By Paulina Rojas
Being a teenager can be hard, but being a teenager who is questioning their sexual identity can be even harder. That is especially the case in communities where such topics are rarely discussed openly.
This is why Building Healthy Communities Eastern Coachella Valley partnered with the Gay Straight Alliance to host a leadership summit on Saturday, February 27 at Coachella Valley High School. The event focused on opening up conversations with the aim of fostering greater understanding of LGBTQI issues among community members.
“It is a little difficult because not many people are open,” said Alejandro Mesa Aguilar, a senior at Coachella Valley High School. He said being an LGBTQI youth in the east valley is challenging because not many people openly discuss issues of identity.
Aguilar is also part of BHC’s Youth Participatory Action Research group. He added that for many east valley youth, questions go beyond simply deciding whether or not to come out.
“There’s not many people here that are different, in the sense that they are not out or they are in the closet. It is more than just two sides,” he said. “It takes time, some people find out who they are after high school, sometimes people actually find out before.”
During the summit, which was open to all members of the community, youth were able to share their coming-out stories, while adults learned about proper gender pronouns, the gender spectrum and how to be an adult ally.
Alyssia Parks, advisor for Coachella Valley High School’s Gay Straight Alliance, also attended the summit.
“I wanted an event like this to invite my students who may be straight or who may be questioning (their sexuality) or may just not have come out yet to come and learn more about the community,” Parks said.
Parks also said it is vital for LGBTQI youth to have consistent support as they enter spaces that might be hostile towards them.
“Support, they need support in a society that is not fully accepting of them,” she said.
Saturday’s forum comes after several incidents, including the killing of Juan Ceballos in 2014. Ceballos, a 20-year-old Mecca resident and College of the Desert student, was allegedly killed by a coworker because he was gay.
For BHC-ECV, the summit presents a unique opportunity to help support a conversation about the issues facing LGBTQI youth in the eastern Coachella Valley and to provide a safe place for those youth to share their struggles.
“I think that this is an opportunity to acknowledge what an LGBTQ student is going through,” said Sahara Huazano, project coordinator at BHC-ECV. Huazano also said BHC-ECV plans to host similar events in the future.
Having conversations like these will hopefully not only encourage more community members get involved but also help LGBTQI youth feel more comfortable in their own skin.
“We want to help people know that it is okay to come out right now,” Aguilar said. “It is okay to be yourself either now or later on.”
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.
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Palm Desert, Calif. — Students from the Coachella Valley High School health academy and the school’s Active Minds club hosted a conversation about mental health and violence in America on Thursday night at the Cal State San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus.
Some of the panelists who participated in the forum were Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin, Desert Hot Springs Chief of Police Dale Mondary, 42nd District Assemblyman Chad Mayes and James Alan Fox the interim director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northeastern University.
The forum was moderated by former Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden.
Although he was not able to attend the event, 56th District Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia met with some of the students beforehand to help them draft up questions for the forum.
“For young people to lead this conversation is really important,” he said. “It is really great that they did this.”
The idea for the forum came from conversations that the students were already having in the classroom.
“We saw a need for there to be some discussion about mental health and what we are doing to move in a good direction,” Nicole Aguirre, HOSA and Active Minds advisor said.
Active Minds provides resources to students regarding mental health, so that they can be a resource for other students and the community at large.
“Today’s event was about opening up a conversation about mental health issues that we have in our community and how they relate to violence” Aguirre said.“Also to open up a conversation on what we are doing as a community to prevent acts of violence that are related to mental health.”
Some of the questions that panelists answered during the forum regarded access to firearms, safety protocols at schools and the services available to inmates dealing with mental health disorders.
The experts agreed that while not all acts of violence are directly linked to mental health issues, it is definitely something that should be addressed and considered.
Aguirre said she hoped the event also inspired some of her students to become mental health professionals.
“We see a need for more individuals in the mental health field as a profession and we are hoping that some of our students will choose to go into the mental health field,” she said.
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.
AMBER AMAYA and CHRISTIAN MENDEZ / Coachella Unincorporated
COACHELLA — Pins from a United Farm Workers of America Convention were scattered across a long table covered in a bright red banner. The bold image of a black eagle was stitched to the front of the banner, and a small signature next to the eagle read, “Cesar Chavez, ’77.”
“Viva Cesar Chavez!” a woman yelled.
