Category: Cultural

CSUCI’s growing virtual micro-internship program continues into the spring semester

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2021 • Comments Off

A virtual micro-internship program launched at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) during the first months of the pandemic has proved to be so successful, it is continuing through the spring semester with even more participants.

The micro-internships, which are hands-on learning projects with pay, are offered through the Martin V. Smith School of Business & Economics’ (MVS) Entrepreneurship & Small Business Institute (ESBI) with Associate Professor of Marketing Ekin Pehlivan, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Management Cynthia Sherman, Ph.D., Director of the ESBI.

UCSB — The Current — ‘A COVID-19 Shot in the Arm’ and more news

by Community Contributor • January 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Medical and microbiology experts discuss the science behind the current COVID-19 vaccines.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Governor Lifts Stay-at-Home Order

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

The California Department of Public Health issued guidance today lifting the Regional Stay at Home Order due to projected increasing ICU capacity. All California counties will return to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers. Santa Barbara County has returned to the Purple Tier and a Health Officer Order outlining the specific restrictions and allowances for Santa Barbara County businesses and residents will be issued. This Health Officer Order will take effect at 8 a.m. on January 26, 2021.

Santa Barbara County will continue to restrict gatherings of any size at this time.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 25

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Vaccine Update

The County of Ventura is in Phase 1A which includes those in the health care sector and those who are 75 and older. Vaccines are for those that live or work in Ventura County.

The County receives vaccines from the State once a week. Once vaccines are received the County creates appointments for those vaccines to be distributed.

Appointments open every Monday.

Community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may register online on Monday’s at the following link:

www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

OC LIVE — VPA Student Showcase — where are they now?

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Jonesin’ for a little OC student jammin’? Hungry for some home-grown creative talent? We know how you feel! And that’s why we’re bringing back this encore presentation of the Visual and Performing Arts Student Showcase.

Relive the pre-pandemic glory days with some all-star student work in Communication Studies, Music, Art, Film, and Dance! And stick around for a conversation with two stars of the show, Adan Nevarez and Jullianne De La Cruz. Find out how these OC students have kept heart and soul together during one of the most challenging years ever!

MCASB — New Year, New Art, & A Fresh Start

by Community Contributor • January 25, 2021 • Comments Off

Family Friendly Workshop
Seed Paper Tutorial
Saturday, January 30, 2021 @ 11AM PST

Enjoy a morning of learning how to give your paper waste a new life as seed paper! We will be demonstrating how to transform everyday waste into paper that can be used to make artwork, cards, gift tags, note paper and other crafts that can later be planted in the earth! This event is free to all and we encourage people of all ages to attend.

Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. Awards 14 Students with Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholarships

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) recently recognized 14 graduating high school seniors and college students for their academic achievements and pursuits with Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund (RFLF) Scholarships.

The RFLF was created in 2011 and honors the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo EDC’s founder and Executive Director for 30 years (1981–2011). The scholarship continues Fernandez’s legacy of community building by cultivating the leadership of residents to attain their goals and empower themselves to take action to improve the quality of life in their communities.

“This scholarship opened up the doors for me to do what I love,” said Alexa Gruener, student recipient of the RFLF Scholarship. “As a freshman in college, this scholarship has helped me pay my tuition for both semesters, allowing me to take on fewer work hours and thus seek out research and internship opportunities. Currently, I am volunteering at Westminster Free Clinic and working for the Boston University Medical School’s MANOS project, which does research on chronic kidney diseases in field workers from Central America.”

Bilingual commentary — The Power of Oratory

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The past few days in our country have been exhausting, frightening, sickening, traumatic, dispiriting. The attack on the Capitol, with threats of even more violence in the coming weeks and months, starkly demonstrated the power of words.

An impeached and diminished president stands accused of incitement to riot. He may well believe that his words were “appropriate,” but then he believes many things that are not true. Even several of his supporters in Congress have admitted that his words carried the weight that crushed any remaining sense of stability we might have had.

Consulado de Mexico en Oxnard — Clases online primavera 2021 – Colegio Comunitario de Santa Barbara

by Community Contributor • January 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Clases online primavera 2021 – Colegio Comunitario de Santa Barbara

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Jan. 21, 2021

by Community Contributor • January 21, 2021 • Comments Off

As of 1/19/21 31,553 individuals have been vaccinated in Ventura County. We have received 44,625 first dose vaccines. All appointments are filled this week.
More appointments will be opened next week. A notice will be sent when they open up.

We have to wait each week on the amount of vaccines provided to the County from the State and then more appointments can be made. All vaccines coming in are going out to the people in Phase 1A and 75 and older. We have more eligible people wanting the vaccine than vaccines available.

It will take months to vaccinate all people. Vaccine supply is the biggest barrier to making this effort move more quickly. This is impacting Counties throughout the State.

Once appointments are opened you can register on the Ventura County Recovers website at the following link:

UCSB — The Current — ‘Extreme Fire Weather’ and more news

by Community Contributor • January 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Researchers model the regional impacts of specific anthropogenic activities and their influence on extreme fire weather risk.

Ventura College Foundation Provides Record Support in 2019-20 Despite Pandemic Challenges

by Community Contributor • January 18, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura College Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides resources and financial support to Ventura College students and to school programs, distributed $824,548 in financial support during the 2019-2020 academic year–$699,971 in scholarships, $84,577 in VC Promise tuition assistance and $40,000 in textbook support. The annual scholarship distribution was the largest in the foundation’s history and was distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic in April.

CSUCI student research suggests students who take ethnic studies tend to stay in school and graduate

by Community Contributor • January 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Beginning in Spring of 2021, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) will require undergraduate students to take at least one 3-unit ethnic studies class. The CSU Chancellor’s Office made the determination that all 23 campuses will require ethnic studies for lower division undergraduates following the passage of AB 1460 in the state legislature.

A study conducted by three students and two faculty members in 2019 suggests this requirement may help students stay in school and graduate, regardless of their ethnicity.

“I think it’s cool that our little math project that we worked on one summer may make such a difference,” said 2020 Mathematics alumnus Avery Brunk, who is now working on her master’s degree in statistics at CSU Fullerton. “It seems to say ‘You should take more ethnic studies!’”

Santa Barbara City College — The Bridge — Wake Campus selected as vaccination site for county firefighters

by Community Contributor • January 15, 2021 • Comments Off

SBCC was pleased to work with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department in making the Wake Campus on Turnpike Road available for administering the first dose of the Moderna Coronavirus vaccine to county firefighters. See the KEYT-TV story…
For more information about the COVID-10 vaccine, visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.

Oxnard filmmaker tackles Latinx Mental Health with new event on Jan. 23

by Community Contributor • January 15, 2021 • Comments Off

As part of OPAC’s first Artist-in-Residency, Oxnard filmmaker Arcelia Martinez is raising awareness about mental health in the Latino community through a year-long programming series (June 2020 – May 2021) and the production of a short documentary. The next event is a Salon focused on Mental Health Stress Factors and will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2021 at 2 pm via Zoom. It’s free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. The event will be professionally translated by Bridging Voices-Uniendo Voces.

Guest speakers from diverse places and perspectives in Ventura County will shed light on how Stress Factors can amplify mental health challenges in our community:

COVID-19 Update Jan. 14, 2021 — Case Information and Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 1,354 new cases for today, 13,381 additional tests, and 13 additional deaths (38 year old male, 83 year old female, 97 year old male, 87 year old male, 98 year old female, 88 year old female, 67 year old female, 100 year old female, 73 year old male, 62 year old male, 85 year old male, 62 year old male, and a 83 year old female.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

CSUCI gets grant to establish residency program for Education majors planning to become math and science teachers

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) teacher candidates planning to teach middle or high school math or science can apply for a new $8,000 residency grant funded through the CSU-wide Math and Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI).

Assistant Professor of Education Kara Naidoo, Ph.D. wrote the grant, which is called the Math and Science Teacher Initiative (MSTI) STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Challenge. The MSTI is an effort by the CSU Chancellor’s Office to increase the number of credentialed and highly-qualified mathematics and science teachers in middle and high schools.

