ABOUT US

Thank you for joining us at the Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit! Together, our community tackled critical conversations about air quality and health, sparking ideas and action for a healthier future.

The summit was presented by the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare.

Community Impact

Over 300 people gathered at the summit to explore the intersectionality of climate, health and equity, build community, and advance, collaborative work in the pursuit of a healthier, more equitable future.

Speakers

The Healthy Desert, Healthy You Summit is featured over 20 speakers—each chosen for their expertise and passion for creating healthier communities. It was an inspiring lineup!

Spanish Translation & ASL Support

We provided Spanish translation and ASL support to ensure that all attendees can fully participate and engage. It enhanced inclusivity and enriched the overall summit experience.

RFP Grantees: Mitigating Air Quality

On September 11, day 1 of the summit, we were proud to feature the five grantees from our Request For Proposals (RFP): Mitigating Air Quality-Related Health Conditions. Our grantees provided an update on their projects during their Mitigating Air Quality Issues: RFP Grantee Solutions panel discussion.

Art Exhibit

On September 11, day 1 of the summit, we featured the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery, the Art Museum for the Environment, which showcased art made from recycled materials to inspire youth about sustainability. Also on display were Warner Graves’ bold desert-inspired paintings, capturing the beauty and vitality of the California landscape.

Tours

On September 12, day 2 of the summit, attendees had the opportunity to join guided environmental tours that showcased local efforts in clean energy, water conservation, waste reduction, and air quality improvements—highlighting the vital connection between environmental sustainability and community health.

EXPLORE

2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Andrea Vidaurre

Co-Founder, Member, and Policy Analyst – People’s Collective for Environmental Justice

Andrea Vidaurre (she/her) grew up in the territories of the Tongva, also known as the “Inland Empire” of Southern California. The Tongva are an Indigenous people of California from the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands, an area covering approximately 4,000 square miles.

 

Ms. Vidaurre has lived at the intersections of multiple issues, which led her to engage in work that advances her communities’ quality of life. Over the past couple of years, she has worked on environmental justice issues throughout the Inland Empire and has helped pass landmark policies that are transforming our freight transportation system. She is a co-founder, member and policy analyst at the Peoples Collective for Environmental Justice, a community-based organization focused on fighting environmental racism and finding solutions through community work.

In 2024, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, which is an international recognition for grassroots leaders. Earlier this year, Ms. Vidaurre was named to TIME magazine’s annual list of 100 influential people.

 

She said about the recognition: “What an honor it is to represent the work we do in the fight for clean air and environmental justice — especially here in the Inland Empire. We are striving to transition the logistics industry to zero emissions and ensure that communities are not sacrificed for the sake of next-day delivery. We are in the most important years of addressing the climate crisis. In order to do that we have to first address environmental justice which is one of the root causes of climate change.”

READ MS. VIDAURRE'S TIME MAGAZINE PROFILE

2025 SPONSORS

Thank you to our sponsors!

MEDIA SPONSORS:

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PODCAST

About

Presented by the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation, the Healthy Desert, Healthy You podcast explores a variety of important health and wellness topics affecting Coachella Valley residents — from environmental health to primary and mental healthcare. Each episode features a health expert, nonprofit leader, notable advocate, community partner, board director, or regional stakeholder who’s engaged in improving life in the desert.

 

The podcast is hosted by Will Dean, director of communications and marketing for the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation.

RESOURCES

There are several programs available to help mitigate air quality issues. Please take a look at the information below to see if one of them is right for you!

RUHS Climate Change Program

The Climate Change Program from RUHS-Public Health is working on a project to help communities address environmental and climate issues. Your feedback is valuable in understanding the community’s needs.

Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey. Your responses will play a vital role in helping create a project that will benefit the community.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAM

Eastern Coachella Valley Community Air Monitoring

This page is dedicated to the Eastern Coachella Valley (ECV) community data platform for real-time continuous measurements, interactive data summaries, air monitoring progress reports and the Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP).

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PAGE

Limiting Your Exposure to Air Pollution

Air pollution in and around your home can come from a variety of sources and can cause health problems for you, your family and your neighbors. Here are some tips to minimize how much air pollution you breathe in and around your home.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE LIMITING YOUR EXPOSURE

Sign Up for Air Quality Alerts

You can receive accurate air quality advisories that can be tailored to your specific location. South Coast AQMD’s award winning app provides real-time and forecasted air quality information using data from regulatory monitors, hundreds of low-cost sensors, and state-of-the-art models with scientifically validated methods developed by air quality experts.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO GET AIR QUALITY ALERTS

Join the UC California Naturalist Climate Stewards Course

Discover how climate change is impacting our natural and social systems, and learn how you can make a difference with the UC California Naturalist Climate Stewards Course. This 10-week program at UCR Palm Desert combines online and hands-on learning, experience sharing, and volunteer service to empower you to improve ecosystem and community resilience.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A CLIMATE STEWARD

Residential Air Filtration Incentives

The Residential Air Filtration Program aims to reduce residential exposure to particulate matter (PM) in participating AB 617 Communities. Residents within the Eastern Coachella Valley are eligible for free portable air filtration units and replacement filters, improving indoor air quality.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RESIDENTIAL AIR FILTRATION INCENTIVES

Wildfire Smoke & Ash Health & Safety Tips

Wildfires can often cause high air pollution levels that are harmful to your health. Protect your health by taking steps Before, During, and After a wildfire to reduce how much pollution you are breathing.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WILDFIRE SAFETY TIPS

CARB Community Air Grant Opportunity

The California Air Resources Board’s Office of Community Air Protection has released its Community Air Grant (CAG) Cycle 5 Request for Applications. These grants fund California 501(c)(3) nonprofits and Native American tribes for projects addressing air quality issues in heavily polluted communities. This cycle offers $16 million in funding.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AIR GRANT RFA

Open Burn Program

Rule 444 – Open Burning (PDF) is designed to ensure that open burning is conducted in a manner that minimizes emissions and impacts, and that smoke is managed consistent with state and federal law in order to protect public health and safety.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE OPEN BURN PROGRAM

Filing a Complaint

You can help South Coast AQMD protect public health in the South Coast Air Basin by making a complaint about air quality problems online or call 1-800-CUT SMOG.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO REPORT AN AIR QUALITY COMPLAINT

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