The Imperial Valley is a place that is said to be a great place to raise kids. It has a small town feel and it is common for families to have been here for several generations. But when a family moves to the Valley from places like San Diego, Los Angeles, or other places that don’t have the stifling heat of the summers here, kids meet the “new kid” with the question of “What are you doing here?” This isn’t meant in a challenging way, it is just that Valley kids see places outside the Valley as the better, more desirable places to be.

In this episode of Voices del Valle, we visit with four students that moved to the Imperial Valley and attended, or are attending, Central Union High School. In the discussions, it becomes clear that our small town feeling community is actually a special place where students create great friendships and a strong bond to this place we call home.

CREDITS

Episode 104 - What Are You Doing Here?

What Are You Doing Here was written and hosted by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Edited and produced by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Ismael Peraza, Destiny Garibaldi, and Mitzel Martinez.

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

Small towns love their high school sport teams, and the Imperial Valley, this love is unconditional regardless of how well the teams records end. But when championships are won, there is always stories to be told of how that happened. During the 2024-25 season, two of Central Union High School’s teams took the quest for championships all the way to the CIF State final levels. The Spartan Cheer Team repeated as CIF State Champions and the Boys Soccer Team went further than any Valley team in history and won the CIF Southern Section and ended their season as Runner Up at the CIF State competition.

Credits:

Episode 102: Championships

Championships was written by Dr. Thomas Tacke, Joshua Ahumada and Lilyana Morquecho

Hosted by: Joshua Ahumada and Lilyana Morquecho

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Dr. Thomas Tacke

Music by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.

The Imperial Valley is said to be a great place to raise kids. But what is there for them to do in the Valley? Embrace el Valle is a look at some of the things that are unique and that the youth of the Valley look forward to doing each year including the fairs they enjoy, going to Mexicali, and of course, off-roading at our world class off-roading sites.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The California Mid-winter Fair

Fiestas del Sol

Quinceaneras in Mexicali

Off-roading in the Imperial Valley

CREDITS

Episode 101: Embrace el Valle

Embrace el Valle was written and hosted by: Jennesia Dosal, Manuel Negrette, and Stephanie Portillo

Edited and produced by: Dr.Thomas Tacke

Theme by: Jennesia Dosal, Manuel Negrette, and Stephanie Portillo

Music is by: SpartanSound Productions

Technical and operational support provided by KPBS Technical Producer / Sound Designer, Adrian Villalobos, and KPBS Producer, Julio Ortiz Franco. - Lisa Jane Morrisette is KPBS Director of Audio Programming and Operations.

This programming is partially made possible in part by the KPBS Explore Content Fund.