The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation will host its second annual “Healthy Desert, Healthy You Environmental Health Summit” on September 11 and 12, 2025. This year’s summit, a free event, aims to build on the success of the inaugural conference and spark community conversations about environmental challenges and their direct impact on the health of Coachella Valley residents. The event will be held at The Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage.
A Day of Insightful Panels and Discussions
Day one of the summit, on September 11, is packed with a full agenda of panel discussions featuring a diverse range of environmental advocates, health experts, community leaders, and stakeholders. After registration and breakfast, the day will kick off with opening remarks from Chris Christensen, CEO of the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation.
The morning will feature a session titled “The Changing Climate: Impacts, Challenges, and Action”. Following this, attendees will have a choice between two concurrent sessions: “Advancing Renewable Energy & Green Technology for a Sustainable Future” and “Balancing Growth: The Environmental Impact of Land Use, Infrastructure, and Corporate Distribution Centers”.
The afternoon program begins with a keynote address from Andrea Vidaurre. Ms. Vidaurre, a co-founder, member, and policy analyst at the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice, grew up in the Inland Empire and has dedicated her career to fighting environmental racism and advancing her community’s quality of life. Her work has been instrumental in passing landmark policies to transform the freight transportation system. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed; in 2024, she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, an international recognition for grassroots leaders. She was also named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2025. In her recognition statement, she emphasized the importance of addressing environmental justice as a root cause of the climate crisis and the need to transition the logistics industry to zero emissions so that communities are not sacrificed for the sake of next-day delivery.
Summit keynote speaker Andrea Vidaurre.
After the keynote, attendees will again have the opportunity to choose between two concurrent sessions. The first session, “Air Quality in Action: Grantee-Led Solutions for Healthier Environments,” will highlight practical solutions to improving air quality. The second session, “Building Tomorrow: Youth in Action Today and Careers in Environmental Health,” will focus on empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Subsequent sessions will delve into topics such as “Health Experts and Community Voices on Air Quality and Health Outcomes” and “Safe Water for All: Addressing Infrastructure, Contaminants, and Community Health”. The day will conclude with final sessions on “Strengthening Environmental Health: Government & City-Led Responses” and the highly anticipated panel on the Salton Sea.
The Salton Sea and the Lithium Rush
A major highlight of the summit is the panel titled “Restoring the Salton Sea & Lithium Extraction: Balancing Opportunity & Environmental and Health Impacts”. Restoring the Salton Sea has been a long-standing environmental challenge, but the recent prospect of extracting lithium from the lake has added a new layer of complexity. The panel will explore these challenges, potential solutions, and next steps.
The panel features a prestigious group of experts. One of the most recent additions is Noemí Gallardo, an attorney member of the California Energy Commission appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023. Gallardo brings extensive legal and leadership experience to the discussion, having previously served as the Commission’s public advisor and chief of staff for its chairman. As the first Latina appointed to the Commission, Gallardo is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a proud mother of two.
Other panelists include:
- Michael Cohen, a senior fellow at the Pacific Institute who focuses on Salton Sea and Colorado River challenges.
- Aydee Palomino, an environmental justice campaign manager for Alianza Coachella Valley, who works on collaborative solutions for communities impacted by the climate crisis and the Salton Sea.
- Eric Montoya Reyes, executive director of Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc., and an experienced community organizer for underserved communities in the Imperial Valley.
- Joe Shea, assistant secretary for Salton Sea Policy for the California Natural Resources Agency, who leads the state’s Salton Sea management program.
This distinguished panel will be moderated by Olivia Sandusky, an NBC Palm Springs news anchor known for her extensive coverage of local environmental issues.
New Tours Added
This year, the summit introduces a new element: free group tours on Day Two, September 12, to give attendees a firsthand look at innovative environmental projects across the Coachella Valley. Two separate tour routes will run simultaneously, so attendees must choose only one. Both routes will depart at 8:45 a.m. from The Westin Mission Hills.
Route One includes stops at Palm Springs Windmill Tours, the Desert Water Agency Hydroelectric Generating Plant, and the Good Earth Compost Project and Gardens at St. Margaret’s Church.
Route Two will visit Renova Energy, the SunLine Transit Hydrogen Fuel Plant, and Palm Springs Windmill Tours. Each site visit will last approximately 45 minutes, allowing guests to learn about their operations and contributions to protecting the local environment.
New District Podcast
In addition to the annual summit, the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation has launched a new podcast, “Healthy Desert, Healthy You“. The podcast emerged from the success of the 2024 summit and aims to continue engaging residents and stakeholders in thoughtful conversations about environmental health and other wellness topics. The inaugural episode features CEO Chris Christensen discussing the agency’s work and his outlook on community wellness. The podcast will also spotlight community partners, grantees, and health experts who share the goal of improving the quality of life in the Coachella Valley. The podcast is available on major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and YouTube, with new episodes released weekly.
The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation, established in 1948, is a local government agency serving over 400,000 residents across the entire Coachella Valley. As one of the largest funders in the valley, the District and Foundation’s mission is to ensure optimal health at all stages of life for all residents. The funds they provide are crucial for helping residents, particularly the underserved, access vital resources such as primary and behavioral healthcare. This summit is a key part of their broader mission, focusing on how environmental factors like air and water quality directly affect public health.
