Ivan (center) with friends. Photos courtesy Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC). SEE MORE PHOTOS BELOW
VENTURA COUNTY — Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme announced the successful completion of their inaugural Summer to Remember program, an eight-week enrichment initiative that served 15 children living at Dolores Huerta Gardens Apartments in Oxnard from June 22 through August 14. The program brought free, on-site academic support, recreation and creative programming directly to the community where these children live, marking Cabrillo EDC’s first partnership that expands summer services for young residents.
Over eight weeks, the group gathered on-site most weekdays, turning the community room into a hub of activity for children. Participants teamed up for board games, worked side by side on arts and crafts projects, and built the kind of everyday connection that comes from spending a summer together.
For siblings Esmeralda and Ivan Vivar, Summer to Remember was their first time attending a summer camp. The pair live with their mother, Esperanza Solano, at Dolores Huerta Gardens Apartments, where the free, on-site format meant they could walk to the community room each day instead of relying on transportation. Over the eight weeks, Esmeralda and Ivan built new friendships while spending their afternoons working on arts and crafts projects and enjoying new and exciting experiences.
The collaboration grew out of a three-day training last fall hosted by NeighborWorks America, a congressionally chartered nonprofit focused on expanding affordable housing nationwide. The program was fully funded by $12,500 in grants from NeighborWorks America and First Citizens Bank. “Seeing 15 kids walk into that community room this summer, making new friends and just being kids, that is exactly what Summer to Remember was built for,” said Victoria Brady, Chief Executive Officer of Cabrillo EDC. “Transportation and accessibility are real barriers that many of our resident families face, but with effort, these are challenges we can address.”
“Summer to Remember is so much more than summer activities, it’s about creating meaningful experiences, building connections, and giving young people in our communities a summer filled with opportunities,” said Bianca Farmer, Director of Resident and Community Services at Cabrillo EDC. Cabrillo EDC and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme plan to bring
Summer to Remember back next year.
“When we bring that enrichment directly to where families live, we’re not just filling time between school years, we’re protecting the progress these kids have worked so hard to make,” said Erin Antrim, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme. “We’re proud of what these young people accomplished, and we’re just getting started.”
Community members, philanthropic partners and local businesses interested in supporting the next Summer to Remember can visit Cabrillo EDC’s official website at https://www.cabrilloedc.org/
About Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation
Cabrillo EDC is the largest developer of affordable homes in Ventura County. Cabrillo’s success is the result of decades of passion, dedication and vision. With a mission of providing comprehensive housing services and community economic development activities, Cabrillo facilitates self-sufficiency for individuals and families who are lacking most in opportunity. Since its founding in 1981, the organization has been committed to providing affordable housing solutions and creating sustainable communities for those in need. Cabrillo EDC works with a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector partners, and community organizations, to address the housing needs of underserved populations.
