well yeah, at times it is hard. This year, it’s been (a lot) but I feel like the people who are going against all these terrible things are teens and young adults. Once we get older, when we’ll actually be allowed to make laws and have more control, then it’ll be better. Personally, my general goal is to be happy and I would like to do some thing with politics. I want my voice out there and I feel like we just want to be heard. I feel like, and maybe it’s not the only way, but to bring more solutions to these problems you need to be in those high power positions.

Author’s Note: Alexis Ortega is challenging what it means to be a Latina by being her most authentic self.  Alexis is the Director of Community Engagement at the LGBT Center of The Desert in Palm Springs. Coachella Uninc. youth reporter, Fatima Ramirez sat down to talk with Alexis about what it was like growing up in Palm Springs, being Queer and Latina and to find out what Alexis’ hopes are for the future of her community. This is the first of a three part series highlighting the diversity and intersectionality of the Latina experience in the Eastern Coachella Valley. 

FR: Thank you for sitting down with me to have this conversation about identify and growing up in the Coachella Valley. Do you identify as a Latina?

AO: I do and I think it’s taken me some time to reconcile my different parts of my identity. I’ve had difficulty with that because of my LGBTQ identity. Now that I’m 32, I regret that [difficulty] because it’s like these dominant forces were telling me I needed to be like [them]. I feel like I missed out on a lot because of those complicated feelings growing up being a young person. 

Now I fully claim my identity as Latina because to folks that’s what I look like to them right? But that is what I am, so I’m not going to deny that. I’m proud of that. Today I’m at the point where I am Latina. Yes, maybe I can’t speak Spanish perfectly and maybe my accent, when I’m speaking Spanish, is horrible and maybe there are things about my culture that I haven’t yet grasped or learned, but that doesn’t preclude me from claiming that as my identity.

FR: Sometimes the label Latina can have a negative associations or assumptions. Can you tell me about the most irritating assumption someone has made about you?

AO: The most irritating assumption made about me is that Latinas are super high femme. I was always a tomboy growing and my dad loved it because I’m the oldest. I’m the first kid. I’m not a boy but Im a tomboy. I’ll go outside and I’ll throw a football around with him and pass the ball around with him and play soccer, so he was really into that. None of my cousins were like that, they were all preoccupied with boys or with makeup. I never really knew what it was like to be a Latina who wasn’t super high femme.

FR: But being a Latina can sometimes still have a hugely positive effect. Is there an event or memory you have where you felt empowered by that definition?

AO: I think the first time where I felt empowered, and not like this internalized shame, was probably the moment when I learned my community’s history. First, that started in a really specialized way like with Queer Chicanx or Queer Latina stories that I finally felt reflected in. The first one that I had ever learned about was Cherrie Moraga who had a similar story in terms of not really connecting with her Chicana roots. It wasn’t until later that she claimed her identity. That was one of the first times when I learned about our resiliency as a community and our community outside a heteronormative framework. All of that happened in college and what a shame that it couldn’t have happened five years earlier or ten years earlier. I think about that a lot.

FR: Since you identify as queer and you work with LGBTQ comunity do you feel your identity as Latina affects your work?

AO: Definitely, because my identity is at the intersection of other identities, not just Latina, not just queer. Also my gender expression. These are all perspectives that I bring to my work which is centered on my queer identity that if I didn’t have those perspectives, they wouldn’t inform my work. I would be singularly focused on the LGBTQ experience identity and it wouldn’t be informed by how these other different identities layer on top of that and intersect with that. It absolutely affects my work because I’m constantly being mindful of what does it mean to be LGBTQ? Who’s defining that? Where are the visible LGBTQ spaces and where are the folks who are not in those spaces, which are predominantly mainstream predominantly white predominantly men, at least here locally. How do we shake that up?

FR: How do you embrace being a queer latina while living in the predominantly white community of Palm Springs?

