It’s election day! Voting centers are open today until 8:00 pm. Visit www.venturavote.org to find a voting center or ballot drop box. Shout out to the many county election workers supporting the 2022 CA primary election!
After multiple rounds of vetting community colleges nationwide, Moorpark College has been named to the elite group of top 10 finalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the Aspen Institute announced today. Started in 2010, the $1 million Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of community colleges that are achieving high, improving, and equitable outcomes for students.
The Aspen Institute worked with an expert data panel to craft a formula to assess student outcomes at nearly 1,000 community colleges in key areas such as retention, completion, transfer, and equity. Based on those data, 150 top community colleges were invited to apply; 109 applications were received.
We’re pleased to share with you our latest video highlighting our Community Impact programs.
Learn more about Women United, VITA, Stuff the Bus, United to End Homelessness VC, and Building Healthy Smiles initiatives and the outcomes we’ve accomplished together!
Please hit play to take a look!
As a financial planner and investment advisor for more than 15 years, Kimberly Malesky noticed the same pattern among new clients seeking advice after going through a divorce: They came to her too late.
So Malesky launched Ezharmony Divorce Solutions. Based in Montecito, the company offers tailored financial advice to individuals and couples contemplating divorce or in the midst of a divorce. Her goal is to guide and support her clients through the divorce process, ensuring they understand the financial and emotional implications of their decisions, avoid common money mistakes, and reach a fair divorce settlement.
An accomplished communications professional, author and outdoors aficionado has been tapped to lead the Rotary Club of Montecito. Tony Morris assumes the two-year presidency on July 1.
Morris is a lifetime learner whose passion to speak to people, verbally and in written form, began early. By the time he was a teenager, Morris was writing a once-a-week column that appeared in five area newspapers. And before that, the native Alabamian had been creating and selling magazines.
“I love this area and the people in it,” Morris said. “I’m excited to do what I can to make this community even better, with the co-leadership and support of the amazing people who keep this organization strong.”
The university announces winners of the Thomas More Storke Award and other major honors.
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: PANEL DISCUSSION: FUNDING YOUR FRANCHISE AND LEGAL ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
June 8 @ 10:30 am
Have you ever thought about owning your own business, but were worried about legal and liability issues? What are the funding options available in today’s lending climate? This casual panel discussion featuring a franchise consultant, a small business attorney and a funding expert will answer your burning questions. SCORE’s goal is to help you gain an understanding as to whether entrepreneurship makes sense for you, to understand the unique legal requirements for franchisors and franchisees in California and to gain insight into funding strategies for your business.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join us in celebrating NeighborWorks Week! During this time, NeighborWorks organizations around the country celebrate the successes of their local communities and see how we can work together build stronger neighborhoods. By empowering people to achieve their goals – such as make their community safer, find and maintain secure housing, and ensure financial stability – leads to thriving, healthier communities.
With the support of NeighborWorks America, People’s Self-Help Housing has helped empower communities throughout the Central Coast by:
Bringing the stability and wealth-building opportunities of homeownership to 1,200+ households
Serving 5,000+ residents with compassionate property management and supportive services
Providing 200+ dedicated team members with reliable, respecful employment
After CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) 2022 Nursing graduate Sabrina Shaboti takes and passes her state board exams this summer, she plans to become a professional nurse practitioner, just like her mother, Nadia Malik Shaboti.
Before Nadia and the rest of the Shaboti family watched Sabrina graduate on May 22, both mother and daughter made history by getting inducted together into the Gamma Tau at Large Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Nursing Honor Society in April. It was the first time in the 40-year history of the honor society that a mother-daughter duo were inducted together.
“I felt embarrassed,” Nadia admitted. “I felt it was taking the shine off Sabrina.”
“I was honored,” Sabrina countered. “My mom is my biggest inspiration and my biggest role model.”
California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. (CRLA) provides free civil legal services to low-income residents of California’s rural counties, including free-of-charge expungement services to the residents of Ventura County in partnership with McGuireWoods LLP and Bank of America.
