Our group, Promotores Comunitarios de Desierto (PCD), is a community based organization based in Chiriaco Summit. PCD was founded early in 2010, evolving from a neighbor committee from a Thermal Mobile Home Park, with the mission of helping to improve environmental health conditions disproportionately affecting the East Coachella Valley, and to bring education and awareness to them in a variety of
issues, including health access, environmental justice and civic engagement. PCD has a strong foundation in the promotora model for outreach and gaining access to the latino community in the East Valley, taking into account the cultural context of the residents, being the bridge between agencies, groups or services and the residents. PCD has been involved in several environmental justice efforts that include the infamous Western Environmental Hazardous Waste Recycling, Lawson Dump, and Mount San Diego. More lately, PCD has been involved in the community-backed effort regarding the application of AB1318 Air Pollution mitigation funds. Staff from PCD actively participated in the 4th and 5th Environmental Health Leadership Summit in Imperial Valley as a partner, and co-hosted a summit in the valley in 2013 and 2014. We are part of the Eastern Coachella Valley Environmental Justice Enforcement Task Force, where our Executive Director served two years as the Community Co-chair, from 2012 to 2014.
