Opera Modesto

“…I want other kids my age to know and help them realize that there are places like it to help them through hard times. I am so glad that it altered my life in such a positive way.”—Ellie By Hillari DeSchane

“I have some learning challenges with auditory and visual processing problems. The staff was fantastic with working and encouraging me without making me feel any different from anyone else.”—Amy

“… (a) game-changer for me. It brought out the personality and courage that I didn’t know I had.”—Roy

Modesto’s business community has a well-earned reputation for investing in and supporting its neighbors, particularly its youth. So what organization is it whose youth program has earned these testimonials from its young participants? A health provider? A faith-based initiative? Would you believe — Opera Modesto? Yes, Modesto’s own opera company, founded over 35 years ago by Modesto native Buck Townsend, remains true to its small town-big heart ideals with its Summer Opera Institute for teens or SOI, entering its third year this July 20-31, 2020.

This hands-on engagement with all parts of the community, not just its ticket-holding audience, is nothing new for the former Townsend Opera, now Opera Modesto, says General and Artistic Director Roy Stevens.

“What is new is that Opera Modesto is engaged in extensive, unexpected community engagement that is nationally unique and, we believe, promotes our shared interest in the health of the community.”

The Summer Opera Institute draws on opera’s cherished tradition of personal mentoring to feed into young people’s lives at perhaps their most vulnerable and challenging stage of development. Students train with accomplished opera and musical professionals in vocal technique, multiple foreign languages, stage movement and craft, plus public speaking and personal presentation. The hours are long, the training is rigorous, the commitment is intense. While participants do audition so they can be placed appropriately, vocal quality or previous training is not a prerequisite, nor is ability to pay.

“We don’t anticipate that most, or even many, of them will go on (to sing academically or professionally)” Stevens says.

What students do take away is the validation that caring and committed professionals saw their worth and shared skills that will prepare the student for whatever life path they pursue — and challenges they confront.

While Opera Modesto continues to mount widely praised major productions such as ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘Carmen,’ and ‘Mansfield Park,’ its Summer Opera Institute, Top Young Artists (TOPYA) and small venue concerts are equally important to this community-focused arts organization.

“Our motto is ‘Enriching the quality of life in the Central Valley through Opera,’” says board member Hillari DeSchane. “Those are not just words on our website, it’s what we believe, and what we work for in all our activities.”

IMAGE COURTESY OPERA MODESTO

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Together, we face this time with many questions and concerns. Panic and uncertainty can lead to paralysis in situations like this. This can cause us to get stuck in the moment and stop looking forward. In reality this slower and more isolated situation is offering us valuable and useable time. By Trish Christensen

We suddenly have time to think, so let’s take stock. Let’s consider what a successful future could look like.

At some point we will enter the recovery stage of all this. What outcomes do you want to prepare for in recovery? So much of it comes down to marketing, in an array of arenas.

It tends to be hard to find the time needed to build a full marketing concept, but we have some downtime and I want to encourage you to make use of it.

I will be sharing some key ideas for you to consider here and there over the next couple weeks to help you build the momentum you’ll need to soar when the crisis subsides.

Ideas designed to jump-start your recovery planning and marketing:

Making a prioritized to-do list and checking off a few items each day.

Care for yourself, employees, friends, family and community.

Doing what you can for your inner circle helps you take small steps and kick-off your action plan.

Dig into the analytics on your website, the insights on your social media platforms, data from advertising, promotions and PR, and the results from your direct communications.

Use that data to update your website, send emails, post on social media channels, consider advertising locally and/or online.

With fresh insight, you can concentrate your efforts on what has worked before.

Now is a great time to experiment with a channel you have been curious about.

A daily practice of respect, empathy, active listening and gratitude starts each day with positive intention. Positivity is contagious.

Maybe today is the day for a vision board for yourself and your business.

Communicate:

Communicate more, not less.

Silence in the face of uncertainty may be a natural response, but it’s not good business.

Offer creative solutions for cancellations — switch to virtual events, postpone to a future date, or refund and rebook with empathy and understanding.

Customers will remember how you responded to their concerns.

Double Up on Fundamentals:

Clearly understanding all your audiences is critical now.

Identify the people who interact with your business: super fans, most frequent purchasers, users (who may be different from purchasers), potential customers, business partners and your employees.

List what matters most to each group. How do your products and services stand apart?

What products and services are the most popular or most unique?

Now is the time to focus on what you do best. Pare back the least profitable or popular offerings.

Focus on cooperation, not competition:

Your business has a unique mix of strengths and specialties, built from your point-of-view.

Being generous with your time and knowledge and supportive of your peers builds a powerful community network that will be there for you too when you need it.

None of us operates independently.

