Host Will Dean welcomes Stassia Underwood, a trans navigator with Transgender Health and Wellness Center, for a conversation about affirming care, community connection, and support for transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals. Stassia explains the role of a trans navigator, discusses barriers many people face when seeking healthcare and mental health services, and shares how isolation and lack of resources impact the transgender community. The episode also highlights the center’s expanding programs, including peer support groups, youth services, Trans and Non-Binary Tuesdays, and the upcoming Pink Ball celebration. Stassia reflects on what motivates her advocacy work and why creating safe, welcoming spaces remains essential in today’s political climate and healthcare landscape for all communities.

Takeaways:

• Trans navigators help connect transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals to affirming resources and care.
• Community connection plays a major role in improving mental health and wellbeing.
• Many transgender individuals face isolation, rejection, and barriers to healthcare access.
• Access to affirming specialists and transition-related services remains limited in many areas.
• Peer support groups and social programs create safe, welcoming environments for connection.
• The Transgender Health and Wellness Center continues expanding services across Southern California.
• Youth-focused programs provide affirming spaces tailored to transgender and non-binary youth.
• Advocacy, visibility, and storytelling help strengthen and empower the transgender community.

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #StassiaUnderwood #TransNavigator #TransgenderHealthAndWellnessCenter #LGBTQ #TransCommunity #NonBinary #Intersex #MentalHealthSupport #AffirmingCare #TransAdvocacy #PeerSupport #CommunityConnection #HealthcareAccess #GenderAffirmingCare #TransYouthSupport #InclusiveCommunities

On this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean talks with Evett PerezGil about her journey from growing up in Cathedral City’s Dream Homes neighborhood to becoming the first Latina elected to the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board of Directors. PerezGil shares how community-driven health surveys helped lead to the creation of Esperanza Park and strengthened neighborhood wellness efforts. She also reflects on the challenges of public service, the emotional decision surrounding Desert Regional Medical Center, and the district’s evolving five-year strategic plan. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes accountability, community engagement, healthcare access, and creating better opportunities for future generations across the Coachella Valley and beyond.

Takeaways:

• Evett PerezGil grew up in Cathedral City’s Dream Homes neighborhood.
• Community health surveys helped identify the need for a neighborhood park.
• Esperanza Park became a successful example of community-driven change.
• CV Link and park amenities are encouraging healthier lifestyles.
• PerezGil became the first Latina elected to the district board.
• The Desert Healthcare District expanded services into the Eastern Coachella Valley.
• The district’s new strategic plan focuses on accountability and healthcare access.
• PerezGil remains motivated by improving opportunities for future generations.

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #DrDanLogsdon #EvettPerezGil #CathedralCity #DreamHomesCommunity #CommunityHealth #HealthcareAccess #PublicHealth #CoachellaValley #HealthEquity #EsperanzaPark #CVLink #CommunityLeadership #DesertRegionalMedicalCenter #LatinaLeadership #HealthInitiatives #FutureGenerations

Host Will Dean welcomes Dr. Dan Logsdon for a conversation about healthcare leadership, innovation, and the future of medical care in the Coachella Valley on this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You. Dr. Logsdon shares his journey from engineering to cardiothoracic surgery, his path to joining the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board of Directors, and the vision behind the district’s evolving strategic plan. This edition of the podcast explores physician recruitment and retention, expanding healthcare access through mobile medical clinics, lowering barriers to care, and addressing rising healthcare costs. Dr. Logsdon also discusses why data-driven planning, leadership, and community collaboration are essential to building a healthier future for residents across the Valley for generations to come.

Takeaways:

• Dr. Dan Logsdon transitioned from chemical engineering to cardiothoracic surgery.
• Early hospital volunteer experiences inspired his passion for medicine.
• The Desert Healthcare District strategic plan focuses on long-term community impact.
• Recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals remains a major regional priority.
• Mobile medical clinics reduce barriers and improve healthcare accessibility.
• Data-driven healthcare planning is shaping the district’s future initiatives.
• Rising healthcare costs and insurance barriers continue to affect patient care.
• The Coachella Valley is evolving into a growing, younger healthcare community.

