East Coachella Valley
Download the data here.
Coachella BHC area encompasses portions of the City of Coachella and the unincorporated communities of Thermal, Mecca, and North Shore. The region is characterized by a predominant Latino community (representing over 95% of the population in this area), many of which are immigrants from Mexico and Central America; but this area also hosts a significant Native American community (which accounts for 1% of the population). Using a short bilingual questionnaire, the local task force members visited public spaces such as the Coachella Swap Meet, Bobby Duke Middle School and did door-to-door canvass at different mobile home parks in Mecca and Thermal (including Duros, Sunbird, and Las Mañanitas). Over 200 questionnaires were collected between July and October of 2012.
The majority of the cultural treasures that were identified were individuals (65%), who were recognized for their expertise primarily in the preparation of traditional food from Mexico and Central America, and also in a variety of materials arts. Visual artists, musicians and dancers from a variety of Mexican forms were also identified as Coachella’s cultural assets.
Twenty percent of the identified cultural treasures were places, with local restaurants schools, parks, churches and historical buildings being the main locations that people considered culturally significant. The recently completed Chicano mural at Shady Lane was also identified as a cultural treasure.
Events represented 7% of the survey responses. People recognized pilgrimages, and church festivals/celebrations as cultural treasures. Parades, and community festivals including the recently created youth-led festival “The Hue” were also acknowledged as cultural assets for the Eastern Coachella Valley.
Organizations/groups also accounted for 7% of the surveys. Most of the groups were concentrated in the City of Coachella. Six local groups were recognized for their work promoting the arts and culture through visual arts, dance, music, filmmaking, and theater. The other groups that were acknowledged as cultural treasures are devoted to promoting sports, and offering social services and education for underserved populations.
Coachella respondents broadened the notion of cultural treasures beyond the “people, places, organizations/groups, and events” typology that was suggested in the original questionnaire. They also identified as cultural treasures the practice of sports like baseball and soccer; some arts programs that are offered at schools (e.g. band, violin), the presence of Mexicans and even the existence of “ice cream trucks” that seemed to be very popular in the community. Other characteristics of Coachella that people found unique and valuable of their community were the heat and the rain. These types of assets were grouped under the category “General Cultural Treasures”.