We are part of a greater society, no matter how much distancing is needed at the moment. Looking forward with you, #inthistogether, Trish

About five years ago Focus on Prevention (FoP), a countywide effort to shift from treating symptoms to focus on the root causes began to focus on Homelessness. While FoP is about all community members’ wellbeing, homelessness was impacting our communities. We found a lack of collaboration existed countywide. We started the conversation to bring together all the various organizations and individuals that were working on or wanting to make a difference with homelessness in our community. FoP by encouraging groups to start working together, could see progress with the goal of helping people who are experiencing homelessness make necessary changes to move to self-sufficiency. By Brad Hawn

FoP started convening groups to define the issues and found that there has been a lot of effort by the government and nonprofits, but there has been little collaboration and no common mission. This highlighted the frustration that our efforts are not reducing homelessness.

Over the course of the last two years we have been working on breaking down the silos that kept us from working together. As a result, we have been able to develop a common assessment tool called the Coordinated Entry System that all agencies and nonprofits use to access individuals and information available to the providers so that there is coordination on services and the needs of the individuals can be met.

At the prompting of the 9th Circuit Court ruling requiring Low Barrier Shelters (pets, partners, and possessions allowed) must be available or no enforcement allowed of camping on public property. The city working with the county and service providers were able to overcome significant political pressure and opened Beardbrook Park to camping, which later moved and opened as the MOES (Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter) housing over 500 homeless individuals. Here, significant case work was completed with the individuals helping them to see their next move to the Berberian Low Barrier Shelter (BLBS). Late 2019 the Salvation Army, along with the City of Modesto, and the County of Stanislaus opened the BLBS and housed 180 individuals from MOES. They were provided with extensive case management to help them progress out of homelessness.

The Housing Authority purchased the Kansas Avenue Motel (Kansas House) for permanent supportive housing for individuals. This is not a shelter, but the next step from the BLBS. Kansas House is still a low barrier but there are great efforts to support individuals to do well in transitional housing where they can stay beyond the 12-month target, as long as they continue to work towards housing solutions. This facility will house individuals, most coming from BLBS, and in return opening more beds to house more future BLBS residents.

Other notable changes:

The Migrant Labor Camp in Empire is for the second-year housing 21 homeless families (last year all 21 families were housed before the units were turned back to migrant labor housing).

The county leased a small motel on South 9th Street housing 22 families.

The Gospel Mission has expanded their work with the homeless in a program that helps with life skills.

The Downtown Streets Team has over 40 individuals (mainly housed from the BLBS) earning stipends in return for cleaning the trash from streets. Although the waiting list to get into the program is long, it’s another path to moving out of homelessness and management to get to their goal of a job and a place to live. Caltrans has been working on a job program with the city to help employ homeless individuals as well.

The county is beginning discussions for a countywide housing plan that will address all levels of housing in the county.

Family Promise is expanding its services.

A Center for Human Services youth shelter and navigation center is opening soon.

The Turlock We Care Shelter is expanding their services.

Patterson is under construction with a second module to add a women’s shelter and continuing with a 6 month live in program helping men break out of homelessness, 15 in program and 10 shelter beds.

Discussions are in progress with several churches that are interested in providing long term housing solutions.

We are far from ending homelessness but moving in the right direction to make a significant difference. I am very proud of all the “we” that are mentioned in this article. It takes everyone working together to see this magnitude of results. Our focus is on helping individuals get better rather than just providing shelter with no hope of change.

These networking events are opportunities for members to invite all Chamber members to their businesses to mingle, build relationships, and connect outside of the normal workday. They are perfect environments to showcase your office, products, and/or services, and to share your individual “business story”. If you happen to be a based from home business, you are always welcome to host your event here in the Chamber Conference room.

Included for your sponsorship: *Company Logo on business tailored event flyer *Event and flyer promoted via Chamber Happenings *Event and flyer promoted via all our social media platforms *Event, flyer, and business promoted in Progress Magazine month of event *Pre-event announcements at Chamber events *2 – 3 items to include in a business card drawing *For After-hours events we secure a liquor license, and provide adult beverage

As a Host you are responsible for providing: Before – *Location large enough for up to 50 attendees *Continental Breakfast, or other food of your choice *3 plus Door prizes After –*Location large enough for up to 100 attendees *Appetizer/small plate tidbits, or other food of your choice *3 plus Door prizes

• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) https:// valleysierrasbdc.com/

• Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Coronavirus Disease 2019 https://www.cdc.gov/

• California Department of Public Health - COVID-19 General Information https://covid19.ca.gov/

• U.S. Small. Business Administration: https://www. sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-businessguidance-loan-resources.

