Often called “the playground of presidents,” and known for the Hollywood stars who keep vacation homes in the area, the Coachella Valley – from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea – encompasses a varied and diverse population that includes indigenous peoples from the region, a large Mexican and Central American community, snowbirds, veterans, and a large LGBTQ population, among others. “The landscape of harsh desert, high mountains, lush golf courses and a vanishing sea, holds a rich history and maintains mythical proportions in the narrative of the American West – one that includes ancient Indian tribes, prospectors, pioneers, and cowboys,” explains Susan Davis, Desert X founder and board president.