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."

Bilingual report: CAUSE to present Community Building Luncheon on Sept. 21 in Oxnard

The Central Coast Alliance for a Sustainable Economy will present its 6th annual CAUSE Community Building Luncheon on Friday, Sept. 21 at the Courtyard Oxnard Marriott, 600 Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. John Chiang, California State controller, will be the keynote speaker…

Bilingual report: Hispanic Heritage Month events coming to the 805 region

Festivals, parades, musical performances part of annual event By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Mariachi and other musical performances, cultural education programs and a parade — they are all coming to the 805 region as part of the annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration…

Bilingual commentary: Cultural, health, social and political events dominate upcoming calendar

By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Between Hispanic Heritage Month activities, an annual cross-border health education program and the end of the 2012 political campaign season (thankfully), residents in the 805 region will have plenty to do during the next…

CSU Channel Islands Alumni & Friends to celebrate Dodger Day

CSU Channel Islands report It all started with a handful of free Dodgers tickets and an enthusiastic graduate. Now all of Ventura County will help celebrate California State University, Channel Islands’ (CI) 10-year anniversary by showing up big at Dodger…

Bilingual commentary: Escaping from the cycle

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On one recent Sunday, I went to see a film, short but at the same time intriguing, powerful and incisive. It showed an aspect of our society that we might prefer to ignore or about…

Bilingual report: ‘March for Justice and People’s Assembly!’ set for Sept. 11 in Oxnard

OXNARD — Todo Poder Al Pueblo this weekend announced that community members are urged meet in La Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard before 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11 to begin their march to Oxnard City Hall. “We will gather at Camino…

Bilingual report: Extend your summer

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel writer When the long-anticipated Cars Land opened this past June at Disney California Adventure Park, avid fans waited six to seven hours to experience new, exciting rides at the 12-acre theme land.…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County needs support to receive $250,000 grant from Chase Community Giving

  Area residents can make a huge impact by voting on Facebook CAMARILLO – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, a non-profit organization working to provide quality mentoring to children facing adversity is competing with charities nationwide for grants…

Last chance to advertise in our Amigos805 special Hispanic Heritage Month print edition

Time is running out to advertise in our Amigos805 special Hispanic Heritage Month print edition. The edition will include an update on all activities and events celebrating this special time of year for the Latino community, including upcoming Fiestas Patrias…

Foundation for SBCC receives $10,000 grant from Wells Fargo for Plaza Comunitaria and Wells Fargo Annual Vocational Scholarship students

SANTA BARBARA — The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College recently received a $10,000 grant from Wells Fargo to assist two vocational students through the Wells Fargo Annual Vocational Scholarship and to support the education of Latino emigrants through the…

Bilingual commentary: Why college is still important

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor It makes me laugh when I think about how a cousin, many years ago, expressed his disdain for my other, closer cousins — as well as for me — in a collegially offensive manner:…

Bilingual report: Fiestas Patrias Gala Dinner-Dance to be held Sept. 1 in Ventura

The Comité Cultural Mexicano  (Mexican Cultural Committee) and La “M” 103.7 FM Radio Station will present the 15th Annual “Fiestas Patrias” (Mexican Independence Day Celebration) “Gala Dinner-Dance” to elect and crown the queen of the “Fiestas Patrias” 2012-2013 from 5:30 p.m. to…

‘Social Resurrection: Ceramics by Richard Flores’ opens Sept. 1 at Museum of Ventura County

Ritual Vessels of the Maya Brought Into the Present Day VENTURA — The Maya culture of yesterday enlightens us today in Richard Flores’ exhibition of contemporary ceramic vessels at the Museum of Ventura County. Social Resurrection: Ceramics by Richard Flores…

Bilingual commentary: Is it worth it to go to college?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In the newspaper from today, Sunday (I continue to be one of those dinosaurs that still reads the newspaper), a political cartoon with a disturbing message by cartoonist Steve Breen caught my eye. I…

Foundation for SBCC receives $5,000 grant from Southern California Edison to support the Guardian Scholars Foster Youth Program

Program assists Santa Barbara’s growing population of foster children SANTA BABARA — The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College recently received a $5,000 grant from Southern California Edison for the Guardian Scholars Foster Youth Program. The comprehensive program supports former…

“Tools for School” initiative provides backpacks and supplies to 300 Santa Barbara area children

SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara hosted the “Tools for School” kick-off event on Aug. 18 at the Presidio Springs Community Room. The event served as a resource for Housing Authority residents and the…

Oxnard Boys & Girls Club receives positive feedback of its after school program

OXNARD — The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme’s After School Program is a vital effort in bringing schools, community-based organizations, business partners and hundreds of families together to provide academic support and a safe environment for…

UCSB ranks among the nation’s top 25 colleges, universities in degrees awarded to Latinos in STEM fields

SANTA BARBARA — In the third in a series of reports linking college completion with U.S. workforce needs, the nonprofit organization Excelencia in Education has included UC Santa Barbara on its lists of the top 25 colleges and universities in…

MICOP seeks volunteers at Harrington Elementary School in Oxnard on Aug. 24 to fill backpacks

Volunteers are needed at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 to help pack about 500 backpacks with school supplies, to be distributed at the monthly Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project community meeting from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Harrington Elementary School,…

Bilingual commentary: My Path to Digital Citizenship

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Just as with obtaining national citizenship, to achieve digital citizenship, an “outsider” — a digital immigrant — like  me needs to be willing to accept a long, hard, difficult  journey replete with frustrations. A large…

2013 Rebozo Festival Awards applications now available

OXNARD — Organization/institutions are encouraged to participate in the “Nomination for Appropriations” 2013 Rebozo Festival Awards, the organization reported in a media release. The awards are presented annually by Las Madrinas del Rebozo Festival of Ventura County. The next event…

