Stars: People and places that strengthen Coachella's community

Coachella Unincorporated wraps up the year by profiling noteworthy leaders and organizations in the Eastern Coachella Valley community.

Raices Cultura showed fervent commitment to youth leadership in the arts and in activism. The nonprofit created the Eastern Coachella Valley Boys and Men of Color program, made up of 25 young men seeking to become leaders within their community.

Lideres Campesinos championed women farmworkers and educated them about political organizing and issues affecting farmworkers in general and women in particular.  They were praised for their unique work on transportation issues, pesticide exposure, sexual and domestic violence, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Tizoc DeAztlan is a businessman and community advocate who builds bridges between community members and local government.

Megan Beaman is a lawyer working for environmental and economic justice for East Coachella Valley residents. She advocated for poor people in the Valley who have been living with substandard water conditions despite the dictates of state laws.

These groups and individuals strengthened the ECV community in 2013.  Their works and history are profiled on Coachella Unincorporated.