My current life is a geographic yo-yo between San Francisco and Palm Springs.
In contrast to the hard-edged city, Palm Springs often feels like a friendly village, where civic leaders annually shut down the main drag for the high school homecoming parade.
Hispanics are under violent attack from the federal government now, but the young parade marchers looked proud of their culture.
Palm Springs's population is currently 62% white and 25% Hispanic, but the next generation looks to change that ratio.
During the 40-minute parade, there were brightly dressed dancers making their way down Palm Canyon Drive...
...preceded by a young male contingent doing ornate step dancing.
Other local school groups...
...who had a football team..
...and a cheering organization
,,,were also included.
Markus Crouse, a longtime friend, who taught high school in San Francisco, Pacifica, Hollywood, and the Palm Springs area, once mentioned that the desert kids were the sweetest group of any of them.
I can confirm that from observations on the Coachella Valley public bus system. There are as many crazy and down-and-out characters riding them as on San Francisco's Muni system, but the teenage passengers are consistently kind and helpful to everyone.
May they continue to march forward.
