In its omnipresent efforts to bring awareness to domestic violence, Community Solutions—which was created to provide support services to the victims of such acts—will continue its tradition of taking to the big stage with its series entitled “Historias de Mi Madre.”
This year, the meaningful play and ninth installment—being called “El Rapaso”—will review the previous Community Solutions productions over those years that focused on a broad spectrum of issues from sexual assault to human and sex trafficking to teen dating to bisexual/transgender relationships.
“(Domestic violence) is an issue we are all very passionate about,” said Perla Flores, the program director with Community Solutions. “This year, we are doing a review and celebration of different topics we’ve covered over the last nine years and a little bit of a preview to our play for next year.”
Flores writes the script and directs the annual productions, which always involves Community Solutions staff and volunteers as well as family members and former clients who were once victims.
“We really try to make (the play) an event that anyone interested has the opportunity to participate,” said Flores, who decided to start the performing arts initiative back in 2007 after doing some community theater herself. “I thought it was an engaging and entertaining method to raise awareness, as well as educational.”
The play is open to everyone. There is a suggested $10 donation at the door “to cover our expenses for supplies, props, food and things like that. But we don’t turn anyone away who wants to enjoy the show,” Flores stressed.
This year’s play begins at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 inside the Gavilan College Theater, located at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. in Gilroy.
“Every story, unfortunately, has been developed with clients we’ve worked with directly or our sister organizations have worked with,” she added.
Community Solutions has offices in Morgan Hill (16264 Church St. #103), Gilroy (9015 Murray Ave. #100), San Jose (5671 Santa Teresa Blvd. #202 and #203) and Hollister (310 Fourth Street #105). It is a self-referral service where anyone who believes they need help can just walk in and “say ‘I’m a victim of domestic violence and I need support,’” Flores said. Or, they can call the Community Solutions hotline at (877) 363-7238. No verification is needed. Victims don’t need to have filed a police report and everything is confidential.
“We supply advocacy, therapy and court accompaniment in both English and Spanish,” Flores said.
With their support, former clients have taken back control of their lives and gone on to start successful businesses. Those clients are able to come to the production and promote their businesses, or exhibit their artwork, or anything they’d like to showcase. Also on hand at the play are other service agencies with literature on how they assist those seeking help. The show is for mature audiences but Community Solutions does provide child care.
“We try to bring awareness about the issue and provide resources to South County residents because that’s the population that we work with,” Flores said.
Community Solutions offers a variety of programs and services for children, teens, adults and seniors. Programs include mental health services for all ages, support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and housing programs for clients facing mental health and other challenges.
