Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805.
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor
David Magallanes
In an unexpected corner of Ventura County, we have access to an impressive array of educational, musical, artistic, historical, poetic, theatrical and medical presentations for our community—free of charge. That former “diamond in the rough” in South Oxnard—Oxnard Community College—has evolved into a “shining city on a hill” (if you can imagine that in Oxnard!). Every Wednesday throughout the series, over the past several years at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., the college has held its highly renowned Literature and Arts Lecture Series for the general public at the new and architecturally exquisite Performing Arts Center. The program changes every semester; there’s always something new and different. I have attended many of these presentations and I’m always intrigued, thrilled, enriched or entertained—but always educated about something.
This fall semester, the presentations are, once again, deliciously varied. Included in this semester’s lineup: theatrical works in American Sign Language; a personal story about the path from daunting deprivation to stunning professional success; breast cancer awareness; poetry; swing, jazz and blues; Israeli musicians playing ancient Middle Eastern instruments; a historical perspective on marriage in Ireland; experiences of a volunteer in support of Martin Luther King; a Chicano artist talks about his life and work; and analysis of a novel.
Although the presentations are free, visitor parking is $2.00. For full details, be sure to visit the college web site for the Lecture Series at: http://www.oxnardcollege.edu/news/2015-fall-literature-arts-lecture-series. I personally encourage the community to attend as many presentations as possible. This would be an excellent opportunity for a visitor to walk around our relatively new campus and see firsthand this fine institution that is dedicated to educating our students for this new century.
— David Magallanes is a writer, speaker and professor of mathematics. You may visit his web site, dedicated to honoring daughters and keeping them healthy, at www.roses4daughters.com. You may contact him through e-mail at dmagallanes@roses4daughters.com.
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El Ciclo de Presentaciones del Colegio de Oxnard
Por David Magallanes / Columnista invitado
En una esquina inesperada del Condado de Ventura, tenemos libre acceso a una serie de presentaciones académicas, musicales, artísticas, históricas, poéticas, teatrales y médicas, todas para nuestra comunidad—y totalmente gratis. Ese antiguo “diamante en bruto” en el sur de Oxnard—Oxnard Community College—se ha desarrollado en una “brillante ciudad sobre el monte” (¡si eso se puede imaginar en Oxnard!). Cada miércoles a través del ciclo, durante varios años ya, desde la 1:00 hasta las 2:00 de la tarde, el colegio ha presentado su altamente renombrado Ciclo de Presentaciones en Literatura y Artes para el público en general en su nuevo y arquitectónicamente exquisito Centro de Artes Escénicas. El programa cambia cada semestre; siempre hay algo nuevo y diferente. Su servidor ha asistido a muchas de estas presentaciones y siempre me quedo intrigado, conmovido, enriquecido o entretenido—pero a la vez siempre educado sobre algo.
Este semestre de otoño, las presentaciones son, una vez más, deliciosamente variadas. Incluido en elenco para el semestre: obras de teatro en lengua de signos americana; una historia personal sobre el camino desde una pobreza contundente hasta un éxito profesional rotundo; conocimientos sobre cáncer del seno; música swing, jazz y “blues”; músicos israelíes tocando instrumentos antiguos del Medio Oriente; una perspectiva histórica sobre el matrimonio en Irlanda; las experiencias de un voluntario quien apoyaba a Martin Luther King; un artista chicano platica sobre su vida y sus obras; el análisis de una novela literaria.
Aunque las presentaciones sean gratis, el estacionamiento es de $2.00. Para los detalles completos, asegúrense de visitar el sitio cibernético del colegio para El Ciclo de Presentaciones en: http://www.oxnardcollege.edu/news/2015-fall-literature-arts-lecture-series. Personalmente, aliento a la comunidad a que asisten a todas las presentaciones que puedan. Esto sería una gran oportunidad para que los visitantes vayan explorando los relativamente nuevos terrenos académicos y que vean de primera mano esta fina institución que se ha dedicado a educar a nuestros estudiantes del nuevo siglo.
-– David Magallanes es un escritor, orador y profesor de matemáticas. Usted puede visitar su sitio cibernético, dedicado a la honra y la salud de nuestras hijas, en www.roses4daughters.com. Se puede comunicar con él por e-mail a: dmagallanes@roses4daughters.com.
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