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #DrDanLogsdon #CoachellaValleyHealth #HealthcareLeadership #MobileMedicalClinics #PublicHealth #HealthcareInnovation #CardiothoracicSurgery #HealthcareAccess #DesertHealthcare #CommunityHealth #HealthcareRecruitment #MedicalProfessionals #StrategicPlanning #HealthcareFuture #PatientCare #HealthEquity

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean sits down with Leticia De Lara, a lifelong Coachella Valley resident whose journey from migrant farm work to public service leadership shapes her commitment to community wellness. As a board director for the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation and CEO of the RAP Foundation, Leticia shares how her upbringing informs her advocacy for underserved populations. The conversation explores misconceptions about farmworker communities, the importance of collaboration, and the district’s strategic planning process. Leticia also highlights challenges in healthcare access, emphasizing proactive solutions, resource equity, and partnerships with nonprofits to improve outcomes across the Coachella Valley.

Takeaways:

• Early life as a migrant farm worker shaped a strong work ethic and purpose
• Family sacrifice and education played a key role in her success
• Misconceptions about farmworker communities often overlook their desire to engage
• Public service is about helping people, not politics
• Collaboration maximizes limited healthcare resources
• Strategic planning includes strong community input and engagement
• Proactive healthcare solutions are essential for underserved populations
• Nonprofits are critical partners in improving community health outcomes

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #LeticiaDeLara #RAPFoundation #Innercare #CoachellaValley #PublicHealthLeadership #HealthEquity #CommunityHealth #NonprofitLeadership #HealthcareAccess #UnderservedCommunities #MigrantFarmworkers #HealthInnovation #StrategicPlanning #LocalLeadership #CollaborativeImpact #DesertHealth

In this inspiring episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean speaks with Karrie Schaaf, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Coachella Valley, about a groundbreaking mentorship model changing young lives. Unlike traditional programs, this initiative pairs children ages four to six with paid professional mentors for a 12-year commitment—supporting them from early childhood through high school graduation. Karrie shares how mentors work both in classrooms and communities, building trust with families and addressing generational challenges. The conversation highlights early successes, including improved confidence, school attendance, and family engagement. With a proven national model and strong local partnerships, the organization is already impacting dozens of children—and aims to expand across the valley. This episode underscores the power of consistency, connection, and community in shaping brighter futures.

Takeaways:

• Mentorship begins at ages 4–6 and lasts 12 years
• Paid professional mentors provide consistent, weekly support
• Program integrates school, home, and community environments
• Focus on breaking cycles of generational trauma
• Strong partnerships with local school districts and community organizations
• Early results show increased confidence and school engagement
• Families build deep trust and long-term relationships with mentors
• Expansion depends on funding, partnerships, and community support

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #KarrieSchaaf #FriendsOfTheChildrenCoachellaValley #YouthMentorship #CoachellaValley #NonprofitImpact #ChildDevelopment #MentoringMatters #CommunitySupport #EarlyIntervention #EducationEquity #FamilySupport #PositiveChange #SocialImpact #YouthEmpowerment #NonprofitLeadership #StrongerCommunities

Executive Director Luz Gallegos joins Healthy Desert Healthy You host Will Dean to discuss how TODEC Legal Center supports immigrant families across the Coachella Valley and Inland Empire during a time of intensified immigration enforcement. She explains TODEC’s roots in organizing farm workers, the growing fear affecting mixed-status families, and the economic, emotional, and mental health toll on communities when people are too afraid to work, seek care, or send children to school. Luz also shares how Red Cards help people assert constitutional rights, why documenting encounters matters, and how TODEC connects families to legal aid, food, and other support. Most of all, she highlights the power of community action, faith, and compassion. In the face of trauma and uncertainty, Luz reminds us that love, solidarity, and hope remain essential tools for healing and resilience together.

