This December the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum we reflect upon and celebrate our 2023 accomplishments while anticipating what 2024 will bring.
Central Coast Veterans Museum in SLO December Updates
Author: Community Contributor
District216’s 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Membership Discount
To CELEBRATE an amazing inaugural year of community, education, and 51 gatherings thus far at District216, we are gifting you a LIFETIME discount on Annual Memberships if you purchase before January 1, 2024.
Bilingual report — Mayor Leslie Cornejo and Vice-Mayor Pedro Chavez Assume Prominent Roles in Santa Paula City Council
SANTA PAULA — During a largely ceremonial Council meeting on the evening of December 6, 2023, former Vice Mayor Leslie Cornejo, a distinguished Santa Paula businesswoman and owner-operator of Santa Paula Travel Service, assumed the esteemed role as the 121st Mayor of Santa Paula, coincidentally on her birthday. This transition of leadership unfolded amidst a packed Council Chambers as Cornejo graciously accepted the mayoral responsibilities, receiving the symbolic gavel from the outgoing Mayor Andy Sobel.
Bilingual commentary — It’s Been Quite a Year
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local 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 •…
Bilingual report — CAUSE and MICOP Host Event Celebrating Art, Stories, and Culture of Farmworker Families
CENTRAL COAST — (On Dec. 1), the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) celebrated and honored the farmworker families of Santa María at an event called “La Cultura Cura” (The Culture Cures). More than 60 people attended the event, which aimed to help build a more united community, one that connects and strengthens through art. Music, dance, song, poetry, and painting were the centerpieces of a special night that will undoubtedly remain in the memory of the people present. After a year often marked with painful reminders about the challenges faced by farmworkers, from high-profile investigations of labor violations to the workplace deaths of farmworkers in Guadalupe and Cuyama (see statement here), the “Cultura Cura” event offered an opportunity to reflect in joy and value family bonding moments.
Teatro de las Américas — Muestra de cortos en español | Karaoke Night | Taller de Cine 2024
Primera muestra de cortos en español del Teatro de las Américas 2023
Teatro de las Américas Spanish Short Film Showcase
Santa Paula Art Museum — Inbox Art Exhibit: ‘The Art of George Lockwood’ on view through Jan. 14. Plus, upcoming classes
“The Art of George Lockwood” is a solo exhibition by Santa Barbara County artist, and Santa Paula native, George Lockwood. The exhibit features 37 original paintings representing scenes and subject matter from Santa Paula to the Central Coast to the Pacific Northwest. All of the artworks are available for purchase.
Local Physicians and Cottage Health Partner to Open New Surgery Center in North County
SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Health, in partnership with physicians Christopher Birch, MD; Erin Haggerty, MD; Michael Kenly, MD; Asher Kupperman, MD; Eli Kupperman, MD; Amit Nathani, MD and Amy Wickman, MD, is announcing plans for a new ambulatory surgery center in northern Santa Barbara County.
Upon opening, the new surgery center, which is co-owned by the independent community physicians and Cottage Health, will increase access to convenient, high-quality orthopedic surgical services and pain management. It will serve as a cost-effective point of care for patients throughout the region from Solvang to Paso Robles. The state-of-the-art, 12,000 square-foot center also will be licensed to expand its scope to additional specialties.
United Way of Ventura County introduces new Director of Resource Development and Marketing
VENTURA COUNTY — United Way of Ventura County is proud to announce it has appointed Jill Shaffer as director of resource development and marketing. She brings more than 40 years of experience in marketing and fundraising within the nonprofit sector.
Shaffer most recently served as the community engagement manager at Unite Us, where she developed strong relationships with community partners and facilitated collaboration with over 100 local organizations and agencies connecting them to vital services through the coordinated care network.
Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) Economic Development Collaborative Now Providing Workplace English Language Literacy Training for Workers
CAMARILLO —The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is now enrolling employees in workplace English language training at NO-COST, thanks to a one-time grant from the Employment Training Panel. This opportunity is specifically designed to serve workers who are immigrants and refugees or non-English speakers within the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
To provide accessible career-aligned English upskilling courses, EDC is partnering with EnGen, a registered BCorp delivering English language training for workers at many of America’s largest corporations. Training benefits include:
SBCC Nursing Program marks endings and new beginnings at Dec. 15 ‘pinning’ ceremony
SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, Dec. 15, the most recent cohort of nursing graduates from Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) will formally complete the program with a “pinning” ceremony, earning themselves an Associate Degree in Science in Nursing (ADN). The graduates will have the distinction of completing the program having gone through real-life experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic in the medical field.
This particular cohort – made up of 18 Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Bridge students and 20 ADN generic students – is special, according to Dept. Chair/Director, Associate Degree Nursing and ADN Program Director Mary Sullivan MSN-Ed, RNC- MNN, as they are “the last group that went through nursing school at SBCC during the full-on Covid-19 pandemic.” Curriculum for the program includes hands-on training at Cottage Hospital, where students and instructors from this cohort experienced varying degrees of challenges and stresses working in the medical field during and after the pandemic.
Clean Power Alliance Ranked the Number One Green Power Provider in the United States by National Renewable Energy Laboratory
LOS ANGELES — Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has capped its fifth anniversary year of serving Southern California customers with a prestigious number one national ranking by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the sale of green power.
The NREL 2022 Utility Green Power Rankings, announced in fall 2023, is an annual list of top green power providers throughout the United States. The national report has historically identified and compared investor owned (IOU) and publicly owned utilities’ (POU) clean energy programs, evaluating green pricing, customer acquisition and sales. This year marked the first time the NREL included the nation’s community choice aggregators (CCAs), such as CPA.
Island Packers Announces One-Hour Holiday Lights Harbor Cruises Throughout December 2023
VENTURA — This holiday season, Island Packers will be offering a series of one-hour Holiday Lights Harbor Cruises, departing from Ventura Harbor Village. The Cruises are a splendid way to celebrate the season with family and friends all month long.
The one-hour Holiday Lights Harbor Cruises in Ventura Harbor are offered to visitors on select dates through 12/23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Visitors cake opt to take a cruise of the Ventura Keys to view decorated waterfront homes and listen to seasonal music on
December 17, 18 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23, 2023.
Lumina Alliance Invites Community to Take the Pledge for Gun Safety
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Lumina Alliance recently announced a Gun Safety Campaign with the goal of raising awareness on the intersection between firearms and intimate partner violence. As part of the campaign, Lumina Alliance is now inviting the community to take a Pledge for Gun Safety, and to commit to taking action to end gun violence In SLO County.
Mechanics Bank Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 Builder Games $10,000 sponsorship to benefit the Supportive Housing Program and Camino Scholars of People’s Self-Help Housing
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received a generous presenting sponsorship of $10,000 from Mechanics Bank for their Builder Games fundraiser to be held on April 27, 2024. The funds raised from this event will benefit the Supportive Housing and Camino Scholars programs of PSHH.
The 2024 Builder Games will see eight local teams made up of architects, banks, and community supporters go head-to-head in a series of building-related challenges as they build playhouses for children. Guests will have the opportunity to cheer on teams, enjoy gourmet food, fine wine, craft beer, and a live DJ. In addition to raffles and silent auction items, playhouses will be auctioned off at the end of the event.
“We are incredibly grateful to Mechanics Bank for becoming the first presenting sponsor of this event since its inception three years ago,” said Ken Trigueiro CEO & President, “This tremendous gift will help to support many of our residents and, alongside other sponsors, has already helped us reach more than two-thirds of our sponsorship goal before the event has even begun!”
The Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) — the Marquezes Have a New Home
Yolanda Marquez dreamt of owning her own home, a place where her family of five could relax, be creative, and host family get-togethers. As a working-class family, she cherished sharing the traditions that come with raising a family and making memories by spending quality time together. As each year passed, she felt her dream was slipping away due to increasing housing prices and down payment requirements. She knew in her heart that one day her current arrangement could quickly end: the home where she lived was owned by someone else and her fear was that her rental house would be redeemed with little notice. In addition, annual rent increases meant less money to save for her own.
To make matters even more challenging, the Marquezes lived with another family under the same roof. As convenient as this was, Yolanda knew her family that includes three teenagers didn’t have the privacy afforded to families with their own home. Once she heard about Ventura County Community Development Corporation from her realtor, she was determined to change her circumstances and learn what she could do to buy her own place.
She tapped into all the information provided by VCCDC including how she could become mortgage ready and qualify to receive down payment assistance worth over $100,000, made available to low-to moderate-income households. She decided this was the time to make her dream a reality and began taking steps to purchase her own home.
Cottage Health Opens New Primary Care Clinic in Santa Barbara
SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Health is expanding access to healthcare with a new, primary care clinic, Cottage Primary Care – Santa Barbara – Oak Park. The new clinic, located at 2329 Oak Park Lane in Santa Barbara is now open and accepting new patients.
Yana Gristan, MD and Arielle Kanner, DO, both of whom completed residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, are the lead physicians offering in-person and virtual medical care to adult patients at this new location.
Drs. Gristan and Kanner understand the importance of building strong patient-physician relationships and look forward to providing personalized care and treatment plans for wellness and prevention, early detection and management of health conditions.
Kelly Knight and Gabe Grandcolas of Knight Real Estate Group. Knight is the recipient of two awards from the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors
SANTA BARBARA — Kelly Knight, a long-time Santa Barbara real estate broker and the founder of Knight Real Estate Group, an affiliate of Village Properties, received two prestigious awards Dec. 1 from the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors.
A full-time, licensed real estate broker since 2005, Knight is a highly respected local agent who is dedicated to serving both her clients and the community at large. She received the Howard Gates Award for coordinating the sale of a property gifted to the nonprofit Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara (SFSB), the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships. The association judged the sale as the most “challenging and intricate transaction” of 2023 that demanded “exceptional perseverance, determination, diligence, patience, and expertise”.
Documentary on life of Oxnard resident biologist and writer René Corado wins awards at Guatemala film festival
OXNARD — “El Lustrador (The shoeshine Boy),” a documentary about the life of a long time Oxnard resident biologist and writer René Corado, received the award for Best Guatemalan Short Documentary and an Honorable Mention for best International Direction at the Guatemala at The Festival internacional Academia de Cine Antigua 2023 (International Film Festival Antigua 2023) Dec. 8, 2023.
The documentary was produced and starred the long time Oxnard resident and Guatemalan migrant, biologist and writer René Corado in his native country Guatemala.
“We did it, we won at the Festival, I am super happy!, Corado stated on his social networks shortly after receiving the awards.
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County awarded $5 million in approved funding from SCAG’s Lasting Affordability Program
VENTURA COUNTY — Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) has been awarded $5,000,000 from the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) as part of the Regional Early Action Planning (REAP) 2.0 Lasting Affordability program. The funding will support the creation of the Housing Trust Fund Ventura County’s Revolving Long- Term Loan Program for Infill Affordable Housing Developments Project. This project will establish a long-term loan program and will increase the lending capacities of Housing Trust Fund VC. In addition, this grant will provide resources to Housing Land Trust Ventura County (Housing Land Trust VC) to create policies and procedures which will advance Housing Land Trust VC to attract additional capital and land donations. The anticipated outcomes from the new fund include 656 affordable housing units in Ventura County by 2031.
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County December Update
SJFVC Fellow Marisol Gonzalez Building
Fillmore Relationships
Last week, SJFVC Fellow Marisol Gonzalez and Board Member Kim Marra Stephenson presented to the Fillmore Lions Club about SJFVC and Marisol’s work in establishing the Fillmore Conservation Corps.