A crowd was gathered at Coachella’s Vietnam Veterans Park on Sunday, March 29 for the “El Precio de la Justicia,” celebration and procession in honor of Cesar Chavez’s life and legacy.
Maria Serrano, a UFW veteran, stood at the front of the crowd, dressed in a white shirt with a portrait of Cesar Chavez printed on the front. Serrano, a UFW member since 1977, helped Chavez organize strikes in Mecca. And it was during those strikes, she said, she witnessed Chavez’s firm commitment to nonviolence.
“We were in Mecca trying to organize and the teamsters were there,” Serrano described in Spanish as she rested against her walker. “There was almost a fight between everyone, but Cesar was very strict about telling us to disperse. ‘Please,’ he told all the workers, ‘I do not want violence. No violence.’”
Serrano said Chavez’s commitment to nonviolence during confrontations with law enforcement and farm owners stuck with her long after the incidents were over.
Across the table from Serrano, Maria Aguirre, another life-long Coachella resident, described her visits to UFW meetings when she was a farmworker. Aguirre said it is important for everyone, especially young people, to remember the sacrifices Chavez and other UFW organizers made.
“It is important to have events like this that remember the movement,” Aguirre said in Spanish. “It’s gratitude towards what was done.”
The work of Cesar Chavez and local UFW organizers didn’t go unremembered, thanks, in part, to a group of young people who helped organize events over the weekend in Indio and Coachella.
On Friday, March 27 the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) chapter from College of the Desert (COD) hosted the Cesar Chavez Celebration: A Night of Cultural Resistance at the COD campus in Indio. Alfredo Figueroa, a former UFW organizer, acted as the keynote speaker. Figueroa described how he had helped Cesar Chavez organize in Coachella, and even spent time in jail because of his activism.
Yolanda Moreno, a MEChA student organizer and Mecca resident, said even though a majority of Chavez’s organizing happened before she was born, Chavez’s legacy still influences the next generation of organizers in the eastern Coachella Valley.
“[Cesar Chavez] was a crucial leader figure here in our community, and it’s important to recognize that and to follow his footsteps,” Moreno said. “Not a lot of brown figures make a national impact the way that he did, so it’s just a continuation of remembering and empowering each other, and the fact that we can actually change stuff.”
Students from the MEChA chapter at Coachella Valley High School also attended the “El Precio de la Justicia” event on Sunday; they passed out water bottles to the crowd gathered at the park.
Jackie Aguilar, a senior at Coachella Valley High School and MEChA member, said both her parents and her grandparents had worked in the fields. She decided to attend the event on Sunday to learn more about Chavez and the UFW organizers who fought for the rights of farmworkers.
“I think it’s important to learn all these things because it’s part of our culture, and it’s part of our history,” Aguilar said. “I would be very detached from my culture if I didn’t know all this history. I just think it’s great to keep in touch with what our ancestors did.”
Young people, like Aguilar, are the future of organizing, according to Serrano. As she rested in her walker, Serrano continued to reflect on her own history of organizing with Chavez in the eastern Coachella Valley, and she instructed young people to take up the fight for social justice and rights for farmworkers.
“We are here so that our fight does not die. We want it to continue with the youth. Youth need to know of this struggle. Over time, many achievements were made for the community,” she said in Spanish. “This makes us proud because through our struggle and sacrifice and Cesar and his fasting and marching, this is the reason we are here.”
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VICTORIA CONTRERAS and JUAN FLORES/Coachella Uninc
THERMAL — What would you do with $5,000? What about $10,000?
The Coachella Valley High School (CVHS) girls’ golf team recently asked themselves these questions when they received a donation of $5,000 from the Women’s Southern California Golf Association (WSCGA) – which was matched with another $5,000 donation from professional golfer Lizzette Salas.
After hearing about the donations, coach Pete Zuniga said, “I was totally in shock and very humbled.”
Members of the team were also very thankful.
“I thought that it had been very generous of them, and it was also sort of inspiring for someone to donate the tools necessary for this sport,” said Annika Arrieta, member of the CVHS golf team. “It makes it a lot easier to enjoy this game.”
So what will the team do with the donated money?
The team is using the donations to pay for new equipment and uniforms. New members joining the Lady Arabs golf team will be welcomed with brand new equipment.
The team displayed their appreciation for WSCGA and Lizzette Salas on the day of the donation.
“We had a ceremony where they presented the check in front of teachers and students. We gave members of the association CVHS golf visors and coffee mugs as a token of appreciation,” said Zuniga.