AO: It can be a little bit isolating but one of the ways I manage that is by just constantly seeking out folks who have shared experiences, shared identities and shared values. That’s one of the reasons I’m super passionate about the work that I do today [in the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV)]. Yes, I work for the LGBT Center, whose building is in Palm Springs, and I live in Palm Springs but my work is constantly centered and focused on what’s happening out here [in the ECV]. So having the opportunity to connect with people, whether or not they’re LGBTQ,  but who are racially and economically diverse is a way I connect with people on an individual level and doing a lot of listening.

FR: Can you tell me a little bit about what it was like growing up in Palm Springs?

AO: I have a lot of love for where I live. It’s a very different experience growing up there Latino versus being in a community like Mecca or Coachella, where you’re constantly surrounded by affirmations of your culture, history, your appearance and your language. Those are the things that I wasn’t fortunate enough to grow up with. I had a lot of shame and a lot of confusion about what spaces were for me. Its stuff I’m still dealing with today. Who am I? What communities am I a part of? What spaces are made for me? 

FR: For the past two years, the Women’s March has been organized in Palm Springs. Do you feel represented in those kinds of feminist spaces?

AO: I guess it depends. For instance, spaces like the Women’s March, especially the one in Palm Springs, is super overwhelmingly white. But I do feel connected to the speakers and the attendees who are there, who aren’t  part of that majority. I feel like the feminist spaces that I might be drawn to are usually lead by women of color. For me it’s not only the white aspect it’s also about the heteronormative aspect. Like how straight is this space? Which is ok, but for me I need more.

FR:  What are your hopes for a future generation? What positive changes do you see happening? 
AO: I do feel like there’s a change happening. As a community, as a Latino community, we’ve been heavily affected and impacted by colonization that has been a central component of what it means to be Latina. Like religion, or like certain gender roles, those things aren’t necessarily rooted in the people who existed before this period of colonization. So what I would like to see in the future is a continual exploration of the systems that we partake in and looking at that with a critical lense. Do those systems still serve us? If they don’t, what do we create anew or what do we go back to? For sure I see that happening now with folks who are elevating or uplifting Indigenous words for people whose gender identity is kind of fluid.

Our communities are under attack, and our safety is threatened. Our communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley are vulnerable because there’s already a lack of safe spaces and resources for our immigrant community.

Like many here, I grew up seeing la migra on a daily basis patrolling our homes. When we are threatened with walls and deportations what’s at stake is the separation of our families, the separation of our communities.

Our immigrant communities are the foundation of this nation, many who sacrificed everything by crossing man made borders so that their children could have a better life.

Our immigrant communities are the foundation of this nation, many who sacrificed everything by crossing man made borders so that their children could have a better life. They’ve contributed greatly to this nation and in return they yet are not given the credit or paid adequately or treated justly for their contributions.

I am the proud daughter of immigrant parents, the ones who’ve pushed me to go on with chants of si se puede. Their love and daily sacrifices is where I pull strength para echarle ganas y seguir adelante. When they threaten immigrant communities they threaten my source of vida and our existence. Sin la comunidad inmigrante esta nación no es nada, what’s at stake is our tomorrow.

When they threaten immigrant communities they threaten my source of vida and our existence.

For me sanctuary status would be a guarantee of our safety. Officials and leaders at every level need to make public statements that they will take action and put into writing that they stand with our immigrant community. They need to state that they don’t stand with the separation of families, that they don’t stand by policies that have given them the license to racially profile and criminalize and that they will not comply or share information with immigration agencies.

If we have all of our local officials and leaders in our community make public statements and put their words into writing and action for me it will make me gain some newfound hope that all politics isn’t just carefully crafted piece of words but that those elected people are actually there for our gente and it will make our efforts that much greater.

Check out this video from Youthwire of young people advocating for sanctuary status in communities across California. 

About the Author:

Olivia Rodriguez, 24, is from Thermal, Calif. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 2015 with a Biology degree. One of her favorite places in the Eastern Coachella Valley is the Mecca Park where you can find her playing basketball. At the end of a long day she loves spending time with her family in their garden enjoying a cup of unsweetened chamomile or hibiscus tea. View her author page here.

