Desert AIDS Project meets the evolving medical and social service needs of people living with HIV/AIDS by providing direct services and advocacy, while working to prevent new infections through education and outreach.

Desert AIDS Project has earned a national reputation as one of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS services providers in the U.S. We are one of only a handful of AIDS agencies operating an on-site medical clinic, a full range of client support services, and a comprehensive HIV education and prevention program, including anonymous HIV testing.

Since our founding in 1984, Desert AIDS Project has grown to become the primary provider of direct medical and support services to HIV-affected men, women, and children throughout the desert region.

, M.A.S. is the Director of Education, Prevention, and Testing at Desert AIDS Project.  He graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelors of Arts in Public Administration.  He completed a certificate program study from UCSD in Healthcare Executive Leadership.  In 2005, he received his Masters in Advanced Studies (M.A.S.) from UCSD in Healthcare Organization and Management with a focus in leadership development.

Mr. Hernandez has extensive experience in community development, program planning, proposal writing, fundraising, and working collaboratively with community agencies and groups to integrate services and maximize resources. Mr. Hernandez has first-hand experience working in community development projects that involves health care delivery systems for the poor and underserved communities that have significant challenges in the equitable delivery of comprehensive services. 

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is a Community Health Educator / ATS Coordinator at the Desert AIDS project. During his 12 years working in the department, he has conducted presentations and workshops in every imaginable location. Jose has coordinated the Desert AIDS Project Alternative Testing Site, supervising past outreach testing sites in the Mecca Heath Clinic, Yucca Valley DAP Satellite Office, and at Gay Associated Youth Center.

Jose currently coordinates testing sites in Indio, Palm Springs Revivals, Cathedral City Senior Center, and at D.A.P. headquarters.

Jose began part time employment at D.A.P. in 1994, working with Richard See in a then two position department. Jose's duties ranged from making Safer sex kits and delivering them to bars and resorts, conducting presentations at schools, rehab centers, homeless centers, juvenile halls and the prisons at Chuchawalla and Ironwood State Prisons to help educate inmates on the dangers of HIV and Hepatitis C. Jose has represented D.A.P. at state and regional conferences for The Hepatitis C Coalition and the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

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is a Community Outreach Worker for the Education, Prevention and Testing at the Desert AIDS Project in Palm Springs, California. He graduated from Loyola del Pacifico University in Acapulco, Mexico with Bachelors degree in Graphic Design and Marketing.

Javier’s experience working with community began in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding area. He was part of POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS Network) which serves as a support center for the people affected by HIV/AIDS. He was also involved in LA RAZA, which is a group that assists the local Latino residents with an array of support services. Javier was also a member of PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of lesbians and Gays) of Yakima, Washington, in which he was part of the community planning/special events for the gay population in the area.

Being a bilingual outreach worker, Javier’s strong focus is on informing the community of the services that are offered by the DAP (Desert AIDS Project) for the Latino population of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding areas. Javier is actively involved in event planning with his team and he specializes in designing promotional material for DAP. He is currently involved and supporting the “Grupo Latino” and different variety of events in the Coachella Valley, Riverside County, and High Desert Communities. As his main goal is to convey his past and present knowledge and experiences to help those in need.

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was born and raised in the Coachella Valley. Her parents were Mexican farm workers whom always encouraged her to pursue higher education so she could have a different career. Verónica graduated from Coachella Valley High School.

She was accepted to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Chicano Studies. 
She recently moved back to Coachella and began working at Desert AIDS Project.

Her experience in the public health field goes back to her initial work with Planned Parenthood in the prevention of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

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was born in the land of three-digit temperatures, and palm trees also known as Palm Springs. Her work with Desert AIDS project began as a volunteer when she was a mere sixteen years old.

Since then, Nyrza has gone off to college where she studied Political Science and graduated from the University of California, Riverside.

Nowadays she is a Community Health Educator and HIV test counselor in the Education, Prevention, and Testing Department.

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 While Jeremy has only been employed at the Desert AIDS Project for only 4 months, he has been interested in education and outreach for quite some time.

“My mission is to help and assist as many as I can and to follow in the footsteps of my father”, who is in his 2nd decade working at the Desert AIDS Project.

Jeremy is working as a community health outreach worker and his duties include doing outreach and education to various parks and local hangout spots.

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has been involved with DAP for 17 years. In the summer of 2007 he had the opportunity to commit to a 20 + hours per week volunteer schedule. After volunteering 2 ½ months in the education department, he was offered the opportunity to take the lead in the new program as part of  case management department  “Care Coordinator” under the supervision of Richard Sees (Director of Case Management/Social Services).

In December of 2007 he was offered a position in the Education Department as a Bilingual Community Health Educator, which he currently holds. He is involved in all aspects of the Education Department but his main focus is working with the MSM (men who have sex with men) and the Hispanic/Latino community. Marcus feels that his life experience, education, and trainings provided by the DAP, are all contributing factors that enable him to confront and fulfill the demands, responsibilities, and obligations that are presented by the current position he holds.

Marcus is a first generation immigrant From Aguascalientes, Mexico; he has completed studies here in the United States and in Mexico, has satisfactorily completed multiple courses required by the agency, such as: Group Facilitation skills, Healthy Relationships Intervention Training, and Basic! Counseling and Testing. He currently facilitates the Latino support group in Spanish, provides HIV testing and counseling in Cathedral City at Casas San Miguel, and co-facilitates The Healthy Relationships Intervention work shop with Robert Swortfiguer.

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  has been with the education department at Desert AIDS Project since fall of 2007.  Prior to his position as Community Health Educator, Rob volunteered for several years at DAP for both the prevention and education areas and the Care Team. 

A certified HIV test counselor since 2006, Rob’s current focus areas are education and prevention for the MSM, POZ, and 50+ communities.  He also serves with the Riverside County Syphilis Elimination Task Force on a special work group focusing on syphilis and STDs in the Palm Springs area.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Rob has a bachelor’s degree from California State University, East Bay.  He feels fortunate to have been able to explore several career areas, including owning his own business for many years.  Being raised in a family with strong beliefs in the value of both teaching and community service, Rob feels grateful to be able to integrate those areas into his professional life.

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