Additional Business Resources:

• Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy: https://ajed.assembly.ca.gov/content/covid19-resources

• GoBiz - Business Resource Guide for Business https:// business.ca.gov/

• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19: https://www1.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/ wysk/wysk_ada_rehabilitaion_act_coronavirus. cfm?renderforprint=1

• Volunteer Opportunity https://www.loveourneighbors. org/volunteer

• United Way of Stanislaus County https://www. uwaystan.org/

• Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services http:// www.stanemergency.org/

• Modesto City Schools https://www.mcs4kids.com/ district

• Ceres Unified School District http://www.ceres. k12.ca.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=5439732&page Id=48404601

Small Business Resources from the SBA:

• National Small Business Association Polling: [https:// nsba.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NSBA-COVID19-Poll-2020.pdf]

• Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council Insider [https://sbecouncil.org /2020/03/20/states-withapproved-sba-emergency-declarations/]

• US Black Chamber Resource Guide [https:// usblackchambers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ Small-Business-Policy-Legislative-Resource-Guide-viaUSBC.pdf]

• National ACE Resource Guide [https://www.nationalace. org/news-1]

• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce [https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT0IIu5Qd9c]

• SBR Resource Guide: https://drive.google.com/ file/d/1EZ3huvKSAdz9tTNJTykSP1QZCA_NwA_Y/ view?usp=sharing]

• COVID-19 Employer Resource Tracker [https://www. publicprivatestrategies.com/covid-19]

Public Health Resources

Bank of the West (H Street) Bank of the West (McHenry) Bank of the West (Pelandale) Beard Land and Investment Co. Capax - Giddings, Corby, Hynes, Inc. Doctors Behavioral Health Center-DMC Doctors Medical Center-DMC Frito-Lay Co., Inc. Pacific Southwest Container, Inc. Physician Referral Service-DMC Walmart

Crystal Creamery Doubletree by Hilton Modesto EMOE, Division of Parker Hannifin Corp. Encompass Health Rehabilitation of Modesto Fiscalini Cheese Company IHeart Media Modesto Irrigation District Modesto Nuts Professional Baseball Nestle USA - Carnation Sutter Health Valley Area Sysco Central California Inc.

E & J Gallo Winery Kaiser Permanente

American Chevrolet American Medical Response Aramark Uniform Services Atherton & Associates, LLP Audi Modesto Bank of Stockton - Dale Road Bank of Stockton - Modesto Main Branch Bank of the West (Dale Road) Blue Diamond Growers Blue Diamond Growers Caliber Collision California State University, Stanislaus Care One Home Health and Hospice, Inc. Central Sanitary Supply Co. Central Valley Automotive Central Valley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Central Valley Nissan Central Valley Volkswagen Hyundai Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino Clark Pest Control COIT Services Inc. Collins Electrical Comcast Damrell, Nelson, Schrimp, Pallios, Pacher & Silva Del Monte Plant #1 English Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Hospital Exceed GPR & Locating, LLC F&M Bank (Carpenter Road) F&M Bank (Dale Road) F&M Bank (McHenry) Flooring Liquidators, Inc. Flowers Baking Co. of Modesto, LLC Food Maxx FreshPoint Galletto Ristorante Gianelli Nielsen Gilton Solid Waste Mgmt, Inc. Golden Valley Health Centers Golden Valley Health Centers Golden Valley Health Centers Golden Valley Health Centers Golden Valley Health Centers Grimbleby Coleman CPAs, Inc. Grover Landscape Services, Inc. Infiniti of Modesto International Paper Co. JS West & Companies Lewis Capital Advisors Maxx Value Foods Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mister Car Wash (Prime Shine Car Wash) Mocse Credit Union Mocse Credit Union Modesto Toyota Nine3One NT Nail Spa O'Brien's Market O'Brien's Market O'Brien's Market Oak Valley Community Bank Oak Valley Community Bank Oak Valley Community Bank Opportunity Stanislaus Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Pepsi Bottling Group PMZ Real Estate Residence Inn by Marriott Modesto North Rizo-Lopez Foods, Inc. Rogers Jewelry Rogers Jewelry Co. Rose Bouquet Round Table Pizza #1033 Round Table Pizza #1034 Round Table Pizza #186 Round Table Pizza #701 Round Table Pizza, Corporate San Joaquin Valley College Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets Save Mart Supermarkets - Corp Office Seven-Up Bottling Co. of Modesto/ Varni Brothers Corporation Solecon Industrial Contractors Solid Networks, Inc. Stanislaus Food Products Co. Stanislaus Surgical Hospital Stifel Investment Services Storer Coachways Sutter Gould Medical Foundation The Century and Nine3One The Farmacy The Modesto Bee TSM Insurance & Financial Services Turlock Irrigation District Union Bank US Bank US Bank US Bank (Modesto Main) US Bank Turlock Valley BMW Valley Children's Healthcare Valley Children's Healthcare Valley First Credit Union Valley First Credit Union (Dale Branch) Valley First Credit Union Administrative Offices Valley Lexus Vintage Faire Mall/Macerich Company W.H. Breshears, Inc. Warden's Office Furniture Outlet Warden's Office Products Center Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Wells Fargo Bank Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency Yosemite Meat Co., Inc.