Bilingual report — 34 cadets graduate from Allan Hancock College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy
SANTA MARIA — After 16 weeks of classroom and field instruction, 34 cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy on Dec.7. The cadets were recognized for completing the Emergency Medical Services Academy 1A during a ceremony at Hancock’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.
Upon completion of the training, the cadets can provide basic life-saving skills and have passed a national registry test to become emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center Introduces Titan: The Resilient Pup Adopted, Rehomed, and Abandoned at Another Shelter Has Been Saved Thanks to a Microchip!
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), Ventura’s leading and only no-kill animal shelter, introduces Titan, a remarkable dog with an extraordinary story of resilience and hope. Titan, a 2.5-year-old big-hearted puppy, is patiently awaiting his new chance at a loving forever home, again.
In March of 2022, Titan’s journey began when he was adopted as a 1-year-old adorable, goofy puppy from SPARC and was subsequently adopted into a loving home. Little did anyone know; Titan would then experience unspeakable heartbreak of being bounced around from home to home. But fate had a different plan for Titan, leading him to an unexpected detour that would ultimately bring him right back to SPARC.
CSUCI students headed to Lahaina to do research and help with restoration
CAMARILLO — The historic Hawaiian village of Lahaina has been integral to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) student and faculty research for years. Lahaina has been the base for CSUCI student research led by Professor Emerita and whale biologist Rachel Cartwright, Professor of Mathematics Cindy Wyels, and Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Research Management (ESRM) Clare Steele.
Lahaina is now four months into what will be years of cleanup and restoration following the fires that tore through Maui in early August, causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage, destroying 3,000 structures, and reducing the historic town of Lahaina to smoldering ruins. Several of CSUCI’s non-governmental organizations (NGO) partners lost their homes.
Museum of Ventura County membership donations, survey, upcoming events
2024 All-New Membership Perks!
Gift a Membership this Holiday Season
MVC is thrilled to announce the relaunch of its Membership Program, welcoming supporters to join the cultural community and become part of an exciting new chapter at the Museum. MVC’s updated Membership Program features accessible payment options, two new membership levels, and an expanded selection of member events and benefits. View the details HERE.
UCSB — The Current — ‘Clinical trial proves that the ketogenic diet is effective at controlling polycystic kidney disease’ and more news, events
“I’m really happy about these clinical trial results,” said biologist Thomas Weimbs, whose lab was part of an international collaboration to investigate the effect of the fasting response known as ketosis on the cysts that are the hallmark of the disease.
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) — Make a difference with your year-end gift!
Every day, your investments are creating opportunities, changing lives, and strengthening communities throughout the Central Coast of California.
NEW DATE: Dec. 17 – Santa Paddle at Ventura Harbor in Ventura
Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule
SBA: HOW TO START A BUSINESS
December 18 @ 10:00 am
Are you interested in starting a business? If you are please join the Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office for a virtual workshop to learn about SBA’s 10 Step Guide on How to Start a Business. This virtual workshop targeted to new entrepreneurs. Topics covered from creating a business plan, finding capital, registering your business, getting necessary permits and/or licenses and getting a business bank account. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to LADO@SBA.GOV at least 7 days in advance.
Bilingual report — 79 students graduate from Hancock nursing programs
SANTA MARIA — A total of 79 students graduated from Allan Hancock College’s nursing program on Dec. 7, continuing the college’s legacy of training highly skilled healthcare workers.
The graduating class included 46 graduates from Hancock’s registered nursing program and 33 graduates from the college’s vocational nursing program. The graduates and their families celebrated with a ceremony at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus. Both groups received commemorative pins marking their accomplishments.
“Training public servants is one of the most important missions of a community college,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “I am honored that our nursing students have chosen this profession.”
Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams — New Clean Energy Coming Online
This week, Central Coast Community Energy 3CE announced signing a contract with Pattern Energy to receive electricity from SunZia Wind, a new renewable energy project in New Mexico that will be 12% of all the power for the 5 counties in our energy provider 3CE. While most of our renewable projects are in California, having a different “load profile” from a project in a neighboring region provides energy that is accessible at different times of the day than we typically get. This is a big deal for our efforts to have more reliability as we get closer to 100% carbon-free energy.
New Grief Support Groups at Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center
CAMARILLO — Livingston’s Camarillo Grief Center is adding new grief support groups that cater to specific bereavement needs this coming January. These close-ended support groups are Healing Grief Through Journaling (January 15th through February 8th), Loss Due to Accidental Overdose (January 16th through March 19th), and Loss of an Adult Child (January 18th through March 21st). For reservations, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.
Museum of Ventura County — Last Chance to Double Your Donation!
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to double your donation! Any gift received by December 10 will be 100% matched.
Just $15 can open the door to discovery for one child. Imagine the impact we can make by reaching ALL the schools in our County. We’re on a mission to raise $150,000 to double the number of tours and pay for more bus rides.
Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the power to ignite a child’s curiosity, nurture a college student’s career, and shape the future of Ventura County.
Kaiser Permanente donates $10,000 To SEEAG’s Ag-Education Programs
VENTURA — Kaiser Permanente presented Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) a $10,000 community health grant during SEEAG’s annual Ventura County Farm Day on November 4. The donation will help fund SEEAG’s Ventura County Youth Wellness Initiative.
SEEAG’s Youth Wellness Initiative addresses the nutrition knowledge gaps and food insecurity among a diverse socioeconomic demographic of students in Ventura County, with a focus on Title 1 elementary schools. SEEAG’s program is designed to inspire and empower students to increase the amount of locally-grown fruits and vegetables they eat while improving overall healthy eating habits and increasing physical activity. Since the program began in 2020, SEEAG has reached 15,500 third graders who participated in hands-on nutrition education during in-class learning and monthly Farm Fresh Wellness Fairs.
Bilingual commentary — The Pros and Cons of Arranged Marriages
was talking with a female friend recently about her ongoing search for a marriage partner. This is not unusual for a woman in her twenties. Her approach, however, is largely unusual in our culture. She is willing to consider submitting her destiny to an “arranged marriage.”
She is of Middle Eastern heritage, though raised in the U.S. from an early age. Some traditions such as arranged marriages, as anathema as they may be in American culture, endure in some ethnic families. There are many reasons why individuals might be open to accepting an arranged marriage for themselves.
There are also a lot of reasons to tread carefully into an arranged marriage, or to avoid one at all costs.
SBCC Nursing Program marks endings and new beginnings at Dec. 15 ‘pinning’ ceremony
SANTA BARBARA — On Friday, Dec. 15, the most recent cohort of nursing graduates from Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) will formally complete the program with a “pinning” ceremony, earning themselves an Associate Degree in Science in Nursing (ADN). The graduates will have the distinction of completing the program having gone through real-life experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic in the medical field.
This particular cohort – made up of 18 Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Bridge students and 20 ADN generic students – is special, according to Dept. Chair/Director, Associate Degree Nursing and ADN Program Director Mary Sullivan MSN-Ed, RNC- MNN, as they are “the last group that went through nursing school at SBCC during the full-on Covid-19 pandemic.” Curriculum for the program includes hands-on training at Cottage Hospital, where students and instructors from this cohort experienced varying degrees of challenges and stresses working in the medical field during and after the pandemic.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura recognizes employees for decades of dedication to public service
VENTURA — On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the County of Ventura honored 25 employees during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting for decades of continuous service across county agencies. The awards are part of the County of Ventura’s Employee Continuous Service Recognition Program which honors staff who have reached career milestones with 25 years or more of service to the county.
“We as a Board take this opportunity to show our appreciation,” said Chair of the Board of Supervisors Matt LaVere. “We have 10,000 employees and I hope we, as a Board, are able to express our utmost appreciation for the work that our employees do every day to serve the residents of Ventura County. With the seniority that is present in the group honored today, it’s amazing to think of the brain power and the work they have done over the years to improve the quality of life in the county.”
