The CIELO Fund For Latino Empowerment was integral with a valiant initiative from The Codex Creation Committee.
The recent grant helped the nonprofit with the 2025 Mobius Conference, an annual event held in April, which unites intrepid thought leaders, performers, artists, and pacesetters. With its aim to celebrate the vitality and creativity that exists in the Valley, the conference acts as a vital resource for like-minded souls to connect in a productive and impactful way.
“We couldn’t create the conference programming in an empowering and relevant way if it weren’t for something like The CIELO Fund,” said Tizoc DeAztlan, Executive Director of The Codex Creation Committee. “We create educational programming for students and bring different speakers in front of them to help engage students and get them to learn from one another.”
“The level of what we’re able to produce is not possible if it weren’t for that fund recognizing the needs in our community and making a real direct impact,” he added.
The Mobius Conference uses several key sites throughout the Coachella Valley with varied engagement formats. It rallies a select group of talented students, educators, leaders, and activists striving to positively affect the collective community.
“It’s a unique arts, culture, and politics conference,” DeAztlan said. “The whole purpose is to widen the tent of people having discussions so that folks aren’t having them in silos. We want diverse perspectives; folks from different sectors coming together to meet with students, to share their stories, to discuss problems that are relevant to people here in the Coachella Valley.”
The conference also attracts key speakers who pique student interest.
“This year, we had programs that were dedicated to health and wellness,” DeAztlan said. “We had a program that was dedicated to the performing arts. We had a program that was dedicated to leadership. We had a program that was geared to astronomy, and the Salton Sea, and more science-based.”
“We want to let students know that regardless of what field they are interested in, that there’s always a way to be engaged in your community,” DeAztlan said, “and that there’s always a way to scratch that itch of intellectual curiosity.”
The conference intrigues on a number of levels. One of the programs, “Leadership Sessions,” for instance, was designed to inform individuals how to move confidently forward together.
Another standout program took place on the grounds of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Codex brought in 100 dance students from throughout the Coachella Valley. They met with entertainment producers AEG Worldwide and Golden Voice team members to discuss career opportunities.
“The students were able to go into the Yuma Tent to learn choreography from an L.A. choreographer who does big work,” DeAztlan said. “It was a chance to learn from experts but also an opportunity to dance with, celebrate with, and enjoy community with other dancing members throughout the Coachella Valley.”
“We took great pride in bringing those experts and leaders throughout our country to the Coachella Valley to meet with our students,” he added.
While the conference has been running for seven years, the Codex Creation Committee was established approximately 18 months ago. Its dedication to creating a brighter future is key, and it does so, mainly by developing inclusive, thoughtful, and multicultural coding practices.
DeAztlan also noted that the nonprofit’s main goal is to empower communities through the creation of educational opportunities in a diverse array of mediums—from art, culture, and health to wellness, technology, and entertainment.
However, other initiatives stand out within Codex, particularly Run with Los Muertos.
The annual event, which unfolds in November, brings together a bevy of runners, artists, teams, groups, musicians, and thousands of attendees throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to celebrate art, wellness, music, and culture.
“The event encompasses a 5K race, a car show, an art show, and art walk, and more,” DeAztlan said. “We have a procession that brings together 20 student organizations to perform. We have multiple stages of entertainment. It just turned into a big block party.”
He said about 7,000 people attended last year.
“We’d certainly love to have folks support us and join in our efforts,” DeAztlan noted of the road ahead. “We’re trying to create a community where intellectual curiosity is celebrated and where people can find opportunities. And especially for students to find opportunities that help them excel.”
“We want to empower them to look forward to their futures,” he added.
Learn more at codexcreation.com.
This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, June 2025.
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