Introducing Desert Dialogues: Vote for your favorite student response to this week's prompt

At The Desert Sun, we’re always seeking ways to amplify students' voices in our community, and to demonstrate how young people are responding to current, local issues and topics.

That's where Desert Dialogues comes in. Every Monday, we'll publish a selection of responses to a weekly prompt provided to the three public school districts in the Coachella Valley, offering high schoolers an opportunity to respond to a thought-provoking question.

Just as we do with our Athlete of the Week, you — our readers — will get to vote in a poll (found at the bottom of this story) for the response that resonated with you the most. To maintain an even playing field, we will initially keep the identities of the participating students anonymous (instead, they'll be listed as Student A, Student B, etc. next to their respective responses to each week's prompt). The student who receives the most votes by noon on Thursday will be "revealed" in a story the following Monday.

This past week's prompt was inspired by Ema Sasic's reporting of the 20th annual Desert Smash event, a high-profile celebrity tennis event held during the BNP Paribas Open that raises funds for charitable causes: What local cause or issue would you choose to support if you were a philanthropist and why? What factors would you consider to determine which local causes you would endorse?

We were overwhelmed by the 126 thoughtful and astute submissions we received from the high school students at Coachella Valley Unified, Desert Sands Unified and Palm Springs Unified school districts in our first installment of this initiative. As a result, we plan to publish a second part of the students' responses from this past week for your voting consideration next week.

Read on for the students' responses — which have been edited for brevity and clarity — and vote for which one resonated with you the most in the poll at the bottom of this article. If you'd like to engage with the response you voted for, please feel free to reach out by Thursday: jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.

Student A

If I could help in the Coachella Valley, I'd focus on making education and healthcare better. This place is famous for fun events, but many people here struggle with things like not having enough money, and it's hard to get good education and healthcare. Education can help everyone do better in life. I'd give money for scholarships, after school programs, and job trainings. This way, more people can have better chances and make their lives better.

Healthcare is also really important. Everyone should be able to get help when they're sick. I'd give money for clinics in the community, mobile clinics, and programs to keep people healthy. It would be tough to decide where to give help. I'd need to learn about what people need most and listen to them. I'd want to support things that can help for a long time, not just for a little while. Talking to local leaders and groups would help me understand what's really needed and how I can help best.

In the end, my goal would be to make a real difference in people's lives, to give them hope and opportunities they might not have had otherwise.

Student B

In the heart of the vibrant Coachella Valley, where scenic desert landscapes meet cultural richness, lies a hidden challenge: education inequity casting dim shadows over otherwise bright futures. Our marginalized youth often face obstacles in navigating the path to higher education and pursuing fulfilling careers due to limited community support, often beyond their and their parents' means. Moreover, many parents, burdened by economic challenges and language barriers, may not have the resources or knowledge to engage effectively in their child’s education.

My mom has done the utmost to support me through my academic journey and in my discovery as a young person, even with many roadblocks facing our way. She struggled to communicate with teachers and navigate the educational system in an English-dominated space. Most times, she was unable to help us with homework feeling bombarded and overwhelmed.

If I were a philanthropist, I’d focus my efforts on expanding access to establishing early learning centers or enhancing existing programs that help parents in being able to be there for their children in their most formative years. In addition, providing workshops and support networks can help parents understand the importance of early childhood education and to develop skills to support learning from home. We, as a collective, must ensure that parents like mine have the resources and opportunities they need to actively engage in their children's educational journey and contribute to their success.

Student C

If I was a philanthropist, I would choose to support the FIND Food Bank. This is because of the great aid they provide for families who are eager for help. Some of those that the food bank helps do not know when their next meal will be; however, because of their great program, these people are reassured that a piece of alimentation will be provided for their day. Whatever happens, because of the work that FIND does, they will have something to eat. To determine which local causes I endorse, I would consider how they impact my close ones and my community. I would choose an organization that is constantly helping. Additionally, I want my endorsement to make a change, this is why I know that an endorsement to FIND Food Bank will have an automatic and visible impact on my community.

Student D

If I was a philanthropist, I would support funds to expand more homeless facilities to the city of Coachella. The city of Coachella tends to have more homeless people out in public than the neighboring cities. There are no shelters for these people in the city since the nearest one is Martha’s Kitchen, located in Indio, causing more of a homeless crisis because of the distance. Even though several of them qualify for health insurance, the location of these facilities that do have programs to assist them requires access to transportation that is unavailable to several homeless people. I find it unfair how they are left abandoned and shunned by society when they are at their lowest point and truly need guidance. The lack of support for the homeless population has led to an increase in their numbers and they are unable to receive aid because they are associated with either substance abuse or mental health issues.