Bilingual report: Deferred Action Information for Dreamers Forum to be held Aug. 23 in Oxnard

The Deferred Action Information Forum for Dreamers will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23 at Pacifica High School, Pacifica Art Center, 600 E. Gonzales Road, Oxnard. Consulting lawyers from the Legal Affairs Department of the Consulate of…

Bilingual report: Inaugural ‘Oxnard Show ‘N Shine Car Show’ to be held on Aug. 26

Alfarero Christian Community presents the inaugural “Oxnard Show ‘N Shine Car Show,” from 10 am. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 in the Alfarero Christian Community parking area, 375 So. “K” St., Oxnard. The event is a benefit fundraiser for…

Final performance for ‘Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas’ set for Aug. 26 in Carpinteria

The final performance for Teatro de las Américas’ “Divorciadas, Evangélicas, y Vegetarianas” (“Divorcees, Evangelicas , and Vegetarians”) will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 at the Plaza Playhouse Teatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria. Written by Gustavo Ott, the play is performed in…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County receives Darden Restaurant Community Grant

Big Brother Big Sister has received a $3,000 grant as part of the inaugural Restaurant Community Grant Program from the Darden Foundation, the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants Inc., the organization reported recently in a media release. The Restaurant Community…

United Way of Santa Barbara County receives Summer Learning Award

The United Way of Santa Barbara County has received a prestigious 2012 National Excellence in Summer Learning Award for its Fun in the Sun program, the organization reported this week in a media release. The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA)…

805 region students participate in Just Communities’ ‘Community Leadership Institute’

Students from Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez Valley, Carpinteria, and Fillmore/Piru schools recently participated in Community Leadership Institute, an eight-day residential summer program in Ojai that trains youth from the Central Coast to be leaders in issues of diversity…

Cuarta generación de graduados en la Plaza Bicentenario del Centro Comunitario del Colegio de Santa Barbara

El Consulado de México informa a la comunidad en general que el pasado 10 de agosto se llevó a cabo la cuarta ceremonia de graduación y entrega de Reconocimientos a 51 estudiantes de la “Plaza Comunitaria Bicentenario” del Centro Comunitario…

Pre-K photographers focus on portraits in SBMA’s ‘Art in Motion’ program

This summer, 25 pre-school students from Storyteller Children’s Center worked with Tina Villadolid, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art teaching artist, creating photographic portraits inspired by the current exhibition, Portrayal/Betrayal, through the Museum’s Art in Motion (AIM) program, the museum reported this…

Bilingual commentary: Digital Natives and Immigrants

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I am an immigrant. This world in which I find myself seems so strange sometimes. It’s nothing like the land from which I hail, where I grew up, and where I used to feel so…

Ros, Reagan join Lamia Financial Group LLC in Thousand Oaks

THOUSAND OAKS — Lamia Financial Group LLC, a full-service financial planning and wealth management company in Thousand Oaks, has expanded its financial planning advisory staff with the addition of Juan C. Ros, CFP®, and Jill Reagan, CPA, the company reported this…

Cabrillo’s ASPIRA Program to hold fundraiser on Aug. 14 in Oxnard

A fundraiser to support Cabrillo Economic Development Corp.’s ASPIRA Program will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Sugarbeets Restaurant and Bar, 455 So. A St., Oxnard. Ticket sales benefit CEDC’s ASPIRA Program, which encourages local youth to develop personal finance…

Commentary: Oxnard College deserves equal representation

By Frank P. Barajas / Guest contributor For my study of the Chicano Movement in Ventura County, I learned that before Oxnard College’s opening in 1975, Vietnam veterans and newly minted high school graduates from the Oxnard Plain rode buses…

More than 800 Santa Barbara fiesta attendees trained in hands-only CPR

SANTA BARBARA — As fiesta crowds recently celebrated Santa Barbara’s rich culture and heritage, dance performances and food during “Old Spanish Days,” more than 800 took the time to stop by the Hands Helping Hearts booth to learn Hands-Only CPR. A total…

Andrea Vargas-Mendoza is the featured artist during August at Gallery 28 in Oxnard

Andrea Vargas-Mendoza is the featured artist during August at Gallery 28, 1901 So. Victoria Ave., Suite 109, beside Channel Islands Harbor. This show titled, “Along the Water,” features her most recent California landscape paintings done a la “plein air” which means done in…

Big Brothers Big Sisters receives $20,000 Monsanto Fund grant

CAMARILLO – Studies have shown youth in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs show improvements in academic, behavioral and socio-emotional outcomes. 83 percent of children involved in the program agree that having a Big Brother or Big Sister mentor instilled in…

Concert on Aug. 10 in Hollywood to celebrate contributions of Fermin Herrera, others

NORTHRIGE — Hundreds of people are expected to gather at Los Angeles’ Ford Theatres on Aug. 10 to celebrate the contributions of Mexican-American and Chicano performing artists to California’s richly diverse culture. Among those being singled out for his tireless…

Bilingual commentary: A powerful weapon in our hands

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor If we were to commit the idiocy of handing a gun to a child, we shouldn’t be surprised if said child, in all innocence, were to hurt (or something worse, which we don’t even want…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County receives $80,000

Gifts from Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Foundation, Meadowlark Service League, and the United Women’s Leadership Council support the foster youth mentoring program CAMARILLO – The Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Foundation, Meadowlark Service League, and the United Women’s Leadership…

Future Leaders of America holding Youth Leadership Conference

VENTURA — High school students from Ventura and Santa Barbara County will be attending Future Leaders of America’s week long annual “Youth Leadership Conferenc starting Monday, Aug. 6 at the University of California Santa Barbara, the organization reported in a media…