Services may include:
• Reduction of a conviction • Dismissal of a conviction
The whole community is invited to the dedication of the Mental Health Awareness Mural of Oxnard and resource fair which will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2022 from 11AM-3PM. On this day the City of Oxnard Mayor Zaragoza, City Council Member Madrigal, and Ventura County Board Supervisor Carmen Ramirez will recognize the youth with certificates of recognition for their dedication, hard work and courage for addressing mental health which is a difficult subject to acknowledge. Opening remarks and mural unveiling will commence at 11:30AM. This kid-friendly community event is free and will include entertainment from Inlakech Cultural Arts Center hosted by Javier Gomez, free food, and community resources.
1. FREE workshops for homebuyers and homeowners
2. Access up to $100,000 in down payment assistance
3. Network with loan officers, financial coaches and other industry experts
Students graduating this year have had more than half of their high school experience impacted by the pandemic. In addition to the regular pressures of adolescence, they’ve experienced the stresses associated with school closures and quarantines and the debates over masking and vaccinations. They’ve also missed out on all types of activities, from dances to sporting events to school plays.
I want to acknowledge the amazing work of our teachers, administrators and school staff, who have helped guide students through these turbulent times. I also want to express my gratitude to the parents, relatives and community members who have so admirably supported our students and schools these past few years.
The pandemic has taken a toll on mental health that schools are working hard to address. But it has also shown us how incredibly strong and resilient students can be. Many have not only survived the pandemic and their own personal challenges but are thriving as they journey into life after high school. In our annual year-end edition of Focus on Education, I am honored to share of few of the inspiring stories from members of the Ventura County Class of 2022.
Dr. César Morales
Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
A building that sits at the heart of the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus – University Hall – will be renamed Richard R. Rush Hall in honor of President Emeritus Richard R. Rush.
Rush became president of the 23rd and newest campus in the CSU system in June of 2001 and retired in 2016. He first welcomed students and the campus community to CSUCI in 2002 and laid the groundwork for success that the institution has realized and continues to realize today.
The announcement was made during the CSU Board of Trustees Open Session the morning of May 24 during a meeting of the Committee on Institutional Advancement. Before putting the action item to a vote, Trustee Douglas Faigin said he was personally thrilled to see his good friend receive a well-deserved honor.
“The accomplishments during his tenure were significant, which included establishing an array of public partners that helped to raise nearly $49 million in contributions to support student scholarships and help launch programs to better serve regional needs,” Faigin said. “As the founding president, he established the vision and direction of the campus with a clearly-stated focus on students and their success.”
June is designated as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month to remember the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan and celebrate this milestone for the LGBTQ community in America. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. While the last Sunday of the month was originally designated as the day of celebration, communities around the country eventually chose various days within June to celebrate which lead to the variety of events, both celebratory and awareness-focused, that are now held throughout the month. Learn more at on the Library of Congress’s website.
Every day in America, there is senseless gun violence. Shootings in our homes, places of worship, schools, and on our streets repeatedly threaten our health and safety. No one is immune to the impact.
We, the physicians, care teams, and staff of Kaiser Permanente, see firsthand the devastating aftermath of gun violence and bear witness to the intergenerational trauma that has both short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health.
Through the Kaiser Permanente Task Force on Firearm Injury Prevention, established in 2018, we are supporting research studies and testing firearm screening tools and counseling interventions that focus on how physicians and clinicians can help prevent firearm injuries. This is important work, and yet it is not enough.
Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) recently celebrated its 3rd Annual Compassion Campaign at beautiful Maravilla Gardens in Camarillo. Over 175 attendees gathered for a deeply moving interactive experience. Guests were immersed in an unforgettable evening highlighting the interconnectedness of people’s lives and how we are all impacted by the need for more affordable housing. Housing Trust Fund VC achieved a fundraising record high through generous donors, sponsors, and investors, once again highlighting that as a collective community we can work towards achieving housing equity for all in Ventura County.
Attendees received a special message from California Department of Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez on the importance of housing policies and agendas, and how when we all work together progress can be made to tackle the affordable housing crisis in California.
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) is pleased to share that the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) has $925,000 in total funding for 12 identified regions throughout California to participate in the Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program. Ventura County and Santa Barbara County together make up one of the 12 regions.
The nation’s two top credit rating firms – Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s, have awarded the County with their highest short term credit ratings. These ratings enable the County to borrow funds at lower interest rates to fund critical needs, saving substantial taxpayer resources over time.
“I am most appreciative for this recognition of the County’s ongoing pledge committing ourselves to prudent and conservative fiscal practices by way of policy and culture especially given the challenging years that we have most recently endured due to the pandemic,” said Interim County Executive Officer Dr. Sevet Johnson. “These ratings are a testament to the efforts of the Board of Supervisors as well as the managers and personnel who daily take on the task of ensuring our County is fiscally strong. Being awarded the highest ratings again demonstrates the culture of our institution and the resiliency of our local taxpayers-both individuals and businesses who have continued to make payments during challenging times resulting in a strong tax base. The fiscal judiciousness practiced with these public funds allows us to respond with agility to provide needed services to our community appropriately.”
PizzaMan Dan’s, which opened recently in The Annex Food Hall at The Collection, is now offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience with the addition of several new technological elements, including an ordering kiosk, automated full bar and pizza serving robot, as well as neon furniture and a giant LED screen.
he Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum are poised to move into a new era of exhibits, programs, and education, and we need your support to do so.
As a community, we are in an exciting time, a time when coming together in-person safely is happening again. In the coming weeks and months, your Museums in Ventura and Santa Paula will be presenting compelling new programming and events.
We are proud of the recent impact made during closures and limited openings, and excited about where we are headed, with your help:
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Admission is now FREE at both locations and will continue to be, with your support
Increased focus on enrichment activities for children and families
New exhibits in every gallery at the Ventura location, beginning in May/June
MVC Education Programs now present education tours in-person or virtually
The MVC 3rd campus – venturamuseum.org – will continue to offer new content regularly, including videos, articles, blogs, puzzles, and over a thousand new digitized photos in 2022
Thank you for your support of MVC throughout these trying times. We are counting on you as we enter this next exciting chapter in the life of our region’s pre-eminent cultural institution. It is only through your sustaining generosity that we can continue to provide the relevant, stimulating, thought-provoking, inspiring, and compelling programming that nourishes this community.
On May 12, 150 guests filled the Santa Barbara Woman’s Club at Rockwood on to gain insight about youth mental health and raise funds for Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, which includes the Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center, and Guadalupe’s Little House by the Park. Another 80 people participated in a free online simulcast. The event raised more than $147,000 to support programs for underserved children, families and seniors.
After an outdoor reception with music and appetizers, FSA’s CEO, Lisa Brabo, opened the program and captivated the audience with a story about a foster-care student, Angelica, who struggled with depression and low self-esteem.
“Through twice-weekly meetings with an FSA therapist, Angelica worked through her experiences, building coping skills and slowly learning to trust others,” relayed Brabo. “She recently reunited with her mother and both are invested in repairing their relationship.”
Administration
Letter from Heidi
Mary Oakley Respite Stipend
Program
Veteran’s Pinning Ceremony
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Holidays and Happenings
Gratitude Corner
Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, is pleased to announce that Shannon Klemann from Adolfo Camarillo High School (ACHS) in the Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD) is the 2022 Ventura County Teacher of the Year. Klemann and her students found out about the honor today when local school administrators made a surprise visit to her classroom.
Klemann is a veteran educator who has taught in OUHSD schools for 23 years. She currently teaches biology in grades 9 through 12 at ACHS.
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
“AAPI heritage month is when Asian American, Pacific Islanders are celebrated and remembered as a huge part to the success to this great nation. A nation built by immigrants. I will always be proud of my Chinese heritage and as an American.
When I went through the Sheriff’s Academy, I was 36 years old – the third oldest guy in the class – and a first-generation immigrant to this country. If I can do it, anyone who is willing to put their head down and work can do it.”
Meet Deputy Nan Jiang, who works for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office at the Camarillo Station. Deputy Jiang has worked as a firefighter, paramedic, and now a Sheriff’s deputy. He was born in Beijing, China and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was 13 years old.
“I’m extremely thankful for having the honor to serve the community as a first responder for the past 23 years. I love what I do and the feeling that I’ve made a difference at the end of the day. This is my American dream.”
United Way of Ventura County’s board has officially appointed Mitchel Sloan as the nonprofit’s new president and CEO. Sloan has been filling the role on an interim basis since March 2022.
“Choosing a president and CEO is not a decision we take lightly, and after an extensive search, we are certain Mitchel is the ideal leader for United Way,” said board chair Greg Gillespie. “His performance in the interim role has been exceptional, and he knows our organization and this community inside and out. We look forward to continuing to collaborate to make a difference, inspired by Mitchel’s dedication, expertise and passion.”
Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) was joined by local First Responders as they paid tribute to those who died serving our country on Monday, May 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.
The excitement was palpable and the cheers enthusiastic as 5,286 students from Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College received their associate degrees and certificates at last week’s commencement ceremonies. Held at each college on May 19 or 20, these were the first in-person commencements since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Across the Ventura County Community College District, the class of 2022 earned 7,443 associate degrees and 4,286 certificates. Students often earn multiple degrees and certificates, which they will take with them as they transfer to four-year colleges or universities or launch their careers.
“Whether you’re graduating as a Moorpark College Raider, Oxnard College Condor or Ventura College Pirate, your dedication and hard work has helped you achieve this accomplishment. On behalf of VCCCD faculty, classified staff and administrators, thank you for your commitment to your education,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “We appreciated the opportunity to support you throughout your educational journey,”
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: ASK THE EXPERTS – 90-MINUTE POWER-PANEL ON “GROWING AND PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS”
June 1 @ 10:30 am
In this workshop, you will learn how to improve your business’s chance of being found in relevant online searches. SCORE will cover the building blocks of bringing exposure to your Google My Business listing and how to leverage the Google local pack ranking algorithm to show up above your competitors online. You won’t want to miss this webinar!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Michael G. Walker, former County Counsel for the County of Ventura, has rejoined the prestigious law firm Norman Dowler, LLP, where he began his career. At the Ventura-based firm, Walker’s practice will emphasize local government counseling and business, employment, construction and real estate litigation and transactions.
Walker served as the Chief Assistant County Counsel from July 2010 to October 2020, when he was named to the top legal position for the County of Ventura. In that post, Walker oversaw the 25-lawyer office that provides civil legal counseling across the 9,000-employee county government, including related special districts.
She held up her cell phone so I could read it. The Google translator function transcribed from Ukrainian into Spanish, “Gracias por tu trabajo.” In English: “thank you for your work.” She put her right hand over her heart and patted her chest several times as she closed her eyes. Her appreciation overwhelmed me. My eyes watered up. I had only handed her a cup of hot coffee.
My husband, Ron, and I have recently returned from 10 days in Pozuela, Spain, about 8 Km. from Madrid. It’s the site of World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) food operation for the Ukrainian refugees who have flooded this area The Spanish government is providing short-term on-site hotel accommodations for about 3 to 5 days while the refugees receive new identification cards and papers that will allow them to stay in Spain. They wait for an available apartment or room from gracious hosts in many towns throughout the country.
The Museum deeply appreciates these thoughtful gifts of tribute
that sustain the legacy of the Museum’s mission.
The following individuals have chosen to celebrate the legacy of friends and family members through a gift of remembrance or honor in their name to
the Museum of Ventura County.
The pandemic experience has been a challenge that affected everyone of us, in so many facets. We take this moment to acknowledge both its global, far reaching effects, as well as the very personal impact it has made on our lives.
We are excited to share with you all that BRENNA WHITAKER and her band will be joining us for the 17th Annual Spirit Awards Gala on June 4!
There is still time for you to grab tickets to celebrate our community heroes while enjoying an evening under the stars at the Hyatt Regency in Westlake.
The next milestone of Ventura County’s June 7 Primary Election is being reached with 10 Vote Centers opening Saturday, May 28, 2022, followed by 41 additional Vote Centers opening Saturday, June 4, 2022. Ventura County registered voters will have a total of 51 Vote Centers and 11 possible days of in-person voting available.
For voters that prefer to vote in person, the California Voter’s Choice Act is structured to give voters more time to vote than ever before. For ten days prior to the Election there must be at least one Vote Center for every 50,000 registered voters. For three days prior to the Election there must be one Vote Center for every 10,000 registered voters. All Vote Centers are open Election Day and voters can vote at any Vote Center throughout the County.
There continues to be a shortage of infant formula nationwide due to supply chain issues and a recall of infant formula due to bacterial contamination in the Abbott manufacturing plant in Michigan. The federal government is currently working on strategies to increase production of formula and help families access existing stock.
Compared to other states California is faring better, but the shortages are still of concern.
Babies need the right balance of nutrients- not too much or too little of anything-to grow and be healthy. It is important for your baby’s health to use products that meet federal standards to ensure the formula is safe and free of harmful bacteria.
In the wake of such recent tragedies, Supervisor Gregg Hart and I have co-sponsored a resolution for Wear Orange 2022. We will be presenting the resolution to Moms Demand Action at a press conference in honor of recent tragedies and we will be honoring survivors. Details below.
Tuesday, May 31 · 10 am
On the Front Steps of the Santa Barbara
County Administration Building
105 E. Anapamu Street
This week in Uvalde, Texas, a gunman shot and killed 19 children and one educator at an elementary school. In the United States, going to school has become more deadly than serving in the active military. Here, gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens.
Not drownings. Not car accidents. Guns.
On Tuesday, May 31 at 10 am, volunteers with the Santa Barbara Chapter of Moms Demand Action will gather at the front steps of the County Administration Building to accept the resolution. Joining us will be a spokesperson from Congressman Salud Carbajal’s office and Senator Monique Limon’s office. Press and the public are welcome to join us as we honor the lives of those senselessly taken from us, and offer data-driven solutions for preventing further tragedies from occurring.
ABOUT WEAR ORANGE Wear Orange began on June 2, 2015 – what would have been Hadiya Pendleton’s 18th birthday. Her friends honored her by wearing orange after she was shot and killed. Today, Wear Orange honors Hadiya and the more than 100 Americans shot and killed every day.
Learn more at https://wearorange.org/
CenCal Health, the community-accountable health plan on the Central Coast, is funding the expansion of critical resources for expectant and parenting teens in Santa Barbara County. The $200,000 contribution to CommUnify will allow its teen pregnancy support program to roughly double in size, increasing the number of unduplicated participants from 30+ to approximately 60 during the program year. This expansion will also help to open up the program’s geographic range beyond Santa Maria to serve residents across Santa Barbara County, including Lompoc and other communities in south county.
CommUnify’s Adolescent Family Life Planning (AFLP) program provides case management support for expectant and young parents – primarily mothers – aged 12 to 21.
Beware the impending chaos in our schools.
As conservative politicians make inroads to our local governments, they will be charged with the political duty of acquiescing to parents who demand “control” over school boards and other educational entities. Ostensibly, parents on the far right of the political spectrum want to ensure that their children are taught only what are deemed to be “American” or “Christian” values. Unfortunately, this is often code for the elimination of lessons and discussions that investigate our troubled racial history. Anything that barely grazes age-appropriate matters of sexuality will also be off the table.
In the wake of another tragedy and inaction at the national level, the Assembly Wednesday advanced a package of six gun violence prevention bills to the Senate, signaling California’s commitment to doing everything possible to take action where the federal government is not.
The group of six Democratic lawmakers – Asm. Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Asm. Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), Asm. Steve Bennett (D-Ventura), Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), Asm. Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego), and Asm. Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills) – together brought their bills to a vote on the Assembly Floor. The Members expressed impassioned frustration with Congress’s failure to act on the issues of gun control and gun violence prevention, and emphasized the corresponding need for California to recommit itself with urgency to the fight.
“Our number one job as legislators is to keep our communities safe — and on the issue of gun violence, our federal lawmakers are failing horrifically” saidAssemblymember Buffy Wicks. “While we have strong gun violence prevention laws here in California, there’s still so much more that can be done. We must do everything in our power under state law to strengthen protections for our communities, and be an example for other state legislatures to take action where our federal policymakers are not.”
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the obstacles that loom ahead of a home purchase and too often we count ourselves out of the possibility of becoming homeowners one day. Yet in 2016, the Torres Family decided that they were going to try. It wasn’t an easy start. Mayra Torres, mom of three, had to resort to gathering coins from their money jar to afford a babysitter while they attended their first Homebuyer Workshop with VCCDC. They started from the very beginning; learning how to budget and starting the slow process of building up their credit score. Last month, after diligently working for almost 6 years (and many many homeownership coaching sessions later), the Torres Family moved out of the garage they had been living in for 17 years and closed on their very own home purchase.
“A week before we closed our purchase, we went to see the house [for our final inspection] and I remember I went to the yard which has fruit trees and I picked up a lemon and I brought the lemon home. When I cut the lemon, it was so emotional because this was a lemon that is mine, I don’t have to buy it at the store. It is so amazing to have a place that you can say is yours.” – Mayra
Pictured: the Torres Family in their new kitchen
The Torres Family will be sharing their journey at this year’s conference. Don’t let the mountain of obstacles stop you from starting your homeownership journey. The dream really can become your reality.
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Observed annually in May, AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable role of the AANHPI community in our nation’s history. To commemorate AANHPI Heritage Month, the Small Business Administration highlights resources, funding, and training available to all AANHPI-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
VUSD Districtwide Student Art Show – Opening Reception
June 2nd from 5-8pm at the Museum of Ventura County
Free
This juried art show will highlight our incredibly talented high school, middle school and elementary school student artists. In total, over 50 works by high school students have been selected from hundreds of submitted pieces: including watercolors, photography, acrylic paintings, mixed media, and pencil drawings.
Tamara Skov, a former health care executive and non-profit manager has joined local estate management firm Quinn Fiduciary Services as an associate fiduciary.
Skov, a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary, has worked extensively in non-profit management and charitable gift planning, balancing the mission of the non-profit with the needs and interests of donors.
Our hearts are broken by the tragic news of today’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We send our sincerest sympathies to the families whose lives have been forever shattered. School shootings are a plague on our society that have been happening for far too long. I call on decision-makers at every level of government to take all necessary measures to put an end to these senseless acts of violence in our schools.
— Dr. César Morales
Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
Teachers from throughout Ventura County are being honored with $16,000 in grants for developing innovative lessons for their students. At a ceremony tonight in Camarillo, the Ventura County Office of Education will present 11 IMPACT II grants to 16 teachers. The grants are funded by local businesses and organizations that wish to promote unique and creative teaching practices.
The winning entries cover a variety of subject matters, including history, language arts and social sciences. Detailed lesson plans prepared by each of the grant winners are available at this link for use by other teachers in Ventura County and beyond.
For the past four years, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA has been offering its “Find My Genius” enrichment summer program to kids not reading at grade level. It is now conducting a five-week after-school Find My Genius pilot program at five Conejo Valley schools with the goal to expand the free program year-round.
Two hundred Title One, English language learners and foster youth at Acacia, Ladera, Madrona, Maple and Walnut elementary schools began the program on May 2. Young scholars in first through fifth grades spend three hours every school day participating in a curriculum focusing on enrichment activities, physical fitness and social and emotional learning. The children also receive homework support.
“It’s been our dream to offer Find My Genius during the school year,” says Megan Glynn, YMCA’s Chief Development Officer. “This is the first step. Imagine if children had access to assistance for a full year in a fun, nurturing environment? The main roadblock was funding.”