These donations not only help provide the necessities for the sport, but also encourage members to join and stay. The impact will be felt for many years to come.
“I know that without this donation, we wouldn’t be so motivated to play this season,” said team member Kimberly Arellano Bravo. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my high school career playing girls golf.”
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Editor’s Note: As part of the Rethink Your Drink campaign, a “hydration station” was unveiled March 21 at Coachella Valley High School (CVHS). Reporter Victoria Contreras interviewed Eloisa Lopez-Valencia, president of the school’s Environmental Club, about the impact she believes the water bottle filling station will have at her school.
VICTORIA CONTRERAS/Coachella Uninc
Coachella Uninc: How will the new hydration station, or water bottle filling station, benefit our school?
Eloisa Lopez-Valencia, president of the Environment Club: This fountain will be very beneficial to our school for various reasons. It will serve as motivation for students to drink more water and, most importantly, to have access to filtered water. I believe it will also enhance and create a healthy campus at CVHS.
CU: Will you use this hydration station?
Lopez-Valencia: I would definitely use this fountain. I am aware of the importance of drinking water and look forward to refilling my reusable water bottle daily in order to practice healthy habits.
CU: Do you know anyone who is active or/and an athlete that will use the hydration station to its full advantage?
Lopez-Valencia: I formed part of the girls’ soccer team and continue to exercise on my own. Many of my friends also take part in sports, and I know they are excited to have this new hydration station on campus. As athletes, we are all willing to use it often.
CU: When you first heard of the Rethink Your Drink project, what were your thoughts?
Lopez-Valencia: Students often buy sugary drinks like Powerade instead of choosing a healthier alternative. I therefore grew very anxious and excited to see the Rethink Your Drink program introduced at CVHS. I knew it was going to be a successful method of influencing the decisions made by students when it comes to choosing a drink.
View photos from the unveiling event here.
About Rethink Your Drink
As an effort to reduce obesity, especially in children, the Rethink Your Drink campaign aims to reduce the consumption of sugary beverages and promote drinking water. As part of this effort, the RAP Foundation will continue to install hydration stations at parks, churches, schools and community buildings. Partners in this effort include The California Endowment, Building Healthy Communities, Desert Recreation District, Boys & Girls Club of the Coachella Valley, FIND Food Bank, Inland Congregations United for Change, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Pueblo Unido, Our Lady of Soledad Catholic Church, and Health Corps.
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ALEJANDRA ALARCON/Coachella Uninc
THERMAL — The Coachella Valley High School (CVHS) cheer team is set to perform at the 2014 Pro Bowl this weekend, but they still need community support to pay for travel to Hawaii, where the National Football League holds its all-star game every year.
“Aside from all our practice, it took all of us coming together as a whole,” Justine Torres, CVHS senior and co-cheer captain. “It took a lot of dedication, hard work and really pushing each other to not give up. That’s what got us here.”
The Pro Bowl will take place Sunday, January 26, at Aloha Stadium.
Coming from an underrepresented community and high school with not many resources, it is essential for students, family, and the community to come together.
“Because of where I come from – even though it’s so isolated, not like other schools such as Palm Springs or La Quinta – this opportunity means a lot to me,” Torres said. “It shows that even though we come from a different type of community, we’re still able to show people we have talent and we’re hard working and really represent our community well.”
Unfortunately, not all CVHS cheerleaders will perform. Twenty cheerleaders were selected based on their financial commitment.
Excited local residents have been helping the team raise funds for the trip, many of whom attended a fundraiser last week at Sol Sports Restaurant in Coachella.
“For the first time in the history of Coachella Valley Arabs, we got the opportunity to send our girls to the Pro Bowl. I don’t think there’s any cheer squad in the Coachella Valley that can say they have been invited to the Pro Bowl,” said Steven Hernandez, Coachella city council member.
Even for the CVHS cheer team find it hard to believe that a school from an underrepresented community was selected to perform at the Pro Bowl.
“It’s very rewarding to know that all our hard work has paid off and that we are not only representing our cheer team, but the entire school and community,” said Chrystabelle Ramirez, a CVHS senior and co-cheer captain.
The cheerleading team worked hard all summer and attended a cheerleading camp at University of California at Irvine where they were selected to perform at the Pro Bowl.
“When the instructors at the cheer camp announced that our cheer squad was given the invitation to perform at the NFL Pro Bowl the entire squad was shocked in a good way! We had no clue that we were going to be awarded this opportunity,” Ramirez said.
