MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Supporting local black businesses | Did you know that August is recognized as National Black Business Month? If you want to find the black-owned businesses in our local community, check out the Modesto/Stanislaus NAACP Black Business Directory. You can also add your business to the directory so that other community members can support your biz. Learn more about National Black Business Month on the Dept of Small and Local Business Development page. Let’s all show some love and support our local black business this month!

Appreciating community-based health centers | August 4 through August 10, 2024 is recognized as National Health Centers Week. This year’s theme is ‘Powering Communities Through Caring Connections’ – You can learn more on the National Association of Community Health Centers website. 

Community health centers are incredibly vital to providing equitable health care access to so many residents; According to NACHC, over 31.5 million patients are served at local community health centers across the country. Health centers are special in that they provide care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, health insurance status, geographic location, and languages spoken. This federally supported health system has led to reduced barriers and increased access to necessary primary care services. Health care centers are experts when it comes to understanding and addressing social determinants of health in local communities. If you want to learn how you can support the advocacy work of community-based health centers, check out the Health Center Advocacy Network or find a local health center in your area! 

Golden Valley Health Centers (GVHC) is one example of a community-based health center that is making an impact and driving equity forward in the Central Valley– check out what they have planned at GVHC for National Health Centers Week!

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As the month unfolds, I hope that you are able to take some time to reflect on your year so far. We are past the halfway point, but there is still so much time left in the year to create new, and meaningful experiences! I pray that your year continues to flourish, that you find excitement in your days, and you prosper in the goals you set for yourself.

PREVIOUS EVENTS

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

     SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: BOOKISH

     Although Bookish only opened their doors in April of this year, they have already started to make a name for themselves in the community. Paula and Will, the couple behind Bookish, are avid readers themselves and often find themselves browsing bookstores while on vacation. After talking about what they would do differently (and sometimes the same) in their own bookstore, their dream became a reality when they found the perfect space in Modesto’s Roseburg Square. The store’s primary purpose is selling books, however, Paula and Will also want to fill a void they see in the community, where readers, writers, creatives, and anyone looking for a safe space can gather and meet like-minded individuals.

     In addition to selling new releases and best sellers, Bookish hosts a variety of events and has a program to provide credit for used books. For those looking to trade their books in for something new to them, Bookish will provide store credit that can be used toward the purchase of any used books they have in stock, allowing these books to cycle through the store frequently. They host multiple book clubs, author signings, story times, creative and writing workshops, poetry readings, open mic nights, paint nights, and so much more every month. As well as collaborating with staff for event recommendations, they also collaborate with organizations in the community, such as MoSt Poetry, MoPride, and YEP. Almost all of their events are open to all ages and attendees are encouraged to bring their friends and family.

      Owners Paula and Will state that their favorite part of running a small business in Modesto has been becoming part of the community and interacting with other small businesses. Being able to talk about their experiences with others and receive advice from established local businesses has helped them navigate their own. They are working toward opening a coffee cart to provide readers with a caffeine boost and plan for it to be up and running as soon as possible. 

     To order books, Bookish merchandise, see a full calendar of events, or learn more about their store credit program, visit Bookish on Instagram, @bookishmodesto, or online at their website below!

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: CALPRIDE

     After years of  LGBTQ+ education endeavors in Stanislaus County, John Aguirre was finally able to establish the organization now known as CalPride in 2019. Formerly known as the Central California LGBTQ+ Collaborative, CalPride has since rebranded to unify their headquarters and three centers that have come as a result of their massive growth in the past five years. With a mission to empower the “LGBTQ+ community through intersectional advocacy, transparent education, and trauma informed care” CalPride has expanded to offer countless services and are able to meet clients in any way that they need. 

    In addition to their headquarters located in downtown Modesto, CalPride has three programs that serve seven counties across the Central Valley; CalPride Stanislaus, CalPride Valle Central, and CalPride Sierras. CalPride Stanislaus, is located in downtown Modesto, right next to the organization's administrative offices. CalPride Valle Central is located in Merced and focuses on supporting the Latinx LGBTQ+ community by providing additional services, such as help with immigration. The newest center, CalPride Sierras, is located in Sonora and serves four counties deeply in need of community services. Though the centers serve different regions of the Central Valley, they all work together to reach the same goal and provide comprehensive services to those in need. 

