The Collaborative Bulletin is created by Jasmine P. Corena & Likhi Rivas

Message from the CEO

September was a good month for our agency, we received the EL Concilio La Raza Award for the agency's work in meeting the needs of the communities we served. The WMCC Team deserves the credit for making this possible. The Month of October has always been an exciting time for the agency we are implementing CWOP 4.0 outreach throughout Stanislaus County regarding health and safety at the workplace. Collaboration with UC Merced Labor Center and 10 other non-profits in the Central Valley on Climate Resilience and Economic Development and Valley Sustainable and Equitable Economic Development (VSEED) Project. El Plan del Pueblo (The People’s Plan) has been launched, and more information will be forthcoming. The City of Modesto will present an update on the Vine Street housing development on October 25th. Halloween is my favorite day of the month, WMCC will be hosting the October Fest family event on the 26th from 4 pm to 6 pm, and we invite City and County officials to come by to help support the community. Finally, the Clinical Program Director for our Wellness program attended the Mindful Leader Summit Conference in Washington, D.C. 

Perfecto Munoz

Chief Executive Officer

September Monthly Recap

Family Health and Resource Fair

We want to extend our sincerest thanks and heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who came out to support us for our Health and Resource Fair. Your contributions, whether in the form of time, resources, or expertise, made a significant impact on the well-being of our neighbors and friends. We are grateful to every individual who attended the fair, whether seeking assistance or simply joining us in celebration. Your presence created an atmosphere of unity, reminding us of the strength that lies within our community. Thank you!



Youth Program: Vision Board

West Modesto Community Collaborative held its first vision board party this month and it was a success. We thank all the students and staff who were able to join us and let their creativity flow. All participants were able to create amazing vision boards and here’s to hoping they all come true! We’ll see you at the next one.

Financial Literacy Class:

The West Modesto Community Collaborative, in collaboration with Valley First Credit Union, is excited to present a series of community sessions focusing on a diverse range of topics designed to empower you in achieving your financial aspirations! The last meeting took place on October 4th, but if you’re interested in learning about finance our English sessions will be beginning soon.

La Raza Award:

The West Modesto Community Collaborative is thrilled to announce that we were honored with the prestigious La Raza Award presented by El Concilio on September 29th, 2023. It was a momentous occasion for our organization, and we want to share our gratitude and excitement with all of you.



Our Chief Executive Officer, Perfecto Munoz, had the distinct privilege of accepting this distinguished award on our behalf, along with our incredible staff. This recognition is a testament to the tireless dedication and hard work of our team and the unwavering support of our community.

We are immensely proud of the work we do to empower and uplift our community, and receiving the La Raza Award is a testament to the impact we've had. We are deeply grateful to El Concilio for this honor and for hosting such a wonderful night of celebration.

Check out what the WMCC Team did this month:

WMCC Program Spotlight:

Valley SEED (Sustainable and Equitable Economic Development)

Valley SEED (Sustainable and Equitable Economic Development) is dedicated to advancing climate resilience as a central pillar of our mission. We believe that climate resilience should be at the forefront of community advocacy and mobilization efforts. By actively engaging community members from diverse backgrounds, we strive to ensure an inclusive and equitable approach to emergency and recovery initiatives. Our goal is to guarantee that all residents, regardless of their background, have access to the resources needed for a resilient future.

In the face of climate challenges, Valley seed recognizes the importance of collaborating with both nonprofit organizations and the private sector to create local employment opportunities. This not only serves to raise awareness about job openings but also addresses the pervasive employment disparities that exist in the San Joaquin Valley. Our emphasis on climate resilience extends to economic empowerment, as we believe that sustainable, resilient communities start with equitable job opportunities.

Valley Seed is focused on helping local residents advocate for housing and immigration reform, given the low socioeconomic status of the Central Valley and the prevalence of immigration in the region. It is also a central aspect of our mission to promote access to health care, as access to such services remains an issue for Valley residents compared to other regions. Through coordination with other nonprofits in the area, Valley Seed aims to promote awareness and engagement of such resources to residents from all backgrounds. 

In conclusion, Valley Seed places climate resilience at the forefront of its efforts. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable approach to addressing climate-related challenges by actively engaging the community, promoting job opportunities, advocating for housing and immigration reform, and enhancing access to healthcare. Through these initiatives we aim to empower residents from all backgrounds to build a more resilient and sustainable San Joaquin Valley for the benefit of present and future generations. CEMI is funded through a collaborative effort with UC Merced’s Labor Center, a program to improve labor and employment issues in the San Juaquin Valley. 

Community Spotlight:

Health Plan of San Joaquin

Employee Spotlight:

Reyna Perales is a Modesto resident, who lives with her high school sweetheart and her 4-year-old husky Cece. Reyna moved from the bay area to the central valley when she was 4 years old and attended Riverbank Language Academy, Salida Middle School, and Gregori High School. After graduating high school, Reyna moved to Sacramento where she attended Sacramento State University and graduated in 2021 with her Bachelor's of Science in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education. 

Reyna started working with WMCC in January of 2022 where she began her role as a Project Coordinator for the ORALE Project. In her role as Project Coordinator, she conducted outreach to coordinate mobile pop-up clinics for COVID-19 vaccines, boosters, and tests in underserved communities throughout Stanislaus County. This public health initiative is what led Reyna to want to be more engaged and continue to do more in providing health and other resources to vulnerable populations and communities. Because of this, Reyna took initiative to take on other responsibilities within the organization to better serve her community.



Reyna’s leadership and commitment has given her opportunities to grow personally and professionally. She has had the opportunity to take roles in being Senior Project Director and Program Manager. In her current role as Program Manager, Reyna supports and manages all WMCC grants, programs and staff. Not only does Reyna play an important role in program implementation and ensuring success but she also plays a role in grant writing, hiring, developing documents, and organizing and planning events. Reyna enjoys helping people and serving the community, her aspiration is to further her education and earn her master's in public health so that she has the skills to understand and work on a wide range of public health issues. 

Upcoming Events

Community News

Have something to share? For inquiries please email our Communications Director: Jasmine P. Corena

jcorena@westmodestocollaborative.com

Stay Up-To-Date with West Modesto

Vibin' with West Modesto

Sit down with co-hosts Jasmine and Likhi as they get to know the Valley Seed project and our newest additions to the WMCC team! They discuss climate resilience, cooling centers, the people's plan, etc.

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