Aside from all the excitement from the community, there has also been great pride from students at CVHS.
“My students are always coming up to me telling me how proud and how cool they think it is that our cheerleaders got this opportunity,” said Melissa Cosme, head coach and English teacher at CVHS. “We have so much support from students. They have their little Facebook and Twitter wars, and cheerleaders from other schools will say negative things, and I’ve seen students that are not even in cheer support their school team.”
To contribute to the team’s travel costs, please contact Melissa Cosme at Coachella Valley High School, [email protected] or (760) 399-5183.
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The 2013-14 school year marked the start of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s 1:1 Mobile Learning iPad Initiative, which will eventually provide every student with an iPad and faculty members with an iPad and a MacBook Air laptop.
On the district’s website, superintendent Dr. Darryl Adams states, “We are very excited about the education transformation taking place in our district. The students in our district will be well equipped to learn in the new 21st century learning environments that we are transforming to, that includes specific content instruction in science, special education, language arts, mathematics, social studies, physical education, foreign language as well as fine and performing arts.”
But what do students think? Coachella Valley High School seniors April Alarcón and Juan Flores share their very different personal experiences with their iPads to date.
My iPad is a Fun Distraction
I can guarantee you the majority of my classmates would agree with the above statement.
As seniors, we had the privilege of receiving the iPads before anyone else. The iPads were obviously intended to assist and organize students with schoolwork. Some students do use them to achieve that goal, but most students use them for fun.
Students, myself included, abuse the privilege of having an iPad by playing games during school hours when we should be on task. I hate to admit it, but we are not mature enough to handle such a blessing properly.
If you walk into a senior class and take a look around, this is what you will see: easily distracted and unfocused kids with shiny new toys. It is rare to find a student on task.
I can’t say I am happy to have an iPad. It is great fun and very entertaining, but playing games (when I should be doing homework) has become a terrible habit. The iPad is so tempting! I have become more of a procrastinator than ever.
Honestly, I know I am not the only one who feels this way. The iPads are not being used as intended, making me wonder if they should they be taken away. The blessing has become a curse, making every student even worse.
This is what the school used their funds on? Seems like a waste to me.
Will anything be done?
– Juan Flores
My iPad is a Great Study Aid
CVUSD issued its students iPads in hopes of providing a significant study aid, and this has been the case for me.
Without a doubt, the iPads can be a distraction, as one can easily go from one application to another without teachers noticing. However, for students who choose to use the device as a study aid, the iPads have been very helpful.
Within a few weeks, I found it had become a great asset. I have become more organized and on task. The iPads make it easy to stay organized, do quick searches online, work on assignments, and stay in touch with classmates. Instead of rummaging through a mess of papers looking for notes, I can easily find them on my iPad. When teachers are giving lectures, I can type the information a lot faster than struggling to write as fast as they speak. Tools on the iPad make my learning experience a lot more efficient. I can define words from any page on the device, work on assignments virtually anywhere, and use apps the district has bought for us, such as Pages, Keynote, even one for AP Macroeconomics. Recently, teachers have been using Internet tools such as Edmodo to post and turn in assignments.
With Wi-Fi throughout the school, all of this can be done quickly.
I do not own a computer and sincerely believe my school year would have been more stressful had it not been for my iPad. As a senior, I have responsibilities other than schoolwork. It’s a relief to be able to work on college applications anywhere.
My friends and I use the iPads very often; we use them for fun just as often as schoolwork. Nonetheless, I have become more adamant about my schoolwork since I received the iPad.
The iPads are a huge investment for our community even though the payoff will not be evident for a long time. However, I believe the iPads are a wise use of funds. Students can work more effectively; and, as society becomes more and more integrated with technology, the iPads offer us access to technology without worrying about being able to afford it.
– April Alarcón
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Editor’s Note: The staff of Coachella Uninc. recently gathered for our Thanksgiving dinner to reflect on everything for which we are thankful. While we are all grateful for our families and our health, we also realize how fortunate we are to be surrounded by people dedicated to building up the young people in our community.
The following are just a few of the people for whom we are grateful – people that our youth reporters have had meaningful personal interaction with in the past year — each representing countless others working hard everyday for the benefit of our youth.
