Author: Amigos805.com

Frank X. Moraga is publisher / editor of Amigos805, providing information for and about the vibrant Latino community in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — "Bringing cultures together by sharing information."

Guest commentary: A father’s wail — Why do you kill my son?

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor Two of…

Bilingual report: Registration open for ‘Creative Writing in Spanish’ class in Santa Maria starting June 18

SANTA MARIA — A new “Creative Writing in Spanish” class will be offered from June 18 through July 9 through Allan Hancock College Community Education in Santa Maria. In the class, students create and share their own writing with other students in English…

Women’s Economic Ventures celebrates 80 SET graduates

Next Santa Barbara orientations for its Self-Employment Training (SET) program to be held June 13, 25 SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures recently held a graduation ceremony at the Montecito Country Club in honor of 80 new local entrepreneurs (40 from Santa Barbara County)…

Immigration reform talk to be held June 12 in Newbury Park

NEWBURY PARK — Maricela Morales, deputy executive director of the Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), former mayor of Port Hueneme and daughter of immigrant parents, will speak about he current U.S. House and Senate immigration bills and…

Services for Johnny ‘Tony’ Barrios to be held June 11

VENTURA — Johnny “Tony” Barrios, a Ventura native, who received a Bronze Star in World War II, raced Olympic champion Jesse Owens on horseback and ran Tony’s Pizzaria in downtown Ventura for more than 50 years died May 26, at home…

Guest commentary: The American nightmare — Death of the peasant landlord

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor When…

UC Santa Barbara to present ‘Latina Mother / Adolescent Daughter Communications’ program on June 10

SANTA BARBARA — The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at UC Santa Barbara will present a free “Latina Mother / Adolescent Daughter Communications” lecture by Dr. Laura Romo from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 10 at Faulkner Gallery, Santa…

Women’s Economic Ventures to present small business workshop in Spanish on June 6

SANTA BARBARA — Women’s Economic Ventures, in collaboration with the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara, will present a workshop in Spanish providing training on the most important aspects of starting and running a successful small business from 6 to 8:30…

Bilingual commentary: Back to where we came from

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On…

Commentary: Discover Tucson’s Triple Crowned Casino del Sol

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Forbes Travel Guide, creators of the original Five-Star ratings system and leading travel authority recently announced that Casino Del Sol in Tucson has received three top rankings for their hotel, Hiapsi…

Donations, community support sought for ACCESS Water, Oxnard! youth swim, job program

OXNARD — As a beachside city, Oxnard has a staggering 90 percent-plus non-swimming low-income youth population, according to Debra De Vries and Armando Vazquez, executive directors of The Foundation For Educational and Employment Resources Development, the Café on A and Acuna…

Guest commentary: Chingaderas — It’s the system stupid

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor I…

Rebozo Festival Inc. to kick off Salsa Festival dance fundraiser with wine tasting on June 4

OXNARD — Rebozo Festival Inc. will kick off Salsa Festival dance fundraiser with a wine tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 at Downtown Sol, 328 W. Third St., downtown Oxnard. Rebozo Festival Madrina and Salsa Festival Community Star…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s financial challenge

Board reviewing options this month to keep health care provider in business By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 A cancer prevention fair providing free screenings at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinic’s eastside location drew more than 350 people in May 2012.…

El Concilio profile: Reiter Affiliated Companies

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2013 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The event is…

CEDC, VCCDC to host ‘Community Resource Fair’ on June 1

CEDC event celebrating Homeownership Month will feature home-buyer education workshops, and foreclosure prevention workshops VENTURA — Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. (CEDC) and Ventura County Community Development Corp. (VCCDC) NeighborWorks® HomeOwnership Center will host its annual NeighborWorks® Week event on Saturday,…

Commentary: California LULAC says No to AB 955 Pay-to-Play Community College funding scheme

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805.   By M. Elena Cruz / Guest…

Ventura County Public Works Agency names Bonfiglio Allen, Flores Employees of the Year

County agency announces 2013 winners at official Public Works Week resolution  VENTURA COUNTY – Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) awarded two veteran personnel with “Employee of the Year” accolades at the Public Works Week resolution on Tuesday, May 21, the…

Bilingual commentary: The nature of work

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In…

Guest commentary: How history is socially controlled in K-12

Setting Standards — Serfs and Lords Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805.…

LULAC says Williams misrepresented vote on AB955. Williams counters still time for discussion

VENTURA COUNTY — The League of United Latin American Citizens says Assemblyman Das Williams deliberately misled the organization in discussions on Assembly Bill 955, the organization reported in a media release on Wednesday. Williams released a statement Friday disagreeing with…

Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Las mujeres de verdad tienen curvas’ starting May 31

OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present “Las mujeres de verdad tienen curvas / Real Women Have Curves” at the Oxnard College Black Box Theater, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Synopsis: Set in a small sewing factory in East…

El Concilio to present free legal fair on June 1

OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services will present a free legal fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1 at 301 So. C St., Oxnard. Free legal consultation will be available for: Financial plannning Personal injury Immigration Restraining…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics issues urgent appeal to avert local healthcare crisis

Leadership reports on current financial challenge and steps toward sustainability SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC), which for 40 years has provided essential medical and dental care to patients, regardless of their ability to pay, is facing a financial…

El Concilio profile: Padres Promotores de la Educación

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2013 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The event is…

Food Share, Ventura County’s Food Bank, wins Morgan Stanley’s $50,000 Fill the Plate award

OXNARD — FOOD Share this week announced a $50,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to fund its School Pantry Program, a child hunger initiative that helps to make sure that low-income families have a readily accessible source of health and nutritious…

Bilingual commentary: Work vs. right livelihood

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Throughout…

Guest commentary: Don’t mess with Meskins

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor In…

Destino invites proposals for $72,000 in grants

CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Community Foundation’s Destino: The Latino Legacy Fund is accepting proposals for grants to fund programs that expand opportunities for Latino high school students to succeed through college preparedness. The grants will provide support for programs…

MICOP seeks volunteers for Mixteco community meeting on May 25

OXNARD — The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is seeking volunteers for its next meeting from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 25 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 S. Gisler St., Oxnard. “We are also short staffed this month at Harrington and…

CSU Channel Islands students head to Cuba for rare travel course experience

CAMARILLO — Twenty students will venture to Cuba this month for a rare travel experience offered as a CSU Channel Islands (CI) course, university officials reported Wednesday in a media release.  The nine-day trip gives students studying Spanish and Chicana/o Studies the…

Bilingual commentary: Bullies in the Workplace

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I…

Santa Paula Elementary School District trustees urged to restore services that benefit migrant students

Update: Santa Paula school board tells superintendent to ‘dig deeper’ to restore cuts to bilingual and migrant education Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/may/15/santa-paula-school-board-tells-superintendent-dig/#ixzz2TTVxYm3P – vcstar.com SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Elementary School District community will have a large presence at the Santa Paula Elementary…

Guest commentary: When you’re stupid, you’re stupid

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Rodolfo F. Acuña / Guest contributor My…

Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present ‘A Painted Journal from Latin America’ art class on May 18

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present ‘Adult Art Studio Class — A Painted Journal from Latin America’ from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, the museum reported in a media release. The “Myth and…

Artist Favianna Rodriguez donates personal papers to the UCSB Library

SANTA BARBARA— Favianna Rodriguez, the Oakland-based activist artist best known for bold posters and digital art that explore issues of social justice, has donated her personal archive to the UC Santa Barbara Library. The Favianna Rodriguez Papers are now housed…

El Concilio profile: Amelia Sugden

Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of stories profiling the award-winners of El Concilio Family Service 2013 Latino Leadership Awards. The awards gala will be held on Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The event is…

CAUSE, Future Leaders of America among groups receiving McCune Foundation grants

VENTURA — The Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and Future Leaders of America are among community organizing and social justice initiatives in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties receiving a total of $345,000 in grants from McCune Foundation, the…

One Step a la Vez, Future Leaders of America, Park Oaks Outreach Program to benefit from 2013 Rebozo Festival on May 19

CAMARILLO — The One Step a la Vez Program, Future Leaders of America and Park Oaks Outreach Program will be the beneficiaries this year when the 2013 Rebozo Festival celebrates its 9th year from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19  on the grounds…