Takeaways:

• TODEC was founded in the 1980s to organize and advocate for farm workers and immigrant families in inland border communities.
• Luz Gallegos says immigration enforcement is not new, but current enforcement has intensified fear and insecurity.
• Mixed-status families are living with constant anxiety about detention, deportation, and family separation.
• Fear of enforcement is keeping some people from going to work, school, medical appointments, and food banks.
• TODEC has distributed more than 2.5 million Red Cards to help people assert their constitutional rights.
• Luz emphasizes documenting incidents carefully when rights are not respected, including badges, time, place, and vehicles.
• Mental health impacts are severe, and Luz urges systems to expand telehealth and low-barrier support for vulnerable families.
• Community donations, volunteerism, civic engagement, and prayer are helping TODEC respond with food, legal help, and hope.

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #LuzGallegos #TODEC #ImmigrantRights #KnowYourRights #RedCard #CoachellaValley #InlandEmpire #FarmWorkers #MentalHealthAwareness #BehavioralHealth #CommunitySupport #FoodInsecurity #LegalAid #FamilyWellbeing #HealthEquity #LoveWillWin

On this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, host Will Dean is joined by Dr. Roseanne Rosenthal and Marsha Uutela of the California Indian Nations College in Palm Desert. They discuss the college’s mission to expand Native American access to higher education while preserving culture, language, and community values. The conversation explores barriers students face, including financial challenges, family responsibilities, and fear of returning to school later in life. The guests highlight how culturally centered curriculum, mentorship, and ongoing support help students succeed and transition to four-year universities. With innovative programs, community partnerships, and a focus on student success beyond graduation, the college is creating meaningful pathways for Native and non-Native students alike to thrive in education and beyond.

Takeaways:

• Native American representation in higher education remains under 1% nationally
• Cultural integration strengthens student identity and academic success
• Many students balance school with work, family, and caregiving responsibilities
• Virtual learning helps reduce access barriers for nontraditional students
• The college offers strong transfer pathways to four-year universities
• Ongoing mentorship continues for at least three years after graduation
• Programs blend traditional knowledge with modern academic disciplines
• Community partnerships are essential to student support and growth

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #DrRoseanneRosenthal #MarshaUutela #CaliforniaIndianNationsCollege #NativeAmericanEducation #IndigenousEducation #HigherEducationAccess #CulturalPreservation #StudentSuccess #EducationEquity #PalmDesert #CommunitySupport #AcademicPathways #FirstGenerationStudents #EducationMatters #CollegeAccess #FutureLeaders

In this episode of Healthy Desert Healthy You, Will Dean welcomes Greg Rodriguez, Vice President of the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Board, for a powerful conversation on the future of healthcare in the Coachella Valley. Greg shares his journey from longtime community advocate to board leadership, offering insight into the district’s evolving role as a regional healthcare catalyst. The discussion explores the impact of the new lease agreement for Desert Regional, strategic planning efforts, and the importance of addressing social determinants of health like housing, education, and employment. Greg also provides a candid, personal perspective on homelessness, highlighting progress made through coordinated efforts and increased funding. This episode underscores the importance of collaboration, long-term vision, and community engagement in building a healthier, more equitable future for all residents.

1. Greg Rodriguez brings over a decade of engagement with the district
2. The district is shifting from grantmaker to healthcare catalyst
3. Strategic planning focuses on long-term, 30-year impact
4. Social determinants of health are central to future initiatives
5. Housing and homelessness are deeply connected to health outcomes
6. Riverside County has reduced unsheltered homelessness by 19%
7. Collaboration across agencies is critical for lasting solutions
8. Expanding healthcare access in the East Valley is a top priority

#HealthyDesertHealthyYouPodcast #WillDean #DesertHealthcareDistrictAndFoundation #CommunityWellness #GregRodriguz #HealthcareLeadership #PublicHealthMatters #CoachellaValley #HealthEquity #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #AffordableHousing #HomelessnessSolutions #CommunityEngagement #HealthcareAccess #StrategicPlanning #RiversideCounty #DesertHealth #NonprofitLeadership #HealthInnovation #RegionalImpact