Silvia Paz, Building Healthy Communities
As a whirlwind year of growth, and change dwindles to a close, its time to reflect with gratitude about those who have played prominent roles. Silvia Paz, the new BHC hub manager, is unquestionably an individual who positively shaped my year. I met Silvia over a year ago, during my internship at Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez’s office. I was most excited to receive tasks from Silvia because she went out of her way to cultivate and stretch the breadth of my understanding. As a young woman who grew up in a restrictive male- dominated environment, having a successful, educated woman take the time to consult my opinion meant the world. I have learned more from her example and counsel within the past year than I have in the classroom. I even owe Silvia for my current job, that my own self-reservations never allowed me to consider. Silvia has never judged my capabilities based on my lack of degree. Within a matter of minutes she placed a call to recommend me. My heart swells with pride to hold her good opinion and respect. I cannot say I have ever had anyone believe in me like that. In times when I feel thrown off track, I remember conversations with Silvia where she’s made me feel that it’s only a matter of time before I can move mountains.
I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, everyone like Silvia, who are a mentor to youth and are building a healthy community by raising up strong individuals.
-Aurora Saldivar, College of the Desert
Ray Ramirez, teacher
No words or actions can express how thankful I am for my Spanish teacher, Mr. Ramirez. He has motivated me to perfect my Spanish and writing skills. Mr. Ramirez has taught me to appreciate my Mexican culture and the importance of giving back to my community. I’m definitely blessed for a having a teacher who doesn’t mind driving two hours to Coachella in order to teach his beloved culture and Spanish.
-Karla Martinez, Olive Crest Academy
Tiffany Hargrave, teacher
I am thankful my teacher, Ms. Hargrave, because she has taught me a lot over the past year. She was my art teacher last year and taught me a lot about art that I never knew about. This year, since I applied for leadership and was accepted, she is my leadership teacher. Being in leadership is a new experience for me, and there were mostly all members from last year. But Ms. Hargrave was patient and understanding of the new member like myself. She has led us through many events and showed us that being good leaders can be fun and that we can have fun while being good role models to our peers. She has been patient, kind and really supportive on our ideas and does small changes where they need to be. She’s shown me that I can have fun but also work together with others to create something all the students can enjoy.
– Maria Garcia, Olive Crest Academy
Trinidad Arredondo, Regional Access Project Foundation
There are many people that come to mind when I ponder the question “Who am I thankful for?” While I am thankful for good health and the presence of family, friends, and colleagues, there is one person that sticks out especially to me. This year, I am especially thankful for my friend, colleague, and mentor Trinidad Arredondo. I had the pleasure of meeting Trini almost two years ago when I first joined Coachella Unincorporated. Trini has always been there for me to lend a helping hand when I am covering events or to offer ideas on what I should do next. He has pushed me to strive for more as a community advocate and as a student. For that I am thankful for Trini this holiday season.
-Johnny Flores, Jr., Xavier College Prep
Maria Smith, teacher
I never trusted a teacher in my life. I only see them for one year so I never made such a strong connection. But something changed me once I joined the Coachella Valley High School Health Academy. I actually opened up to a teacher and realize I was beyond wrong to not have done so before. My health teacher, Mrs. Smith, is always there to talk to and she won’t judge you. She does everything she can to help you. One thing I love about her is that she is very easy to talk to. Being in the Health Academy, I will have the same teachers for the rest of my high school years. I am grateful for having a teacher like Mrs. Smith to talk to and help me through thick or thin. My advice to others is don’t be afraid to talk to someone about your problems. You never know how much it will impact you.
-Victoria Contreras, Coachella Valley High School
Jocelyn Vargas, Raices
Jocelyn Vargas inspires me to become selfless by giving to others. I will always be grateful for all her hard work she had devoted to the community and all opportunities she has given me. I am grateful for impactful discussions we have that help me perceive things differently. For discussions and lessons that have shaped the person I am. She is not just an inspiration to me, but to many others who appreciate all the love she puts in everything she does. I will forever be grateful for all the laughs and tears we have shared.
Jocelyn, thank you for being my mentor and friend.
-Alejandra Alarcon, College of the Desert
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AURORA SALDIVAR and BRENDA R. RINCON/Coachella Uninc
COACHELLA – Abed Ayoub, representative of the Arab American Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC), visited Coachella Valley High School last week to have an open conversation with the students whose mascot, the Arab, he believes perpetuates negative stereotypes.
“In meeting with the students, what we’ve seen is a developing understanding of our stance and our point of view, why this is offensive and needs to be changed,” said Ayoub, at a press conference Thursday afternoon. “The students are starting to understand the position.”
