Desert Dispatch Media is a grassroots production group based in the desert southwest, fighting inhumane extraction, expansion, and deployment for AI. Our group is led by women.AI is everywhere, before rules for it exist. This crisis is dictating the future for everyone. We must fight and document inhumane investment for AI. The U.S. material-to-manufacturing base for AI is the North American deserts. Opposing the crisis in the desert region has ripple effects for the entire country.Our group…produced with Jodi Darby, Sage Bond, and Kevin Van Winkle: The Mirage: Inhumane Tech in the Silicon Desert (15min), an impact video to catalyze public knowledge and discussion. October 2026 release, and regional public screeningscoordinated with the No Desert Data Center Coalition and Kairand Bellinger: Hyperscale Threats in the Desert Region: An assembly on the fight against mining, militarization, surveillance, data centers, and other harms for AIOctober 22, 2026, at the Dunbar Pavilion Cressworth C. Lander Auditorium, Tucson ArizonaA discussion featuring Tohono O'odham Nation San Xavier District Chairman Austin G. Nuñez, Living United for Change in Arizona Organizing Manager Faith Ramon, cybersecurity/data scientist and veteran Rye Whalen, and Carissa S., an administrative engineer with expertise in communications and semiconductors; Moderated by Sierra Club Borderlands Coordinator Erick Meza, and featuring La Pira of Conjunto la Pira during the community meet and greetproduced with Spina/Novoa Studio: A Riso zine of art and writing from the regional movement, including works by the poet laureate of the State of Colorado, Crisosto Apache, and multi-disciplinary artists such as Lin Lucas and Avery Laneare creating a public footage library by organizing community contributions of clips from the movementare in search of a regional director, to collaborate with in producing a feature documentary on the desert regional movement against inhumane extraction, expansion, and deployment for AIYour Donation Funds:$300.00 Broadcast promotion fees for events advertising on KXCI community radio$1,500.00 Fiscal sponsorship fees to the Desert Advocacy Media Network$1,700.00 Honoraria to composers Sage Bond and Kevin Van Winkle for original music$1,700.00 Honorarium to Annie Ersinghaus for videography and editing services$1,700.00 Honorarium to Jennifer Skinner for videography services$1,700.00 Honorarium to Spina/Novoa Studio for design, layout, graphics, printing, and binding services$5,000.00 retainer for a regional director to collaborate in producing a feature documentary on the desert regional movement against inhumane extraction, expansion, and deployment for AIAll additional funds raised will be applied toward the following deliverables with transparent documentation:Gathering and organizing an online library from community-contributed footageCoordinating in-person regional assemblies, including our catalyst video for screeningOutreach and community interviewsProject grant writingFeature documentary production costsVISIONMelinda Matson Spina, Jodi Darby, and Lee Ziesche are co-facilitators for the project. Primary footage will be collected by four lead filmmakers in the region's four quadrants, who will also have access to community-contributed footage. The production crew will include a regional director and editor. Collaboration and perspective from within frontline communities are first priority. Donors will be invited to the Tucson premiere of the documentary, which will be distributed for educational purposes after a general release and theatrical run.Desert Dispatch is a project of the Desert Advocacy Media Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and is being undertaken by a collaborative of artists, producers, community members, and supporting organizations. We are uplifting public dialogue and resources for unified power in the hands of all peoples, to respond more effectively to autocratic tendencies emerging through inhumane incentives related to technology, now and into the future.We are deeply grateful for the work and encouragement of our Community Supporters:No Desert Data Center CoalitionSierra Club BorderlandsPatagonia Area Resource AllianceHeart of the GilaPeaceful Chiricahua SkiesCopper Canyon TrailsNuclear ResisterTucson Anti-War CommitteeDeflock Tucson CoalitionDesert Rising TucsonMarsa MediaArtists EngagedTempest CollectiveValle Imperial Resiste JOIN THE MOVEMENT instagram.com/DesertDispatchMediaINFO thedamn.org/DesertDispatchMediaDEEP DIVE project documentsCONTACT DesertDispatchMedia@proton.me