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The world of design is more than just art on a page, it's a vibrant tapestry woven into every facet of our daily lives. Hear Amanda Sanchez, co-director of Capital Creative Alliance, share how a merger of four local creative agencies has redefined collaboration and creativity in the Sacramento region. Capital Creative Alliance, born from the unification of Design Sacramento, Creativity Plus Sacramento, Roseville UX, and SAC Desco, present Design Week Sacramento. Amanda takes us on a guided tour of Design Week Sacramento, an eclectic celebration that goes beyond the realm of graphic design to embrace all forms of creative expression. From the innovative furniture designs at the Sandpaper Factory to the interactive maker spaces at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, the event offers something for everyone who appreciates the art of design. The week culminates in a two-day professional development conference and features exciting events like Adobe's Create Now at The Sofia and a spirited trivia night at Bike Dog Brewing. This event is your gateway to discovering the creative forces shaping Sacramento and beyond. For complete details, visit

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

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I sit down with Michael Stevenson, Artistic Director, to explore how Capital Stage delivers bold, conversation-starting theater in one of Sacramento’s most intimate professional venues—just 127 seats, no microphones, and acting so close you can feel the breath. We talk origin stories (from a 99-seat space on the Delta King to today’s J Street home), the company’s appetite for risk, why emotionally engaging audiences lowers “intellectual guards,” and the post-pandemic realities of keeping cutting-edge theater sustainable.

Why Listen

• Hear how intimacy (four rows from the stage) changes performance, voice, and audience impact.
• Learn how Capital Stage curates “conversation starters” that linger for months—sometimes years.
• Get a candid look at funding, staffing, housing actors, and rebuilding audiences in 2025.
• Partnerships, rolling world premieres, community outreach, and academy training.

Key Topics

• The Capital Stage Difference: 127 seats, un-mic’d performances, “tiny, detailed” acting that hits emotionally first.
• Programming Philosophy: Contemporary satire + award-winning dramas (e.g., English, The Nether, Pass Over, Lehman Trilogy, Vietgone, Heroes of the Fourth Turning, King James).
• Community & Inclusion: Ambassadorship to underrepresented communities; shows that invite new audiences into the room.
• Funding Reality: Earned vs. contributed revenue, AB-5 impacts, material/labor costs, and audience recovery plateaus.
• Education & Pipeline: Cap Stage Academy, apprenticeships, and rehearsal/office hub at CLARA.
• Partnerships: From local cultural orgs and associations to health and education partners tied to specific productions.
• What’s Next: Flex tickets, dynamic pricing exploration, deeper community collaborations, and rebuilding subscriptions.

Memorable Moments

• “Engage people emotionally and their intellectual guards go down.”
• Audience members still talking about shows a year later.
• A Vietnamese elder’s thanks after Vietgone: “Thank you for telling this story.”

Quick Stats & Operations

• House size: 127 seats
• Season: 7 productions/year (~29 performances each; ~200+ performances annually)
• Subscribers: Peaked ~2,283 pre-COVID; ~1,800 today and rebuilding
• Model: ~60–65% earned / ~35–40% contributed (individual donors are critical)

How to Support / Get Involved

• See a show, bring a friend, and talk about it after—be part of the “cap chat.”
• Subscribe or pick up flex tickets for maximum convenience.
• Sponsor a production or become an annual donor.
• Offer actor housing or in-kind services.
• Learn more: capstage.org (tickets, calendar, classes, donations).

Chapter Guide (approx.)

• 00:00 Welcome & series context
• 02:00 Why

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.

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The Hispanic Economic Report:
Cathy Rodriguez Aguirre, President and CEO of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, joins me to talk about the Hispanic Economic Report. This report, first produced in 2021, provides essential data on the growth, contributions, and economic impact of Hispanic-owned businesses in the Sacramento region. Cathy discusses the importance of localized data, the progress observed since the first report, and the value of this information for business owners and policymakers. Key findings include an increase in Hispanic homeownership, shrinking digital divide, and growing entrepreneurship. Cathy also highlights the collaborative efforts and partnerships that made the report possible and how stakeholders can access and benefit from it. Students at CSUS Sacramento played a role in the collaborative effort with the design of a mapping product as well.

You can learn more about the report and download it by visiting the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:43 The State of Hispanic Business Report: Origins and Purpose
02:25 Impact and Insights from the Report
06:43 Challenges and Areas for Improvement
08:33 Collaborations and Contributions
12:24 Accessing the Report and Final Thoughts

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.