    CalPride Stanislaus offers a multitude of free services to the community and takes great care to treat everyone with respect and dignity. The organization focuses on harm reduction, sexual health, gender affirming care, advocacy, and so much more. Harm reduction practices include safe syringe exchange/ disposal, fentanyl testing, overdose prevention, meetings with a certified substance use peer support specialist, wellness checks, and testing for HIV/ HCV. In addition to testing for HIV/HCV, CalPride partners with Stanislaus Health Services Agency to offer STD/STI tests and are able to offer same-day treatment. To prevent the spread of HIV, PrEP and PEP medications are provided along with guidance on how to navigate insurance to continue accessing these prescriptions. Several peer support groups are offered throughout the week, including TRANSpire, a support group for transgender and gender nonconforming folks; Women's Group; Senior's Group; We Thrive, a creative support group for people who are HIV+ and their loved ones; and Dreams and Solutions, a group for folks living with or have experience with substance use disorders. To help community members access additional services, volunteers help navigate financial aid, housing, and job applications in their computer lab. Advocacy is also a huge part of what CalPride does, ensuring that all members of the LGBTQ+ community have access to quality care and are being treated fairly in their day-to-day lives. Modesto has a large population of LGBTQ+ ”elders” that can easily be overlooked or forgotten. CalPride continues to uplift this community as they have paved the way for the younger generation. Accompanying people to name change appointments and to meetings with their school administration in regards to their rights as LGBTQ+ individuals are also integral to the organization’s mission. 

     CalPride is able to continue offering their plethora of services due to their amazing volunteers. Volunteers assist with everything from cleaning the centers, helping visitors fill out applications, giving tours, working events, and just about anything else the center needs. Volunteers are essential to the functions of the organization and applications are always open.

    In speaking with Salma Torres, CalPride’s Director of Education and Generational Advocacy, they stated that the organization has big plans for the future to further education on how to respect and uplift LGBTQ+ peers. To do this, they plan to create online training resources such as “LGBTQ+ 101,”  “LGBTQ Cultura,” and “Trans 101.” Torres stated that though they previously worked as a teacher, their current position with CalPride brings them so much more fulfillment and allows them to impact the community in a bigger way. 

    CalPride hosts fun and inclusive events monthly, including the Stanislaus center’s new Adult Bingo and Swipe Right Speed Dating! This month, all three CalPride centers will be present in Modesto for their Together TGI Pride event on August 24th. Later in the month, CalPride Stanislaus will host a Modesto TGI Pride event at their center as well. To check out upcoming events, a comprehensive list of services offered, or apply to volunteer with them, check out @togethercalpride and @calpridestanislaus on Instagram or visit their website below! 

CREATIVE NATIVE Q & A: BROOKE ADAMS

Q: What is your name and hometown? 

A: My name is actually Brooke Adams but you can find most people know me as Brooke Riley since that's what my art stuff is all under haha! I was born and raised in Turlock but spent 2020-2023 (my later college years) bouncing between Long Beach and Hawaii which has impacted my life and art hugely. 

Q: How were you first introduced to art? 

A: Like most people, drawing and art in its simplest forms was introduced when I was really young. A little fun fact is that I actually dropped out of my AP Art Class my senior year of high school though, after only like a month. Little did I know that the next year while exploring options at MJC, I'd fall in love with art history and be right back in art classes again.

Q: What is your favorite medium to work with and why?

A: I really enjoy relief printmaking, although I don't get to do it as much as I'd like anymore. It has a very physical quality that comes from the act of carving into a block of linoleum or wood. I also love collage and graphic design an insane amount. 

Q:  Is creating art your full time career? If not, is that your goal? 

A: I have an on-and-off again relationship with being a working artist. Currently it is not my full time job and I'm not sure if I want it to be, to be honest. Keeping my love of art separate from financial pressures frees me from feeling too stuck or burnt out. Besides, my day-job is with very small kiddos which I absolutely love and also keeps the creative inspiration flowing.

Q: Where do you find inspiration? Are there artists that inspire you? 

A: I tend to just start by drawing what I see around me. Colors and symbolism come into pieces later on for me. I find a lot of color palette inspiration from other artists (who I keep up with through instagram) and a lot of my knowledge of symbolic elements comes from art history. It's fun to see how the contemporary and historical views come together. For ideas about community art events I try to remember events that I saw happening around me in other cities that I've lived in that I miss. It also helps to follow existing art studios and creative spaces on instagram. 

Q:  Do you have advice for youth that are interested in pursuing a career in the arts but may be anxious to start?

A: Take lots of classes and attend community events!

Q: What do you believe is the most prominent or most recurring theme in your art? What does this theme mean to you? 

A: The cyclical nature of life. Nothing seems new and everything seems to rise and fall again and again (in a beautiful way though).

Q: Where can people go to view or purchase your art?

A: Right now I’m leaning more into my graphic design side and am looking to take on more clients through my website! For traditional media, I’ve had a piece at the Carnegie and have done their art market previously, but nothing is currently on the books. 

Q: Do you have any community events or collaborations coming up that you would like to promote? 

A: I host Studio Nights which is a recurring meeting of creatives. Twice a month we get together to craft and then vote on what supplies I should gather for the next month. It’s grown into an amazing community and we’ve been recently filling all our seats each month. You can sign up on Espacio’s website (where I host it) and the link is on the Studio Nights (@a.local.art.club) or @brookeriley.art bios on Instagram!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS