OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

PREVIOUS EVENTS

     SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: HEALING ROOTS THERAPEUTICS

By: Mariah Ring

   Owner and founder of Healing Roots Therapeutics, a Psychiatric Nursing Corp. Angela Njoroge, originally began her journey in the medical field as a Licensed Vocational Nurse. Wanting to do more for her patients, she became a Registered Nurse, but still felt that she had more work to do and knowledge to gain. Becoming a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner gave Angela the opportunity to cultivate a person-centered practice focused on giving individual attention to clients. Angela's focus is to normalize and challenge the bias with clients seeking support for mental health. Angela believes in a holistic, evidence based and integrative approach, where the mind-body connection is fully honored and nurtured. 

     Since opening Healing Roots Therapeutics in 2023, Angela has been able to help clients navigate through challenging times by providing comprehensive care. Healing Roots Therapeutics offers a variety of services to meet clients’ needs, including therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as medication management. Clients can even opt for combined therapy and medication management appointments to better suit their busy schedules. These services are offered in-person, via video call, or by phone to provide ease of access. When meeting in person, clients can visit the Healing Roots Therapeutics office in Tracy, at a comfy coffee shop, or meet in the community for a walk-and-talk session. Angela’s goal is to support clients wherever they are in their personal journeys and help empower them to live a healthy future.

     Healing Roots Therapeutics  currently accepts private pay clients as well as a select insurances through a third-party platform called Headway. Clients can visit the website to see which insurance plans are in-network  including, but not limited to, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem Blue Cross of California. For those without insurance or who are out-of-network, transparent pricing is available on the website, and Angela also offers limited “pay what you can” slots for those experiencing financial hardship.
     Angela is also looking to expand the services she offers. Providing more group therapy sessions for the community, focusing on outreach within marginalized communities, and eventually starting a nonprofit branch of her practice to provide mental health support to underserved communities are all future goals to ensure that services are more attainable.

     Angela is just getting started with Healing Roots Therapeutics, with plans to continue growing and providing support to the community with even more services. To learn more about Healing Roots Therapeutics services, visit their website linked below or send an email to healingrootstherapeutics@gmail.com today! 

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: LA FAMILIA CENTRAL VALLEY

By: Mariah Ring

     La Familia has helped residents in underserved communities for over 50 years, expanding to the Central Valley to continue this work in 2022. La Familia Central Valley aims to “provide underserved communities with the tools and support necessary to build resilience, wellness, and economic power,” hoping to create “healthy, prosperous, and safe communities for all.” Through several free and affordable programs offered to the most vulnerable communities, La Familia is able to meet people where they are and provide them with the tools they need the most.

     To ensure that mental wellness is within reach of all, La Familia offers services in both English and Spanish, as well as in-person and via Telehealth. Through their Stan Connect program, Stanislaus county residents in the Riverbank, West Modesto, and Airport neighborhoods are able to access free mental health services. Stan Connect provides residents with opportunities for individual, group, and couples therapy, comprehensive case management, and assistance with connection to any other services they may need. This program aims to not only provide support to marginalized communities, but also to bridge the gaps in community resources. Outside of Stan Connect, La Familia offers a plethora of services for all age groups. Youth can access mental health counseling and case management support via school-based counselors throughout Stanislaus and Merced counties. In efforts to reduce school violence, La Familia has also implemented Un Paso Adelante, a school-wide program that offers students support and utilizes curated curriculum from the National Compadres Network. Adults and older individuals can also access counseling and case management, continuing to bridge the gap of services that exists in the Central Valley. Those experiencing homelessness are able to receive support through La Familia’s We Care Program located in Turlock. As part of this program, the We Care Shelter provides assistance with housing, food, clothing, employment, and benefits. The Older Adult services provided by the organization, support community members over 60 years of age and their caregivers. Improving the mental health of older adults improves their quality of life and brings dignity to the aging process. La Familia offers the Central Valley with services to meet their needs at every stage of life. 

   Recently, La Familia introduced a mobile office to their clients, allowing them to hold sessions in more rural areas, where residents would not otherwise have access to counseling. This mobile unit has all the amenities of a typical office setting, but with the advantage of being able to travel wherever it is needed. The Mobile Mental Health Unit has been in operation since April of this year and shows innovation that the Central Valley truly needs to support its residents.

    Looking ahead, La Familia is excited to continue expanding their services throughout the Central Valley and hope to open a branch in a new community in the near future. La Familia has always and will continue to value belonging, social justice, self-determination, integrity, and partnership. They are continuously looking for new methods to best equip community members for success. Follow them on Instagram, @lafamiliacv, or visit their website linked below to see a comprehensive list of services offered.

CREATIVE NATIVE Q & A: LAURA SHARP

Q: What is your name and hometown? 

A: My name is Laura Desiree Sharp, and my hometown is Delhi, CA.

Q: How were you first introduced to art/photography?

A: I was first introduced to art at a young age, when I was homeschooled for a few years. During that time, I took arts and crafts classes and worked on school projects that required me to create hands-on art. The passion always stuck with me, but it wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I picked up a camera and started taking photos for my school’s yearbook.

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

A: Creating art isn’t my full-time career—yet—but I’d love to take it as far as possible while also exploring other forms of art that interest me.

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

A: I find a lot of my inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest. The artists who inspire me the most are Shweta Mistry, Scott Boldt, and Karly Kreative. They all have different styles, but what they share is a strong sense of storytelling through their art.

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

A: I believe the most prominent and recurring theme in my photography is attention to detail. For me, this means highlighting what’s often overlooked—especially in sports—and capturing moments you don’t usually see from the stands.

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

A: Some advice I have for any young people interested in pursuing a career in the arts—but who may feel anxious to start—is: ask as many questions as you can. Invest time into learning through YouTube and social media so you can weigh the pros and cons before diving in.

Q: Where can people go to view your work?

A: People can view my photography on any social media platform: Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, under the handle @ShotsbySharp.

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

A: I'm very excited to share that I will be the head of media and team photographer for Modesto Junior College's Football team for this upcoming season!

COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES