
The Juneteenth Celebration, presented by the Juneteenth Committee of Ventura County, will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Plaza Park, 500 S. C ST., Oxnard.
VCCDC’s Homeownership Virtual Conference is the place to be if you want all your homeownership questions answered! Whether you are a renter or homeowner, this is an event you don’t want to miss!
If you’re ready to learn and connect with experts in the homeownership industry, you’re in the right place. Most people come to us feeling like homeownership is impossible, but with over 2,000 families who have successfully purchased homes, and countless more engaged on the path, we can confidently be the source of information that you need to make homeownership happen for you and your family. Through resources like our Homeownership Conference, we can help you find “a new way home”. Register for FREE today!
Film Screening: “Trip of Compassion” – “I felt like I went through 15 years of psychological therapy in one night.”
When: Wednesday, June 21st; 5pm Networking; 6:30 Screening
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
FREE for Members & Guests
NOTE: Refreshments provided.
The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) in partnership with Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties are hosting a job fair this summer to help local youth discover limitless career possibilities and connect with top employers. The WDBVC provides over 5,000 services to job seekers annually, and they want to provide the local youth with the opportunity to make connections and find an abundance of career opportunities. Local employers hiring youth and are interested in participating are encouraged to sign-up here https://workforceventuracounty.org/events/
Simon Spalding presents a sweeping panorama of food at sea, based on his book “Food at Sea – Shipboard Cuisine from Ancient to Modern Times.” Simon offers tantalizing stories of maritime culinary history, from the ingredients and practices of ancient Argonauts and Vikings through Renaissance explorers, sailing navies and merchant ships, steamships, ocean liners, cruise ships, and submarines.
Join EDC SBDC Center Director Dr. Ray Bowman and International Trade Specialist Simona Racek in Los Angeles
NO-COST Event: Building Bridges to Global Markets
June 22 at 8:30 am
Location : The Beehive, 961 E. 61st, Los Angeles, CA 90001
Building Bridges to Global Markets is a first-of-its-kind event series organized by the U.S. Commercial Service, as part of their Global Diversity Export Initiative. Designed to connect SMEs in underserved communities with global business opportunities, events will be taking place in major cities throughout the U.S., including Los Angeles, California!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
VCCDC’s Virtual Loan Center gives you the opportunity to obtain a free no-obligation pre-qualification session with VCCDC or one of our partner loan experts. You can walk away one step closer to purchasing your home by being ready to go when that perfect house comes along or find out what you need to do to prepare to be mortgage ready in the future.
VENTURA — United Way of Ventura County (UWVC) will host its 18th annual Spirit Awards Gala, where it will present awards for volunteerism, community impact and corporate citizenship to local community champions. The event will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, located at 2101 Mandalay Beach Road, Oxnard.
This year, Dr. Lisa L. Buono will be recognized with the Milton M. Teague Award for Outstanding Community Volunteerism. She is receiving this award for her efforts as a volunteer leader with a focus on education and building strong communities.
The 67th Annual Conejo Valley Days is set for June 15 through June 25 (dark June 19 and 20) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks.
Festival goers can enjoy carnival rides from Kastl Amusements plus midway games for all ages along with traditional fair and specialty foods. CVD features live rock and country bands including the Colette Lovejoy Band and 805 Social Club, and line dancing led by instructor Kristal Lynn.
Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) is inviting the public to attend its annual Oxnard Guelaguetza Festival on June 25th, 2023, from 11 a.m to 5 p.m at Plaza Park in Oxnard: 500 S. C Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030.
MICOP (Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project) was founded in 2001 “to support, organize and empower the Indigenous immigrant community in California’s Central Coast.” MICOP serves over 12,000 unduplicated Indigenous migrant men, women, and children annually. MICOP organizes and trains the indigenous migrant community to become self-sufficient and successful members of the broader community. MICOP programs and advocacy in California’s Central Coast have created the state’s most advanced network of services available to indigenous farm workers.
On Tuesday, June 27, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) will host a free, interactive webinar, offered in English and Spanish, from 12 to 1:15 p.m. PST that will review the tax credits and incentive programs available to make going electric affordable, and describe how homeowners can combine these financial incentives to make their homes more efficient and climate friendly. Participants will also learn how to access CEC’s newElectrify Your Life service, which walks individuals through the process of determining their eligibility and applying for financial incentives.
