Voices del Valle

In this episode of Voices del Valle: You’re From Where?, former NFL player and Calipatria High School graduate Cedric Thompson reflects on the journey that took him from Los Angeles to Bombay Beach—one of the most remote and overlooked communities along the Salton Sea—and eventually to the professional football stage. After his parents’ divorce, Cedric faced a major turning point as he adjusted to...

What happens when a child spends years feeling misunderstood? In this deeply personal episode of Voices del Valle, host Angelina Echeverria shares her family’s story through conversations with her sister, Mariah, and their mother. Together, they reflect on Mariah’s childhood struggles with ADHD, the loneliness she experienced in school, and the search for belonging that eventually led her down a d...

What if a board game could start conversations about the things teenagers often struggle to talk about? In this episode of Voices del Valle, Central Union High School senior Sarah Abigail Vera shares how her experiences with depression, anxiety, OCD, and the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic inspired her to create High School The Game. Designed around the idea that happiness—not money—is the ulti...

In this episode of Voices del Valle, Eugene Edwards shares his journey from a quiet, guitar-obsessed kid in Yuma, Arizona to a professional musician performing on major stages. Growing up in a desert town with limited access to culture but plenty of time to focus, Eugene found inspiration through records, MTV, and an early Bruce Springsteen concert that changed everything. His story highlights how...

In this episode of the podcast, hosts Athena and Arabella dive into the diverse world of alternative education with guests Manuel, Gaby, and Dominic. Living in a small town often means there are only a few paths to take, but today we’re exploring how very different academic journeys intersected. We start by breaking down the "why" behind these paths. The group gets candid about the daily reality o...

Slab City has long been portrayed as a symbol of freedom, chaos, or escape—but rarely do we hear from the young people who call it home. In this episode of Voices del Valle, our students travel into the desert to sit down with teens and young adults raised in Slab City, uncovering what daily life really looks like beyond the headlines and viral videos. From navigating stereotypes and isolation to...

Voices del Valle is a student-produced podcast created by students at Central Union High School in El Centro, California. Now in its second season, the podcast gives Imperial Valley teens a platform to share their stories, perspectives, and goals. Season 2 features all-new episodes, each created and produced by student teams in the SpartanSound Productions program.

In recognition of National Nurses Month, this special episode of  Voices del Valle  highlights the life and legacy of Lupe Rodriguez, a pioneering Hispanic nurse whose story reflects both the history of healthcare and the strength of the Imperial Valley community. Hosted by students Keira and Delarine, the episode explores Lupe’s childhood growing up in Brawley during segregation, where...

What drives someone to enlist in the military? In this intense episode of Voices del Valle , five voices from the Imperial Valley open up about the real reasons behind their decisions—stories shaped by poverty, family responsibility, personal struggle, faith, and the desire for something more. From overcoming addiction and homelessness to finding structure, purpose, and identity, each story reveal...

The Great Spartan Band at Central Union High School has a long history of excellence and award winning performances. Two of their traditions include The Shuffle and “I’m So Glad,” both from the band traditions of HBCU’s and other bands of the South. This episode explores what these mean to the band members of today and of the past.

The family dynamic in the Imperial Valley is often one where grandparents have a heightened role in raising their grandchildren. The reasons this happens are many but in this episode of  Voices del Valle , you will hear from three youth whose grandparents took on the roles of primary caregivers and how that seems to differ from being raised by a parent. _______________________________________...

Growing Up & Raising Up  is the story of a teenager who became a mother during her freshman year in high school and how she managed to learn to be a mom and a successful high school student. Teen pregnancies and motherhood are things that are part of almost all schools and communities. In this episode of Voices del Valle, one teen mother will share her unfiltered discussion of becoming a...

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?” For this episode of “You’re From Where?”, we visited with the California Angels Spanish...

Modern high school students often see their worlds through a wide variety of lenses. “The 3 A’s” shares the experiences of five Imperial Valley teens that see their worlds through the lenses of autism, anxiety, or ADHD.

Making music in high school is something that a large percentage of the population has experience with. At Central Union High School, making music happens in more ways than just band and choirs. In “Valley Music Makers” students of CUHS will share why they are involved with the various music programs and how it is part of the overall culture of the school. _________________________________________...

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?” For this episode of : You’re From Where?”, we visited with smooth jazz recording artist...

Being a homeless family in America is difficult for any family. But if it is in the Imperial Valley, additional challenges are added with the extreme summer temperatures and a lack of affordable housing.  Heat & Hope  is the story of one family’s fall into the homeless ranks. It is the brutally honest story told by a sister and brother of how they became homeless for four years with...

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?” T...

Nearly all high schools have at least one person that finds fame after graduation. For the schools in the Imperial Valley, there are many that have found it in the arts, sports, and entertainment industries. And when the individual tells people they are from El Centro, a common response is, “You’re from where?” For this episode of :You’re From Where?”, we visited with film and TV celebrity Do...

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 Tea...

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...

Voices del Valle is a youth-led podcast spotlighting powerful coming-of-age stories from California’s Imperial Valley. Told through the eyes of local teens, each episode dives into real experiences of growing up in a rural, tight-knit, and culturally rich border community. From navigating mental health and multigenerational households to chasing dreams in sports, music, and media, these stories re...