Category: Cultural

Dominga Cepeda Ceja, Maricela Morales among women honored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson at ceremony in Santa Barbara, Oxnard

SANTA BARBARA and OXNARD – To commemorate Women’s History Month, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) will honor eight women from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as her 19th Senate District’s 2016 ‘Women of the Year’ in two separate ceremonies held in Santa Barbara…

Celebrando la inauguración de las obras del maestro oaxaqueño Francisco Toledo

  Editor’s Note: The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard celebrated the opening of an exhibit featuring the works of Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo on Feb. 19. The exhibit room was filled with guests from throughout California including Santa Maria, Lompoc, Oxnard…

Bilingual commentary: The Ominous Rise of Trump

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 David Magallanes…

Classical Piano Concert in Santa Paula on Feb. 13

SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Concert Series has been revived and will have its fourth concert of the new series, “Music for a Romantic Night: Classical Piano Music with Geno Palilla,” on Saturday, February 13th at 7:00 PM at…

Bilingual commentary: The Spring 2016 Oxnard College Literature, Arts & Lecture Series

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes In an unexpected corner of Ventura County, we have access to an impressive array of educational, musical, literary, artistic, historical, poetic and theatrical presentations for our community—free of charge. That former “diamond in the rough”…

Acuna Art Gallery at the Café on A in Oxnard to present opening reception for artist ‘George Yepes y Amigos’ on Feb. 12

OXNARD — The Acuna Art Gallery at the Café on A in Oxnard will present the opening reception for artist “George Yepes y Amigos: from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at 438 S. A St., Oxnard The exhibit will…

Bilingual report: Exhibit by Mexican artist Francisco Toledo to be held in Oxnard on Feb.19

OXNARD — An exhibit by world famous Mexican artist Francisco Toledo will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19 at the Mexican Consulate, 3151 W. Fifth St., Oxnard. The exhibit has been touring the globe over the past year. The event…

Bilingual report: Latino Thought Makers Series at Oxnard College to present ‘Conversation with Stars in Hollywood’ featuring Josefina Lopez (Real Women Have Curves), Luis Guzman (Code Black) on March 10

OXNARD — Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts proudly presents the next installment of the Latino Thought Makers series featuring nationally acclaimed writer, Josefina Lopez and multi-award winning actor, Luis Guzman.  The series, led by writer-director-comedian, Rick Najera will take place on Thursday, March 10th at Oxnard College’s Performing Arts Center…

Bilingual report: Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. hosting dental health fair on Feb. 27 in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month

OXNARD — February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, on…

Sebastião Salgado at the Arlington Theatre on March 2

SANTA BARBARA — “Sebastião Salgado — In Conversation with Pico Iyer” will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara.  The subject of the Academy Award-nominated documentary film The Salt of the Earth, Brazilian-born Sebastião…

Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas to present ‘Locuras en Wichita’ on March 11 and 12 at Oxnard College

OXNARD — The 2016 season begins when Teatro de las Américas and Oxnard College present Lina Gallegos’s comedy, WILD IN WICHITA, directed by Denise Blasor. Don’t miss this charming play. An elegant Puerto Rican woman and an irreverent Mexican man fall in love when they meet at…

CSU Channel Islands professor helps create ‘Latinos and Baseball’ exhibit at the Smithsonian

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) Professor of Chicana/o Studies Jose Alamillo, Ph.D., helped launch an exhibit for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called “Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big Leagues.” Alamillo and other scholars from across…

UCSB to present ‘Juan Felipe Herrera — An Evening with the 2015-16 United States Poet Laureate’ on Feb. 1

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures will present ‘Juan Felipe Herrera  An Evening with the 2015-16 United States Poet Laureate’ at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1 at UCSB’s Campbell Hall. U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera is the first Latino…

Oxnard College Presents CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase PLUS  Lalo Alcaraz from Fox’s New Animated Comedy, Bordertown LIVE, Feb. 3

Writer-Director-Comedian Rick Najera Blends Hollywood Comedy Sketch Show with Local Performers at Oxnard College Performing Arts Center as Part of Growing Latino Thought Makers Series OXNARD —  Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts presents the much-anticipated CBS Diversity Sketch…

Pew Research Center: Millennials Make Up Almost Half of Latino Eligible Voters in 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hispanic Millennials will account for nearly half (44 percent) of the record 27.3 million Hispanic eligible voters projected for 2016 — a share greater than that of any other racial or ethnic group of voters, the Pew Research…

UCSB to present ‘Culture Clash Muse & Morros: True Stories – Real People’ on Jan. 27

SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures will present ‘Culture Clash  Muse & Morros: True Stories – Real People’ at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 at UCSB’s Campbell Hall. For 30 years, Culture Clash has scoured the nation searching for the…

Bilingual commentary: The Stars and Planets at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes With so many children admiring celebrities these days and questionably holding them up as role models, it was refreshing this past Friday to attend McAuliffe Elementary School’s (Oxnard School District) annual “Astronomy Night.” The school…

Girls Inc. Carpinteria Launches Literacy Initiative to Prepare Students for Academic Success

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is kicking off the New Year with the implementation of a new after-school reading and literacy program at Carpinteria Unified School District school sites and on the Girls Inc. Carpinteria campus. The Literacy Initiative is…

Guest commentary: Adelante… into the New Year with Café on A

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 It is…

Bilingual commentary: What Is A Secular Catholic?