CAMARILLO — Employment law firm LightGabler is presenting a free employment law webinar, “Pay Me Now Or Pay Me Later—The Joys of California’s Wage & Hour Laws.” The webinar is Wednesday, June 28 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
California’s wage and hour laws are more burdensome than those of any other state. In this webinar for employers, supervisors and human resource professionals, LightGabler employment law attorney Kathleen M. Fellows will discuss some of the most common wage and hour pitfalls that impact employers across the state. Topics include meal and rest period compliance, expense reimbursements, exempt/non-exempt employees and how to avoid paystub violations.
SANTA BARBARA — The Cottage Center for Orthopedics will present a free Virtual Meet the Doctor event on Thursday, June 29, from 4 – 5 p.m., featuring Dr. Chris Birch and Dr. Danielle Thomas, orthopedic surgeons affiliated with Cottage Health, who will discuss how to keep joints healthy.
Doctors Birch and Thomas will provide information on joint pain relief, joint replacement, joint preservation surgery, and partial knee replacement. They will also review causes and symptoms, strategies for prevention and treatment, advanced treatment options as well as offer a Q&A session.
Ventura County Animal Services and Santa Barbara Animal Services are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership aimed at finding loving homes for animals in need. In an unprecedented move, both organizations have joined forces to organize a fee-waived pet adoption event that will take place simultaneously across all five (5) shelters along the south coast. This occasion marks the first of its kind, showcasing the dedication and commitment of both organizations to the welfare of animals.
SANTA BARBARA – Cottage Health’s Trauma Services, in partnership with Santa Barbara agencies, is thrilled to invite the community to its free Summer Safety and Fun Event on Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ortega Park and Pool located at 604 East Ortega St., Santa Barbara.
Designed to ensure the safety of children during the summer season, the Summer Safety and Fun Event promises a day of excitement, engagement, and education for families. Children of all ages can partake in a wide array of activities while learning important safety tips.
Music At Portside, a new classical concert series in Ventura County, offers monthly chamber music recitals, played by brilliant local and international musicians.
Our opening concert features classical duo Nicole Taylor, soprano and Natasha Marin, piano — performing an intimate program on the different seasons of love, with beautiful songs by Brahms, Rachmaninov, R. Strauss, Chausson, and Hahn.
This is classical music in an intimate, informal, “come as you are” setting, perfect for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, a few steps away from the sea at Portside Ventura Harbor. If you are a classical music lover or if you don’t know very much about classical music, but want to learn more… Come and listen!
Doors open at 5:15PM. The exact location at Portside Ventura Harbor will be shown after ticket purchase.
SANTA BARBARA — Celebrate Independence Day with Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation’s free outdoor concert featuring Santa Barbara’s beloved The Prime Time Band, Vandenberg Space Force Base Honor Guard, and a special performance by Hula Anyone. The concert will take place on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 5:00 PM at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens (1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101).
During the 1620s and 1630s, Seville’s many religious foundations kept Francisco de Zurbarán and his large workshop busy with commissions. After about 1640, however, Zurbarán’s sober and restrained style lost favor to the softer look and more emotional appeal of younger artists, and he began to actively produce paintings for export to the New World.
The Community Environmental Council is opening the Central Coast’s first Environmental Hub – and you’re invited to the party!
Please join us on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. for the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration! Part of Downtown Santa Barbara’s 1st Thursday Art Walk, the grand opening will feature “Return of the Western Monarch Butterfly: A Photographic Exhibit and Scientific Roadmap for Protecting this Endangered Species” by resident artist Elizabeth Weber.
Topic: “Love & Relationship Coach – Doing the Work: What is it really?”
When: Wednesday, July 12th; 5pm Networking; 6:30pm Speaker
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
FREE for Members & Guests Welcome to purchase $50 tickets.
NOTE: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.
Join EDC Staff Tiffany Hunsberger, Vivian Vázquez and EDC SBDC Financial Business Advisor Anthony Elliott
NO-COST Event: Empowering Business Growth
July 12 at 8:00 am
Location: Simi Valley Public Library, 2969 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA
The Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Simi Valley, County Supervisor Janice Parvin and Mid Valley Properties, is excited to announce that they are offering a Business Resources Forum. This is a free event designed to inform businesses about free and low-cost programs available to bolster growth and success.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join the Uplift Coalition for community meetings across the region for an opportunity to learn about the Community Economic Resilience Fund planning process and project progress, meet with community members and organizations engaging in the work and voice your experiences and insight on both the issues and challenges that face our communities and the opportunities and possibilities that are in the future of our Central Coast region.