Twenty-six recruits graduate from Hancock’s Law Enforcement Academy
SANTA MARIA — Twenty-six recruits graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy on Dec. 6 at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc.?
The graduating recruits of Class #23-126 gathered with their friends and families to celebrate the completion of more than 856 training hours required to graduate from the academy and enter careers as peace officers. Nearly all of the recruits have already been hired by Central Coast law enforcement agencies.?
“You have strapped into the seat of one of the greatest rollercoaster rides of your life,” Grover Beach Police Chief John Peters told the graduates. “This profession will have you experiencing more things than you ever imagined.”
Bilingual report — A Win for Equitable Park Access: NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project Receive Nearly $400,000 through California Natural Resources Agency Grant
SANTA BARBARA — In a significant stride toward fostering equitable access to parks and nature, NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project have been awarded grants totaling nearly $400,000 through the California Natural Resources Agency’s Youth Community Access program.
Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Seibel lead the state’s Outdoors For All Strategy, which recently allocated a total of almost $18 million to 71 projects statewide. Notably, two projects in Santa Barbara County—NatureTrack and Wilderness Youth Project—received grants to the tune of nearly $400,000.
Santa Ynez Valley-based NatureTrack received $97,400 to support outdoor field trips for underserved, low-income K-12 students in the north county of Santa Barbara County. Older youth will be recruited from local colleges to work as trip docents.
Museum of Ventura County — Announcing MVC’s NEW 2024 Membership Program!
The Museum of Ventura County Relaunches its 100% Tax Deductible Membership Program, Offering Accessible Pricing and Exclusive Benefits
MVC’s updated Membership Program features monthly payment options, two new membership levels, an expanded selection of member events and benefits, exclusive member merchandise, and MORE! As admission fees are reinstated at MVC’s Downtown Ventura campus in 2024, the relaunched Membership Program affords visitors a completely tax-deductible alternative and maintains the institution’s dedication to accessibility.
Ventura County Community Development Corp. (VCCDC) — NEW PROGRAM – Get help with buying a home in Camarillo!
At VCCDC, we are thrilled to partner with the City of Camarillo to bring you the Camarillo Workforce Housing Down Payment Assistance Program! This program is designed to help local working households purchasing in Camarillo achieve their dream of homeownership.
With up to $50,000 in the form of a ten (10) year deferred loan, low-and moderate-income first-time homebuyers can receive the financial support they need to make their homeownership dreams a reality. Plus, these funds can be combined with VCCDC’s other programs to maximize purchasing power.
UCSB — The Current — ‘Modernists defined organic architecture, Helena Arahuete is making it current’ and more news, events
The Los Angeles-based architect’s 50-year career in organic architecture is the focus of the Art, Design & Architecture Museum’s current exhibition “From Within: The Architecture of Helena Arahuete.”
College-Bound Students Take Campus Tour of CSU Northridge, UCLA, CSU Fullerton, Long Beach State, and CSU Dominguez Hills
CENTRAL COAST — Students involved in People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)’s College Enrollment for Latinas Entering Bright Rewarding Educations (CELEBRE) program recently had the opportunity to visit five colleges in the Los Angeles area.
This college tour saw a group of 14 young women traveling throughout the lower part of the state to visit prestigious schools such as the University of California Los Angeles. The focus of the tour was to highlight the importance of higher learning, spread cultural awareness, and raise political consciousness both in the classrooms and the community.
Courtesy photos.
“For many of our students who can’t image being able to go to college for various reasons, this trip helps to turn an unrealistic dream into a tangible reality by setting foot on the campus and receiving a tour from either a previous CELEBRE student or just someone with a similar background as them,” said Kris Reid, Director of Education. “These field trips can make the difference between being college bound and being a dreamer.”