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In the Jewish American community, many within the group quite proudly and nonchalantly refer to themselves as “secular Jews.” Within the U.S. Latino community, on the other hand, many are secular Catholics, but they don’t go around…

Guest commentary: Justice in the New Year

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 At…

Classes start Jan. 11 for English as a Second Language Basic English course at Oxnard College

OXNARD — Classes start for English as a Second Language Basic English course at Oxnard College. Free books available. Classes include: ESL R046 — English Conversation 4; ESL R065 — Prep for Academic Reading & Writing; ESL R056 — Reading Skills…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers thank you

Joseph Castañeda Carrera / El Centrito Family Learning Centers Season’s greetings to you and yours! El Centrito Family Learning Centers thank you for believing that every child and every family deserves the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. To donate in support…

Bilingual commentary: Dream Boards and Visualization

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor As we approach, thankfully, the transition to a new year in our lives, many of us harbor a sense of responsibility to “make resolutions.”   The problem is that we fail to understand the process that would be…

Women’s Economic Ventures to present free Spanish Self-Employment Training Orientation in Ventura County

/ Women’s Economic Ventures Have you wanted to run your own business, but don’t know where to start? Or do you already own a business and want to expand? Learn how to make those dreams a reality with Women’s Economic…

California LULAC will focus on new voting rights cases in 2016

Plan will impact scores of California cities and school districts CAMARILLO —The California League of United Latin American Citizens will partner with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and private attorneys in a significant expansion of cases brought…

Women’s Economic Ventures honors 16 WEV en Español Self-Employment Training graduates

SANTA BARBARA — On Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) celebrated the accomplishments of 16 men and women who completed the WEV en Español Advanced Self-Employment Training (SET) program during a graduation ceremony held at National University in…

Bilingual commentary: Trump’s Parallel Universe

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor I think I have it figured out. Donald Trump is actually working  for Hillary Clinton. He must be, given that many political pundits predict that he will hand over the White House to Hillary if indeed he…

December cover story: Holiday events add to the magic of the season

Posadas (Dec. 11), La Pastorela (Dec. 19, 20) to be presented at El Presidio de Santa Barbara Historic Park From Amigos805 staff reports The public is invited to participate in Santa Barbara’s oldest Christmas traditions as the Santa Barbara Trust…

Bilingual commentary: The Case Against Homework

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor There has been a quiet controversy involving our children that has been brewing over the past several years. As in any controversy, there are exaggerated claims, false accusations and biased statements that serve to befuddle anyone trying…

El Concilio Family Services seeks nominations for 2016 Latino Leadership Awards. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15

OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services is seeking nominations for 2016 Latino Leadership Awards. The deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 The 27th annual Latino Leadership Awards will recognize individuals and business partnerships that have made significant contributions to education…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers selected as Americorps Vista sponsor, currently recruiting Vista members

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Centers has announced it has been selected to receive up to three full-time AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) members whose efforts will strengthen service delivery and sustainability within El Centrito’s pioneering After School & Summer STEAM (Science, Technology,Engineering, Art & Math) Academy.…

Teatro de las Américas to present final two performances of ‘Your Friends Would Never Harm You’ on Dec. 4, 5

OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present final two performances of “Your Friends Would Never Harm You” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4 and 5 at the Oxnard College Black Box Theatre, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard…

Bilingual commentary: The Crashing Wave of Paper

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Being disorganized carries a hefty price tag. We burn up valuable time looking for things. We miss appointments, miss paying bills, miss opportunities and don’t fulfill our dreams because we don’t even know what those dreams are—we…

Teatro de las Americas, MusicaLatitudes, and Oxnard College to present a Christmas concert on Dec. 6

OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas y MusicaLatitudes invite the community to participate in a free Christmas choir program that will be featured in Songs and Odes of Christmas at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at Teatro de las Américas at Oxnard…

El Concilio seeks support during ‘Giving Tuesday’ on Dec. 1

Dear Friend,

We are coming to the end of the year and over the last year we have enjoyed support of many of you.

We have served over 17,000 client contacts in the areas of Citizenship, Immigration, Youth Leadership and Development and Direct Client Assistance.

This is a request to join our end of the year campaign by making a donation to El Concilio Family Services.

All donations are most gratefully received regardless of the amount.

Oxnard College kicks off holiday season with Latino Thought Makers ‘Ha Ha Holidays Live Comedy,’ music show and benefit on Dec. 2

Special Guests DJs Rico & Mambo, comedians Momo Rodriguez and Jill-Michele Meleán and singers Karina Nuvo and Vanessa Verduga join host Rick Najera at Oxnard College Performing Arts Center   OXNARD — The Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will…

Bilingual commentary: Gratitude

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Because of the expectations of our culture, we might feel that we never quite achieve “success,” or “contentment.” After all, whenever we do attain a degree of success or fulfillment, there’s always the next goal, the new…

Guest commentary: Forgotten Memories — Wasted Years

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 By…

A new book co-authored by a UCSB researcher details how the Maya have farmed sustainably and survived for millennia

By Jim Logan / UCSB History has not been kind to the Maya, an indigenous people of Mesoamerica. They’re usually portrayed as the hapless victims of European colonialism who collapsed and disappeared as a result of overpopulation and environmental degradation. A…