Welcome to The Collaborative Bulletin!

Throughout the month, the agency hosted a number of important community meetings, including listening sessions on the proposed United Soccer League (USL) stadium location in West Modesto, housing updates, the City of Modesto’s Consolidation Plan, and discussions with the Council of Governments (COG). We also held a session on air quality, “Breathe In, Speak Out” in collaboration with the Valley Improvement Projects during the Community Builders Meeting. Climate and air quality remain some of the most pressing issues, as highlighted in the People’s Plan for Economic Justice in Stanislaus County. The community continues to amplify its voice, advocating for the needs of our most underserved neighborhoods.

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 This has been an amazing year for the agency. As I look back, I see many activities in the areas of outreach programs, Child Wellness, the completion of El Plan del Pueblo, Climate Resilience, the Wellness Center, and many more efforts to better serve the underserved community of West Modesto and the County.

To highlight the end of the fiscal year (July 2024 to June 30, 2025), we launched our Summer Youth Program to encourage and develop new leaders for the future. We also held a Mental Health Seminar for the community and Community-Based Organizations, which featured the opportunity to hear from Jerry Tello, a respected expert in the field of Self-Care and Spiritual Wellness. What an amazing presentation!

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The month of May has been a very productive time for the agency. We celebrated Cinco de Mayo with luncheons and had a staff member perform the National Anthem at the Modesto Nuts baseball game. May is Mental Health Month, and the agency’s programs offered several activities for both staff and the community. One of the programs, called Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind, invited community members to learn about the importance of self-care and mindfulness activities. This event was well attended by community members and their children.

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 We proudly participated in the Equity on the Mall event, collaborating with the San Joaquin Valley Health Foundation. The purpose of this event was to highlight accomplishments and policy initiatives in areas such as immigration, health, education, land use and planning, climate, environmental justice, the digital divide, and housing. Community members had the opportunity to visit their elected officials' offices, many for the first time, and tour the State Capitol. Participants came from Kern, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Sacramento counties. 

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 Our Navigation Program continues to be a vital resource for families facing financial hardships. Many families are still struggling to find affordable housing. Due to the limited housing stock in West and South Modesto, more families are choosing to double up in apartments or homes just to meet the high cost of living in the area. Unfortunately, rental challenges persist, and families frequently turn to us for rental and utility assistance during these difficult times. 

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February has been a month of increased collaboration, with more agencies reaching out to WMCC to host and co-organize meetings on a variety of topics. WMCC has facilitated discussions with both the Police and Sheriff’s Departments to engage the community in learning about the services each department provides. Notably, the agency hosted the Citizens Police Review Board, marking the first time the board met as a group at an off-site location. The high attendance at both meetings underscores WMCC’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong relationships between law enforcement and the community. This level of advocacy and participation is crucial for civic engagement and building trust with both agencies.

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As we step into February, the challenges of the past weeks, though daunting, remind us of the resilience and strength within our communities. For many immigrant families—who bring cultural richness, dedication, and hard work—these changes have instilled deep fear of deportation. Families who have long contributed to our society now face uncertainty, struggling with the loss of income, limited access to essential resources, unpaid utility bills, and the heartbreaking decision to keep their children home from school out of fear.

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Wow, another year has passed. 2024 has been an incredibly positive year for the West Modesto Community Collaborative. We saw growth in the number of community members we served, increasing from 13,000 the previous year to 20,000 in 2024—an increase of 7,000 lives we have touched.

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