They require our assistance to help create an inclusive and supportive environment that houses them with the resources they need to successfully enter back into society. The insufficiency of these facilities equipped in the Coachella Valley to help this crisis is a significant shortcoming that must be addressed to create a difference in our community. To overcome these issues, I would expand access to shelters, and rehabilitation centers, help in finding job employment, and assist in finding low-income housing that would help to hopefully give them another chance at bettering their lives.

Student E

As someone who is going into the STEM field, I would love to see more money put towards science programs or opportunities be present for students to showcase their curiosity. I would be thrilled to see research opportunities or internships be available, as well as courses that could further spark interest in students in wanting to go into STEM. I’ve never seen any school in the valley compete in the Science Olympiad and schools seem to drift farther from hosting science fairs. I think that careers in healthcare are more encouraged than any other field.

With some of the opportunities mentioned above, this could further help students stand out in their college applications if they are planning on going into the STEM field. I truly thank my fifth grade teacher for guiding my curiosity and allowing me to take on a challenge in wanting to be someone that is out of the ordinary to many. Not many dream of becoming a scientific researcher or wanting to work for the CDC. If more opportunities were available, then students would be able to take a glimpse at a whole new world. Their creative side would be challenged and the leaders of tomorrow would rise. As time goes on, things continue to change. We need more all-hands-on deck by doing research and questioning the unknown.

In addition, as someone who has volunteered at a local daycare for over four years, I can say that from experience children are literal sponges. Any small activity or idea that is introduced can make the biggest impact. Having lived in this valley my entire life, I want nothing more than to see the people that reside here prosper and inspire others to take on a challenge and do the “impossible."

Student F

I would support the issue of student debt. This is because I have family members who understand the problem and struggle with this. My future will be decided in two years and if I can’t make it to a full-ride scholarship I’ll too be chained to the student loan. With the economic situation we are all living through, scholarships are the only way most of us will make it to school or college. For students in the Coachella Valley, like myself, we can’t afford a college or university. Most parents work in the fields and they would need to sacrifice more to even pay for College of the Desert. Besides, there’s only so much the FAFSA and CSS can do. I would first help those who seem to need it more, especially those who are on the verge of default.

Student G

If I were a philanthropist, I would donate to support victims of sexual assault. Even though sexual assault is not just a local issue, but rather a worldwide issue, I believe the first step in making change for an issue like it is to make one meaningful change in a small area first. I would consider which issues are the least supported or recognized the least as an issue, as well as the most overlooked to help bring much needed attention to them.

As often as sexual assault happens, it isn’t reported enough. When it is, it is often overlooked, most commonly through victim blaming or blatant misogyny. Because of this, many victims are ignored and, in turn, have to suffer through the trauma of the incident itself, as well as the self-doubt created because "other people have probably had it worse” by themselves with little to no support. Having someone tell you that it “wasn't that bad” or being accused of lying is the worst feeling when it comes to being a victim of sexual assault, but sadly, those are some of the most common feedback victims get when they come forward about their assault. If I were a philanthropist, to help support victims of sexual assault, I would donate to programs such as CALCASA (California Coalition Against Sexual Assault) to create new opportunities for victims who struggle with the trauma, and to help educate others to know how to support victims instead of invalidating them.

Student H

The Coachella Valley is known for its music festival nationally known as Coachella Fest, while Thermal is known for its Thermal Club. These places, especially the Thermal Club, are only affordable for wealthy people and the money they spend and invest there only goes back to more affluent people, not to the community. These wealthy individuals don’t see the other side of this community: the Hispanic community, the field workers, those who live in mobile home parks, many of them don’t even have access to clean water.

According to the Desert Sun news, inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency have found water containing arsenic levels above federal legal limits in mobile home parks in the Eastern Coachella Valley, including Arellano Mobile Home Park. Having clean water is a right. We need water for plants, water for animals, water for humans. Now imagine having to wash your dishes, having to take showers, having to drink from polluted water. That's what many families from the eastern Coachella Valley have to go through.

I am part of this community. I live in a Mexican household. I know people who don’t have direct access to clean water due to this problem. Because I understand my community, if I were to be a philanthropist, I would donate my money to this local issue, to give access to filtered water to all these families because having clean water is a human right and should not be a privilege that only wealthy people can have.

Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Vote for the best response to this week's Palm Springs area student prompt