Island Packers announces Holiday Cruises for 2023 Parade of Lights, Harbor Lights, and Whale Watching
VENTURA — This holiday season, Island Packers will be offering seasonal cruises for family and friends, as well as group functions in Ventura Harbor. Ventura Harbor Holiday Cruises and Whale Watching trips are splendid ways to celebrate the winter season.…
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging announces Fall Prevention Classes resume in January
VENTURA — Sign-ups are now available for a new series of Fall Prevention classes that will begin in January. These award-winning classes are put on by the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition and the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, a division of the Human Services Agency.
Four classes, with 12 sessions to choose from, will be offered in five Ventura County cities. The January offerings include:
Bingocize (Fillmore Active Adult Center)
A Matter of Balance (Simi Valley Senior Center, VCAAA office in Ventura)
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance (HELP of Ojai, Oxnard Public Library, County of Ventura California Room in Ventura, Community Presbyterian Church in Ventura, Ventura Church of Christ, Buenaventura Mobile Home Estates in Ventura)
Walk With Ease (Fillmore Active Adult Center)
Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Home is their happy place..
… When you give to VCCDC, you help working class families like the Marquezes achieve their dream of owning their own home and impact their lives and that of their children for generations to come. Over the last 22 years VCCDC has assisted over 20,000 families and individuals with over 3,000 becoming new homeowners, preserving their home, or becoming mortgage-ready, impacted invested in community revitalization, and developed tools for resiliency and family wealth-building.
Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Uplift Central Coast Community Update on Jan. 25
Save the date for a Community Update with Uplift Central Coast on Zoom, January 25 at 12:00 pm. Uplift will share project updates, key findings from their community engagement and research and hear from partners about the work ahead.
Register for the community update HERE!
People’s Self-Help Housing Receives SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces Award
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has received the 2023 SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces Award at the Blue Diamond Level.
The SLO County Family-Friendly Workplaces Awards recognize organizations that adopt and implement family-friendly workplace practices for their employees. The Blue Diamond Level recipients meet additional policies and offer high-impact family-friendly benefits, including flexible work weeks and expanded health coverage.
“At PSHH, we value and appreciate the varied balance our team members manage between their commitment to our mission and personal commitments to family,” said Nicole Ramos Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer. “We are dedicated to creating a supportive environment and robust benefits that enable everyone to bring their best selves to work each day. We are incredibly grateful to have received this award that highlights these efforts, and we will continue to iteratively evolve and improve-upon our services to meet the needs of our teams.”
Oprah Winfrey Delivers Inspiring Keynote Address at Cottage Health’s Annual Medical Staff Dinner
SANTA BARBARA — Cottage Health was honored to welcome world-renowned global media leader, producer, actress, author and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey as the keynote speaker at its Annual Medical Staff Dinner. Winfrey delivered a compelling address on the profound impact of the human connection between healthcare professionals and their patients.
Winfrey set the tone for an evening of reflection and appreciation for the significant role physicians play in the lives of patients with a powerful quote on doctoring by physician and professor Francis Peabody, who once said, “For the secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.”
Teatro de las Américas — iStarELA. La pastorela | Muestra de cortos en español | Karaoke Night
iStarELA es la lectura en atril de la pastorela del Teatro de las Américas totalmente en español.
Es noche buena y los “pastorcitos” alrededor del mundo hacen fila para conseguir su dispositivo móvil que representa la gloria y la salvación. Guiados por la estrella de iStar, la división de tecnología de una gran corporación, estos consumidores ansiosos responden a las estrategias mercadológicas generadas en el cuartel general de la compañía. Todo parece estar saliendo de acuerdo a lo planeado excepto en la tienda iStar de Oxnard, donde la fila ha sido dispersada por culpa de una pareja de inmigrantes ilegales, una ‘influencer’ fuera de control y unos ‘homeless’ desprevenidos y un par de usuarios de los productos de iStar que muestran un poco de humanidad.