He cited the mascot’s large nose, heavy beard and depiction of the Arab as a “caricature” as his top concerns.
The ADC, based in Washington, D.C., began a national debate when Ayoub wrote a letter to Darryl S. Adams, superintendent of Coachella Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), on November 1.
During his visit Ayoub got an up close look at the date industry, originating from the Middle East, and a tour of the heavily Latino region that includes a city named Mecca and street names such as Cairo and Baghdad.
Like the students, he developed a better understanding of the history of the school and the deep-rooted connection to the mascot. Although in his letter Ayoub asked Adams to drop the Arab name, he says he no longer wants to see the name changed. However, he is urging the school to consider making changes to the logo – a compromise to which the student body is open.
“I feel a lot of us are more comfortable with the compromise,” said Katarina Vidaña, co-president of the student body. “We get to keep the name, which is what we take pride in. Of course some kids are sad that we have to change the logo, but we are willing to change (it) for the better.”
Vidaña represented the high school’s students at the press conference along with her fellow student body co-president, Chrystabelle Ramirez.
While Vidaña and Ramirez stated that students are willing to making adjustments to the logo, many alumni are not open to changing it in any way.
Dave Hinkle, class of 1961, is a member of a Facebook group called “Save the Coachella Valley Arab Mascot,” which has garnered nearly 3,000 members. According to Hinkle, members of that page are overwhelmingly in favor of keeping the current logo, drawn in 1957, intact.
“Number one because we are old,” said Hinkle, when asked why the alumni are so resistant to change. “We are older than the current students, we have more experience and (are) sometimes wiser.”
He added, “People just don’t feel that someone should come in and decide that a logo that’s been here for 50 years, (that there) is something wrong with it, and threaten lawsuits apparently, or supposedly to get us to change it. I don’t think that’s fair, and I don’t think other people think that’s fair.”
Richard Ramirez, a 1959 graduate of CVHS and former longtime faculty member, is in a unique position to see both the alumni and student points of view.
“You must remember that alumni are old. All of us are old because we graduated from CV 10 years ago, 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago. We are kind of set in our certain habits, we are creatures of habit. We’ve been Arabs this way for such a long time and we don’t want to change,” he said.
“However, when you look at the big picture, what if someone was being offensive to the Mexican American heritage. Would we be mad? Yes, I think so, and we would want those caricatures changed. I see this process as something that isn’t harmful to this Arab culture and history.”
A New Generation of “Arabs”
“I think the younger generation lives in a new America. There is more understanding, a better understanding of other ethnicities and races,” said Ayoub.
Ayoub said the people he has met while in the Coachella Valley made him believe there is an opportunity for ongoing dialogue with the high school so that students can be a part of “a greater celebration of Arab heritage, what it means to be Arab.”
He added, “Any time you introduce cultural programs and foster understanding between two communities, it’s a positive and that’s the direction we are going.”
The voice of the youth will play an important role in the discussion, with the unique opportunity to shape the experience of their peers and future generations of Arabs.
Vidaña says it is her responsibility to voice the opinions of her classmates.
“We want their voice to be heard because, eventually, they will be alumni and their kids are going to be here,” she said.
CVUSD is acting quickly by appointing a committee — made up of a student, a parent, an alumnus, and a member of the administration — to recommend possible changes to the logo before the upcoming winter break.
There has been no mention of how the district would pay for the changes or implement any cultural programs. The ADC has already indicated they are not able to provide financial assistance.
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STAFF REPORT/Coachella Uninc
COACHELLA — Uninsured families in the Eastern Coachella Valley will be able to access critical services and learn about new benefits available under the Affordable Care Act at the upcoming WeConnect Health Care Enrollment and Resource Fair.
The fair will take place Saturday, November 23, at Coachella Valley High School, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Attendees will receive healthcare and Medi-Cal application assistance and learn about money saving programs and services. They can also participate in a free healthy food giveaway and health screenings.
This wellness event is being brought to Coachella by The California Endowment’s Health Happens Here program, Building Healthy Communities of Eastern Coachella Valley, and the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation.
WeConnect was established in 2005 by former California first lady Maria Shriver to reach uninsured Californians who are eligible for public health programs such as Medi-Cal. The healthy living campaign provides families and individuals from underserved communities with access to the resources needed to lead healthier and financially secure lives.
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