Great leaders are those who support, uplift, and enable those around them. For Councilwoman and Former and First Latina Mayor of Palm Springs, Grace Garner, building up your community is one of life’s biggest challenges but one that can bring even bigger rewards. As a Coachella Valley native and PSHS Alum, Garner has always looked out for her community. That is why this year, One Night Out will celebrate Garner as its 4th Alumni Spotlight Award Winner on Saturday, October 4th.

 

Since her childhood, Garner always wondered why the imbalance of opportunity and resources exists in the world, an issue that tugged at her heart and led her down the road of politics and leadership. Her mother, Juanita Garner, a former Bilingual Paraprofessional at PSUSD, recalls her [Grace] discomfort with this imbalance and her desire to enact change. “At about eight years old she organized a protest when the city decided to remove a favorite climbing structure from Victoria Park,” Garner’s mother said (Palm Springs Post). Graduating from Palm Springs High School in 2003, she embarked on her college journey which led her through law school and Washington D.C. With her hand in politics, Garner then returned home to work on her mission of helping the people of our community.Her work in our community has opened many doors for her as she was elected a City Council member and later became Palm Springs’ first Latina Mayor. As a local, Grace has always been vocal about defending minorities and educating her fellow council members on local history in order to rein in the decision making and ensure that it best serves and represents our local community.