Your participation is critical to the success of the project as Uplift works to develop an understanding of the barriers to economic opportunity across the diversity of Central Coast communities and builds a plan to invest in possible solutions into the future.
Refreshments provided. Meeting is open to the public until capacity.
Registration is required.
Check Where Your Nearest Community Convening Is Below:
SANTA BARBARA — Get ready to explore the galaxy this summer with UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2023 FREE Summer Cinema line-up: “Out of This World.” The series continues with Ridley Scott’s feminist space horror classic, Alien, at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden on Friday, July 14 at 8:30 pm.
SANTA BARBARA — The Music Academy, currently in week four of its 76th annual Summer Festival, presents a timeless classic opera in a brand-new setting.
La bohème will be performed in the original Italian on Friday, July 14 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, July 16 at 2:30 pm at the Granada Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. The fully staged and costumed production will showcase the 2023 Lehrer Vocal Institute fellows and 50 Instrumental fellows from the Academy Festival Orchestra, joined by a full chorus consisting of Lehrer Vocal Institute fellows and studio artists, and a children’s chorus comprised of members of the Music Academy’s SING! program.
Premiere Party: California Art League’s “The California Scene”
Saturday, July 15, 2023, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members
Join us at the Santa Paula Art Museum for the premiere of “The California Scene,” a spectacular summer exhibition showcasing 59 quintessential California scenes in a variety of media by 44 artists from the long-established California Art League (CAL). The show is CAL’s 2023 Gold Medal Exhibition and multiple awards will be announced during the premiere party. Meet the artists and delight in a diversity of California scenes: from beaches to barns, from wildflowers to waves, to vineyards, the desert, the High Sierra, and more. Many of the artworks will be available for purchase.
SANTA BARBARA — Get ready for Magnetic by Chris Gocong. In each generation a handful of individuals emerge that resonate and represent the collective. Gocong’s newest portrait series attempts to capture magnetic icons through explorative portraiture.
This event is happening on Saturday, Jul 15, 2023, from 6 – 9 pm at Helena Mason Art Gallery located at 48 Helena Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
It will be an unforgettable night filled with art, beats by Diego Rockwell, drinks by Cutler’s Artisan Spirits and Flying Embers. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something truly special.
Temple Etz Chaim is proud to host an annual speaker series for the local community. The 2023 Speaker Series is entitled “Our World Evolving: Global Thought Leaders in Our Community.” This is a series of socially relevant conversations with modern thought leaders, authors and scholars. Rabbi Averbach will introduce our speakers and moderate a Q&A with those in attendance after the speech.
Join the U.S. Commercial Service who has partnered with Coupang, Inc., one of the largest South Korean eCommerce companies, on this upcoming webinar where they will be discussing:
Export assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service
Market insights on the Korean eCommerce landscape
Insights from an industry expert on building brand awareness with South Korean consumers
You will hear directly from the eCommerce experts about Coupang’s state of the art logistics and delivery infrastructure and a look at their ecommerce marketplace.
July 18 at 9:00 am PST
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE
THOUSAND OAKS — The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival (KSF) concludes its 26th season with “King Lear,” running Fridays through Sundays from July 21 through Aug. 6 on the California Lutheran University campus. A novel twist on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, which is set in a pre-Christian, pagan time and place, the Kingsmen production takes place in the near future, in an abandoned shopping mall after an apocalyptic event.
“We don’t know what this apocalyptic event is, or when it takes place,” said KSF co-founder and Artistic Director Michael J. Arndt, who is directing the play, “but there’s a sense of this person trying to maintain power in his ‘kingdom.’”
SANTA BARBARA — Get ready to explore the galaxy this summer with UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2023 FREE Summer Cinema line-up: “Out of This World.” The series continues with Tim Burton’s send-up of vintage sci-fi invasion flicks, Mars Attacks! at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden on Friday, July 21 at 8:30 pm.
