Host Will Dean speaks with Baltazar Aguirre, Jr., a local organizer with the United Farm Workers Foundation on this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, about the essential yet often unseen farmworker community in the Coachella Valley. Aguirre explains the Foundation’s mission to advance human dignity, labor rights, and immigrant protections while sharing the region’s billion-dollar agricultural impact. The conversation explores common misconceptions about farmworkers, the realities of extreme heat and hard labor, and the fear created by increased ICE activity. Aguirre describes Know Your Rights education, red cards, and rapid response networks that support families facing enforcement actions. Listeners learn how community members can help, why advocacy matters, and how policy wins, disaster relief, and pandemic aid have strengthened farmworker health, safety, and resilience across California today and tomorrow for rural families.

Takeaways:

1. Farmworkers are essential to the nation’s food supply and local economy
2. Agriculture contributes roughly $1 billion annually to the Coachella Valley
3. UFW Foundation empowers communities through education and advocacy
4. Common myths about immigrants and farmworkers persist and cause harm
5. ICE activity has increased fear and disrupted daily life and work
6. Know Your Rights trainings and red cards provide critical protections
7. Rapid response networks help verify and respond to enforcement actions
8. Community involvement and elected leadership matter more than ever

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #BaltazarAguirre #UFWFoundation #FarmworkerRights #ImmigrantRights #CoachellaValley #AgriculturalWorkers #KnowYourRights #RapidResponse #CommunityAdvocacy #LaborRights #HumanDignity #LocalEconomy #PublicHealth #SocialJustice #CommunitySupport #HealthEquityv

In this episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean welcomes Melanie Lewis, Executive Director with the Pink Journey Foundation and a breast cancer survivor. Melanie shares the inspiring origin of the foundation, founded in 2004 to provide education, mentoring, and mobile mammography—especially for underserved communities. She explains why early detection matters, clears up common myths about breast cancer, and outlines national screening guidelines. Listeners learn how mobile clinics remove barriers like cost, transportation, language, and fear, while offering compassionate, culturally sensitive care. Melanie also highlights the powerful partnership with Desert Healthcare District and Foundation and DPMG Health to ensure women receive follow-up care when needed. This conversation is a reminder that breast health is a year-round priority—and that access, education, and advocacy save lives.

Takeaways:

1. Pink Journey Foundation was founded in 2004 to expand breast health support beyond doctor visits.
2. Mobile mammography reaches women who lack access, insurance, or transportation.
3. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women and 1 in 750 men.
4. Most breast cancers cannot be felt without imaging.
5. Annual mammograms are recommended starting at age 40.
6. Self-exams help women understand what’s normal for their bodies.
7. Cultural, financial, and time barriers delay screenings.
8. Partnerships ensure women receive follow-up care after screenings.

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #MelanieLewis #PinkJourneyFoundation #MobileMammography #BreastCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #WomenHealth #UnderservedCommunities #LatinaHealth #HealthEquity #MobileClinics #CancerPrevention #SelfAdvocacy #CommunityHealth #BreastHealth #NonprofitImpact #HealthcareAccess

In this inspiring episode of the Healthy Desert Healthy You podcast, host Will Dean speaks with Deja Brown, a Desert Healthcare District and Foundation scholarship recipient through One Future Coachella Valley. Deja shares her journey from Illinois to the Coachella Valley, her path through College of the Desert, and her current studies at Sacramento State University. She discusses her goal of becoming a licensed physical therapist, opening clinics in the Valley, and teaching CPR to young athletes. The conversation highlights the importance of education access, workforce development, and community support in addressing local healthcare shortages. Deja also reflects on resilience, nontraditional education pathways, and why giving back to the Coachella Valley is central to her purpose and future career.

Takeaways:

1. The Valley faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals
2. Scholarships can change educational and career trajectories
3. Nontraditional paths can still lead to success in healthcare
4. Community support plays a key role in student stability
5. Education, housing, food, and job security drive opportunity
6. Giving back strengthens local healthcare systems
7. Representation matters in health and medical careers
8. Young people can leave, grow, and return to serve their community

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #OneFutureCoachellaValley #HealthcareWorkforce #HealthEquity #ScholarshipSupport #FuturePhysicalTherapist #CommunityHealth #EducationAccess #StudentSuccess #CoachellaValley #HealthcareCareers #BlackHealthProfessionals #VeteranVoices #YouthEmpowerment #GivingBack #LocalImpact #WellnessLeadership #DejaBrown