SEPTEMBER 11-12, 2025
Join Us For The Summit
ABOUT US
Join 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 is 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.
At the bottom of this page, you will find some additional resources regarding air quality and health in our region. Check back frequently, as our team will add additional resources as we find them!
VENUE
The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
Self-parking is plentiful and will be available free of charge.
71333 Dinah Shore Dr, Rancho Mirage, CA
Telephone: (760) 328-5955
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.”
SPEAKERS
Please click on the speakers’ and moderators’ photos to read their full bios.
Chris Christensen
Desert Healthcare District and Foundation
Elizabeth Rhoades, Ph.D.
CA Dept of Public Health, Climate Change & Health Equity Branch
Sergio Carranza
Founder and Executive Director
Oscar Ortiz
City of Indio
Lindsey-Paige McCloy
City of Palm Springs
Cástulo Estrada
Coachella Valley Water District
Quentin Kaplin
Renova Energy
Jane Garrison
Oswit Land Trust
Mona Babauta
SunLine Transit Agency
Aydee Palomino
Alianza Coachella Valley.
Dr. Thomas Spiglanin, PhD
Palm Springs Windmill Tours
Dr. Juan De Lara, Ph.D.
University of Southern California
Moderator: Jimmy Boegle
Coachella Valley Independent
Moderator: Lauren Del Sarto
Desert Health News
Moderator: Alejandro Espinoza
Desert Healthcare District & Foundation
Moderator: Patrick Evans
KESQ
Moderator: Olivia Sandusky
NBC Palm Springs
Moderator: Mark Talkington
Palm Springs Post & Indio Post
Moderator: Miguel Vázquez
Riverside University Health System
Moderator: Hernán Quintas
KUNA Telemundo 15
EXPLORE
Art Exhibit
On September 11, day 1 of the summit, we’re excited to feature an art exhibit by the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery. Known as the Art Museum for the Environment, the S.C.R.A.P. Gallery combines creative expression with environmental education by using recycled and repurposed materials to teach youth about sustainability.
EXPLORE
Tours
On September 12, day 2 of the summit, attendees will have the opportunity to join guided environmental tours showcasing local efforts in clean energy, water conservation, waste reduction, and air quality improvement—highlighting the vital connection between environmental sustainability and community health.
SUMMIT AGENDA
Agenda is subject to change.
Registration and Breakfast
Check-in and enjoy a Continental Breakfast
1 hour
Opening Remarks and Introduction
Chris Christensen, CEO, and Carole Rogers, Board President - Desert Healthcare District and Foundation
20 min
Chris Christensen
Born and raised near Great Falls, Montana, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Montana State University. He went on to earn a certified public accountant’s license, then applied his knowledge and skills during more than 25 years in the homebuilding/construction industry and 12+ years in healthcare. Chris joined the Desert Healthcare […]
09:20
Transition Period
10 min
Session: The Changing Climate: Impacts, Challenges, and Action
1 hour
Elizabeth Rhoades, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Rhoades, Ph.D., is the Climate Change Local Assistance Manager in the California Department of Public Health’s Climate Change and Health Equity Branch. In this role, she oversees the provision of climate and health equity technical assistance to local health jurisdictions and Tribes, equipping them to serve their own populations and forge partnerships that increase […]
Moderator: Jimmy Boegle
Jimmy Boegle is the founding editor and publisher of the Coachella Valley Independent. He is also the executive editor and publisher of the Reno News & Review in Reno, Nev. Since founding the Independent in late 2012, the newspaper has won multiple Association of Alternative Newsmedia (AAN) awards, and dozens of California News Publishers Association […]
10:30
Transition Period
10 min
Session A: Advancing Renewable Energy & Green Technology for a Sustainable Future
1 hour
Quentin Kaplin
Quentin Kaplan, C&I; Residential Sales Director, Renova Energy, Palm Desert CA. Quentin has been in the energy efficiency construction sector beginning in 2006. After10 years of home energy products consulting and sales he onboarded with a nationally recognized energy financing firm helping contractors grow their businesses before onboarding with Renova Energy in 2018. Quentin has […]
Mona Babauta
Mona Babauta is a seasoned transit professional with over 26 years of public service in California – 24 of which have been in the public transit industry serving communities in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas. Babauta has served as the Deputy General Manager for Golden Gate Transit, which is a division of […]
Dr. Thomas Spiglanin, PhD
Dr. Thomas Spiglanin is the Director of Education for Palm Springs Windmill Tours. He’s overseen the tours’ transformation into an educational experience thousands of visitors enjoy yearly. His passion is teaching the public how wind and other renewable energy sources can power our homes, protect the environment, and build a sustainable future. Before joining Palm […]
Moderator: Hernán Quintas
Session B: Balancing Growth: The Environmental Impact of Land Use, Infrastructure, and Corporate Distribution Centers
1 hour
Jane Garrison
Jane Garrison: Animal Advocate, Humanitarian, and Environmental Leader Jane Garrison is a passionate animal advocate, humanitarian, and environmentalist whose work has spanned continents and transformed lives-both human and animal. Her lifelong commitment to ethical action and conservation has positioned her as a respected voice in animal protection and land preservation for several decades. Jane is […]
Dr. Juan De Lara, Ph.D.
Juan D. De Lara is the inauqural director of the Latinx and Latin American Studies Center and an associate professor of American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California. Dr. De Lara received his Ph.D. in geography from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Inland Shift: Race, Space, and […]
Moderator: Miguel Vázquez
Miguel Angel Vazquez is an optimistic, dynamic, and multifaceted community planner. His passion for creativity and collaboration are his driving forces. Over the past two decades, he has provided community development and professional planning services to the private, public, and military sectors. As a planning and health integration expert at the Riverside University Health System-Public […]
11:40
Lunch & Vendor Expo
Enjoy lunch and visit our exhibitions.
1 hour
Moderator: Alejandro Espinoza
Alejandro Espinoza is a dedicated professional at the forefront of community health education and engagement. With a wealth of experience and expertise, Alejandro is making a significant impact in his roles as Chief of Community Engagement at the Desert Healthcare District/Foundation and as a faculty member at California State University, Fullerton, where he imparts his […]
Keynote Speaker: Andrea Vidaurre: The Peoples Collective
30 min
01:10
Transition Period
10 min
Session A: Mitigating Air Quality Issues: RFP Grantee Solutions
1 hour
Session B: Building Tomorrow: Youth in Action Today and Careers in Environmental Health
1 hour
02:20
Transition Period
10 min
Session A: Clearing the Air: Health Expert & Community Voices on Air Quality and Health Outcomes
1 hour
Moderator: Lauren Del Sarto
Lauren Del Sarto is the founder/publisher of Desert Health®, the valley’s leading resource for health and wellness. Desert Health’s goal is to unite and celebrate our local health community, promote whole person care, recognize accomplishments, and to educate and encourage readers to live their healthiest lives. Lauren is an active part of our community serving […]
Session B: Navigating the Future of Water: Challenges, Solutions, and Sustainability
1 hour
Sergio Carranza
Sergio Carranza is the founder and Executive Director of Pueblo Unido Community Development Corporation (PUCDC), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the living conditions of disadvantaged communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley through technical assistance in drinking water and sanitation, affordable housing, economic development, and climate change adaptation and resilience.
Cástulo Estrada
Cástulo R. Estrada was elected to a four-year term on the Coachella Valley Water District board in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He is the Utilities Manager at the City of Coachella. He is a native of the Eastern Coachella Valley, a graduate of Coachella Valley High School, and has a civil engineering degree from […]
Moderator: Patrick Evans
Patrick Evans is an award-winning news Channel 3’s morning and noon meteorologist and host of Eye on the Desert. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Environmental Science and Political Science. In August 2002, Patrick moved to the Palm Springs area to help launch the new Coachella Valley CBS […]
03:30
Transition Period
10 min
Session A: Strenghtening Environmental Health: Government & City-Led Responses
1 hour
Oscar Ortiz
Oscar Ortiz is an immigrant from Mexicali, Baja California. He grew up in Indio, CA and graduated from Indio High School. He went on to study at Stanford University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry in 2012. Oscar was elected onto Indio’s City Council in 2018 by District 4, which has […]
Lindsey-Paige McCloy
Lindsey-Paige McCloy leads the Office of Sustainability for the City of Palm Springs, supporting the City’s commitments to carbon neutrality, circularity in waste, water use reduction, and climate justice. Prior to joining the City of Palm Springs in2022,LP managed clean technology pilots in Los Angeles County and led strategic, legislative, and smart city initiatives for […]
Moderator: Mark Talkington
Mark Talkington is the founder and publisher of The Palm Springs Post, a community news outlet that launched in 2021. He has been a part-time or full-time desert resident since 1993. In his “day job” he works at Microsoft–where he has been since 2002–as both a news editor and AI project manager. Earlier this year […]
Session B: Restoring the Salton Sea & Lithium Extraction: Balancing Opportunity and Environmental Impact
1 hour
Moderator: Olivia Sandusky
Before coming to Palm Springs, she spent almost two years as a reporter and fill-in anchor for KETK and FOX51 in Tyler, Texas. There, she covered a variety of stories, from devastating tornadoes to lively political town hall debates. Olivia received an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Southern California. Olivia also attended […]
04:40
Transition Period
10 min
Closing Remarks: Chris Christensen, CEO, Desert Healthcare District and Foundation
10 min
Chris Christensen
Born and raised near Great Falls, Montana, Chris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Montana State University. He went on to earn a certified public accountant’s license, then applied his knowledge and skills during more than 25 years in the homebuilding/construction industry and 12+ years in healthcare. Chris joined the Desert Healthcare […]
Meet at the Designated Meeting Point
- 7:30 AM - Meet at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa to check-in and enjoy a light breakfast before departing to the site tours
1 hour
08:30
Depart to the Site Tours
- 8:30 AM - Board the buses and depart from The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
- Snacks and water will be provided during the site tours
15 min
Site Tour Routes (Run Simultaneously)
Route One:
- 9:15 AM - Palm Springs Windmill Tours
- 10:30 AM - Desert Water Agency Hydroelectric Generating Plant
- 11:45 AM - Good Earth Compost Project and Gardens, St. Margaret's Church Location
Route Two:
- 9:15 AM - Renova Energy
- 10:30 AM - SunLine Transit Hydrogen Fuel Plant
- 11:45 AM - Palm Springs Windmill Tours
3 hours 45 min
Return to the Designated Meeting Point
- 12:30 PM - Depart from the last tour site and return to The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
30 min
Arrive at the Designated Meeting Point
- 1:00 PM - Arrive at The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa
10 min
REGISTER HERE
RELIVE SOME OF THE BEST MOMENTS FROM THE 2024 SUMMIT!
Explore our photo gallery to see the powerful moments, inspiring speakers, and community connections that made this event unforgettable. Don’t miss the chance to join the crowd and share your favorite highlights!
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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