The Music Academy’s SING! Children’s Choir and the renowned Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) are excited to announce their joint concert, taking place at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara. The much-anticipated performance will be held on Sunday, July 23 at 3 pm and promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
SANTA BARBARA — At the invitation of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA), Awol Erizku, a noted photographer, sculptor, and painter and subject of a recent New Yorker profile, is collaborating with nine 2023 fellows at the Music Academy of Santa Barbara to plan a memorable one-night-only performance on July 23, that will bridge visual art and classical music.
Erizku is a natural choice for Radiant Frequencies project because music threads through his unusually varied and impossible to easily package practice. Nefertiti—Miles Davis Gold (2022) is a gold mirrored mosaic in the form of the ancient Egyptian queen, which also references Miles Davis’s album Nefertiti (1968). Moreover, the artist says that No Hesi(2022), from his new Cosmic Drill series, relates to Drill, a genre of hip hop. Both artworks are in the Museum’s collection and are currently on display. He is also widely known for his photographs of musicians, including Beyoncé, Nipsey Hussle, J-Cole and Bad Bunny.
Ventura Land Trust will host a Community Roundtable on July 25th to invite input from Ventura residents on up-and-coming nature preserve Mariano Rancho. The 1,645-acre property in the hills north of Ventura was purchased by Ventura Land Trust (VLT) in 2020 for permanent conservation, with plans to open the preserve to the public in 2025. The event will be held at Ventura’s Poinsettia Pavilion from 6-8 pm.
VLT hosted a series of presentations for Mariano Rancho in 2022 with topics on public access, recreation, and conservation. The “Powerpoint-free” Mariano Rancho Community Roundtable will encourage dialogue between community members and a team of facilitators made up of Ventura residents, environmental experts, VLT advisors, and organization staff.
Topic: “What did we learn from Psychedelic Sciences Conference 2023?”
When: Wednesday, July 19th; 5pm Networking; 6:30pm Conversation
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
FREE for Members & Guests Welcome to purchase $15 tickets.
NOTE: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.
Dear Korean War Veterans (and their loved ones),
We are inviting our Central Coast Veterans who served during the Korean War Era to join us on July 27th from 9:30 am – 11:30 am at the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum in San Luis Obispo. In addition to good coffee sponsored by Coastal Peaks Roasters (local and veteran owned), breakfast treats, and conversation, we are offering the opportunity to sit for a free professional portrait photo to those who attend.
Thursday, July 27th, 2023, marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. Some refer to it as the ‘Forgotten War’ but for those who served, their families, and all Americans, it should always be remembered. Our museum’s mission is to honor our veterans from past and present with emphasis on those from the Central Coast of California.
SANTA BARBARA — You are invited to the Community Environmental Council and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper’s 2nd Annual Plastic Free July Expo featuring plastic-free information and activities. Meet local organizations working on plastic-free initiatives and learn how you can get involved. Join us at our brand-new CEC Environmental Hub for an evening of action, fun, and prizes! Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited, RSVP is strongly encouraged.
SANTA BARBARA — Get ready to explore the galaxy this summer with UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 2023 FREE Summer Cinema line-up: “Out of This World.” The series continues with Luc Besson’s outrageous sci-fi adventure, The Fifth Element at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden on Friday, July 28 at 8:30 p.m.
OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to present Ventura County’s first one-day convention that brings together the worlds of gaming and anime on Friday, July 28! IchigoCon promises an unforgettable day where gaming and anime enthusiasts of all ages can come together, reveling in the fandom of these captivating worlds.
The convention kicks off at 11 am with the highly anticipated Super Smash Bros tournament. Prepare to witness an intense clash of skills as over 100 players, including both amateur enthusiasts and professional players, battle it out for glory and a handsome $1,000 cash pot. With a diverse range of competitors, the tournament guarantees electrifying matches that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Confirmed players include Missouri’s Apollokage (Top 20 Best World Super Smash BrosPlayer) and Canada’s Ouch!? (Top 50 Best World Super Smash BrosPlayer).
VENTURA COUNTY — To further the mission of supporting local victims of crime so they do not have to live in silence or fear, the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) Foundation will host its first annual Hope Gala July 28 at the Westlake Village Inn.
This inaugural event will recognize the work VCFJC does on behalf of victims of crime, as well as those individuals who have helped pave the way for VCFJC to carry out its mission. The night’s theme is “Hope Grows Here” and will recognize the work the VCFJC does by offering hope and healing.