1. Don’t hit the snooze button. Challenge yourself to get up as soon as your alarm goes off. It may be tempting to hit the snooze button once or twice but it won’t feel as good later when you’re rushing out the door. Maximize your morning by putting the time you spent snoozing into getting your day started. 

   

2. Take a break from social media & emails: Social media has become such a part of our everyday lives that we start scrolling through Facebook and Instagram from the moment we wake up. You’ll make your morning less hectic by waiting until later to catch up on social media and emails. Instead appreciate the sun rays, the birds chirping or the rumble of cars driving by. Your brain will thank you for it.
3. Hydrate. We all need to stay hydrated. Reaching for a tall glass of water first thing in the morning can help! If you’re getting used to the taste of plain water, infuse it with some fresh lemon.  The coffee, tea or juice can wait until breakfast time. Getting into this habit will help you keep reaching for water throughout the day.
4. Stretch. Not everyone has the time or energy to do a full workout in the morning. Instead take a few minutes to do some light stretches. This will help you stay limber and you’ll also be able to identify any changes in your body much easier. There are plenty of videos you can follow along with on YouTube.
5. Check in with yourself. Checking in with yourself should be as important (or more important) as checking on Instagram. Whether you jot it down in your journal or on your phone, make sure to take time to reflect on how you’re feeling and what you could do to keep the good vibes flowing all day long.
6. Nourish yourself. You’ve heard it a million times before but breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Skip the drive thru or processed food options by preparing a breakfast that is jam packed with all the vitamins and minerals you need to stay focused.
   
   
7. Set intentions for the day. Often our days are busy and completing our list of tasks can seem daunting. Put your day into perspective by setting intentions for the day and jotting down your priorities. It is helpful to set realistic intentions. Setting intentions that you won’t be able to complete will just leave you feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.
   
   
   
8. Amp up the tempo slowly. Try to start off your morning by listening to relaxing music and transition into pumped up songs later in the morning. This will help you be more present and ease into your morning more comfortably.
9. Make sure you’re prepared for the day. Have a presentation at school or work? Make sure you have all the materials and tools you need before you head out the door and you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.

10. Prep snacks for the day. Being hungry is no fun, especially when you have plenty of tasks that require your attention. Make sure you have healthy on-the-go snacks such as baby carrots, chopped fruit or some nuts, like almonds or sunflower seeds, ready. These will help keep you stay focused throughout the day.

Do you have any tips for creating a successful morning routine? Add them in the comments below!

About the Author:

Paulina Rojas is a native New Yorker, Paulina has spent the past two years reporting on the Eastern Coachella Valley. She joined Coachella Unincorporated in 2016.  While it is different from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, she feels right at home in Coachella. In 2014 Paulinagraduated with a journalism degree from The University of Houston and is a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists. View her author page here.

By Juliana Taboada

With school starting so soon, I feel that as students it’s very easy for us to forget the importance of prioritizing our well being. I know for me, personally, I tend to forget that I am a human being who needs as much attention as my school work does. In fact, I probably need more. It seems like when it comes to educational institutions, self care practices are never in the picture. In fact, many of us may not even know what self care means.

If this is your first time learning about what self care is, it is the practice of taking care of yourself and your well being. In other words, its about doing what makes you feel good both mentally and physically.

Self care is a revolutionary act. Being able to step back and take time for yourself is one the strongest things anyone can do. The idea that taking care of ourselves is selfish is ignorant and negative. Don’t allow this view to change your need to take care of yourself.

I believe, the more attention I give to my body, the more successful I am in everything. Keep in mind, self care isn’t a one time act. Self care is a constant activity that helps balance the mind, soul and body. So, here are my favorite tips for helping you start off the school year or everyday life on a brighter note:

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About the Author:

Juliana Taboada is a local Xicana poet and community activist. She originally grew up in Thousand Palms but moved to Mecca in 2013. She loves both her communities. She enjoys watching Netflix for hours and bursting out into Broadway and musical songs at any given moment. She is also awkward but very social and also loves pretzels.