OXNARD — Community Roots Garden, at 1801 Joliet Pl. in Oxnard, will host some beautiful collective workshops and conversations guided by some wonderfully talented individuals. These workshops are geared towards healing and connecting by sharing knowledge of ancestral ways of being through storytelling and cultural art practice shares. All workshops start at 10 a.m. with options to stay to help paint the mural after each workshops.
The Meadowlark Service League is hosting A Taste of Camarillo Wine, Brew & Food Festival this year on Sunday, July 30, from Noon – 4:30 pm, at the Camarillo Ranch. Exhibitor & Vendor spaces are already filling up for the region’s longest-running Wine, Food, and Brew Festival.
Tickets are available at TasteofCamarillo.com and are priced at $135 each (including fees). Tickets are all -inclusive for the day’s event.
Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice to present ‘Healing Grief Through Poetry’ group.
This group will provide an opportunity for those seeking a creative and inspirational way to express feelings of grief through poetry. This grief support group meets every Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM and will start on July 10th and end on July 31st. Registration is required.
VENTURA —The County of Ventura Human Resources Department will be hosting a job and career fair on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. The event is open to the public and there is no charge for admission or parking. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about careers in administration and support, engineering, environmental protection, planning, agriculture, health care, law enforcement, public safety, public works, recreational services, technology and much more.
All of County agencies and departments will be represented at the expo. Human Resources professionals will be on-site to help educate attendees about County hiring processes, benefits, and the many reasons to choose to join the County workforce.
Bart Devolder discusses the role a conservator plays in the life of an artwork. What does it mean to respect the artist’s original intention during a restoration treatment and can we even know what those intentions were? Using several case studies, Devolder illustrates that restoring a work of art to its former glory is not always straightforward.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Parents can have an evening to themselves while their kids have fun under supervised care at the Yarrow Family YMCA, Friday, August 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
While parents spend the event out, their kids will enjoy a night of carnival games, races, prizes, and basketball gym free play. All activities are led by YMCA staff.
On Friday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its twelfth annual Night in Oaxaca. Throughout the years, Night in Oaxaca has become the largest and most sought-after fundraiser that helps MICOP continue our mission of supporting, organizing, and empowering the indigenous migrant community on California’s Central Coast.
Your attendance and participation during Night in Oaxaca enable us to provide vital resources to our community, including crucial services such as case management, system navigation, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Together, we can ensure our community’s voice is heard loud and clear. Let’s celebrate the vibrant indigenous culture and help us advance our important work.
VENTURA — Celebrate Tay Day where One Lucky Fan Will Win Tickets to the Eras Tour in Los Angeles! The event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, A Taylor Swift Event in Ventura Harbor Village, 583 Spinnaker Drive Ventura.
Ventura Harbor Village is teaming up with Cumulus Broadcasting KBBY 95.1 to give away 2 tickets to the most popular concert of the year – Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour! Tickets are for the August 5, 2023 show at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Topic: “The Art of The Trip”
When: Wednesday, August 9th; 5pm Networking; 6:30pm Discussion
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
FREE for Members.
Guests Welcome to purchase $15 tickets.
NOTE: We will *not* be filming this evening. Refreshments provided.
OXNARD — Friends of Campus Park, the organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of Oxnard’s diverse community, is excited to announce a fundraiser in celebration of grants received for Campus Park’s first phase. The event will take place on August 10th at 6:30pm in Downtown Oxnard’s Heritage Square.
The fundraiser aims to commemorate the grants, which have been instrumental in bringing Campus Park to life and advancing Friends of Campus Park’s mission. It also serves as an opportunity to gather support and resources for the organization’s ongoing efforts in developing the park and creating enjoyable spaces for the community.
SANTA BARBARA — Join SBCC’s School of Extended Learning for an Open House Saturday, August 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the SBCC Extended Learning Wake Campus at 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara.
The event is free and open to all. Come, enjoy lunch, facepainting and SBCC gift bags and prizes. You are warmly invited to an afternoon of activities, presentations, lunch and exploration. Class enrollment is ongoing during the event and registration assistance will be provided.
The County of Ventura Elections Office seeking citizen volunteers to serve on a Language Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee (LAAC) in Ventura County.
The next quarterly meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 at 10 a.m. We will be conducting the meeting via the Zoom web conference platform. Attached is a flyer for you to share with your organizations.