Guest contribution — Open letter to Ventura County, 5th District Supervisor Carmen Ramirez and Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

Congratulation to both of you on your historic victories in this past 2020 Presidential Elections. These are uniquely troubling times and difficult for the nation, the county, and the city of Oxnard. You two where overwhelmingly voted into office because the electorate believes in you. We believe that you two working together can break some of the horrific self-serving and polarizing gridlock of local and national politics as usual, that benefit only the very few 1% well-heeled politically and financially hooked up, along with tragically half of the nation (along with the county of Ventura, the city of Oxnard) that will continue to blindly follow the evil and maniacal dog whistles of racism, hatred, and fear straight to the tyrannical abyss.

You two, Carmen and John, working together can be a working and thriving model of local common sense, cooperative governance, democratic inclusion, fiscally compassionate (put tax money where it is most needed and not with sweet heart lobbyist), wise decision making and social justice champions and become true democratic beacon for the nation of all.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Rounding the Corner’ and other news

by Community Contributor • January 14, 2021 • Comments Off

The Economic Forecast Project updates the Santa Barbara community on the state of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Bilingual report — COVID-19 Update for Jan. 13, 2021 — Case Information and Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 1,563 new cases for today, 9,008 additional tests, and 16 additional deaths 96 year old male, 80 year old female, 91 year old male, 59 year old female, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 72 year old female, 31 year old male, 86 year old male, 83 year old female, 69 year old female, 82 year old male, 75 year old male, 82 year old male, 87 year old female, and a 102 year old female.

Our thoughts are with the loved ones of each of the people who have passed away and with the medical staff who cared for them. Please help save lives by following the public health guidance.

Ventura County Arts Council — What’s New in 2021

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

Greetings and Happy New Year! We are happy to share that in December 2020, with support from the California Arts Council, we were able to distribute CARES funds to 17 local arts and culture organizations who represent and serve communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

This money was allocated from a portion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds initially given to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) who granted a portion of the dollars to the California Arts Council to be distributed by their State and Local Partners. As CAC’s Ventura County SLP, we were able to help the following groups with support for core operations and special projects:
Ballet Folklorico Bell Arts
Ballet Folklorico Cielito Lindo de Simi Valley
Bell Arts Factory
Club Flor Bonita
The CreArtive Freedom Family
Danza Tonantzin
Dr. Manuel M. Lopez Community Garden
Fork Space
Get Loud Movement
Inlakech Cultural Arts Center
Our Town. Our Children.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation
Redbird
Spectrum Collaborative
The Showtime Project
Teatro De Las America
Ventura County Chinese American Association

Santa Paula Art Museum — Looking for a Silver Lining?

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

We got our first glimpse this week of many of the paintings that will be featured in artist Anette Power’s upcoming solo exhibit Silver Linings: Journey of Light, which premieres February 6, 2021 at the Santa Paula Art Museum.* Anette’s show is full of hope, and happiness, and joy. It’s the kind of bright spot that we all need more of right now, and we can’t wait to share it with you in February!

If you’d rather not wait, you can get a sneak peek of Power’s exhibit when she streams live from her studio this Saturday, January 16, at 2:00 p.m. (preregistration and Zoom app download are required). She’ll be showing us around her creative space and telling us how she’s learned to paint the silver linings.

Consulado de México en Oxnard — Estados Unidos anuncia nuevas medidas extraordinarias para ingresar vía aérea

by Community Contributor • January 13, 2021 • Comments Off

A partir del 26 de enero, Estados Unidos solicitará presentar un resultado negativo de prueba viral a todos los pasajeros aéreos que deseen ingresar al país, antes de abordar su vuelo.
Dicha medida es aplicable para todos los pasajeros que pretendan viajar a Estados Unidos con independencia de su nacionalidad.

UCSB — The Current — ‘Race to Justice Continues’ and more news

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2021 • Comments Off

The Arts & Lectures series features talks this month by award-winning authors and scholars Ta-Nehisi Coates and Isabel Wilkerson.

Ventura County Arts Council — Call to Artists deadline is Jan. 25

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2021 • Comments Off

Online Entries Are Open

CALL TO ARTISTS
Ventura County Arts Council invites your submissions for

MESSAGE | COMMUNICATION
Sharing of Ideas and Feelings
Online exhibition beginning Monday, February 1st

Juried Competition, CASH PRIZES

Your opportunity to exhibit online hosted by Ventura County Arts Council Atrium Gallery. https://vcartscouncil.org/atrium-gallery

Museum of Ventura County — Virtual Event with Chris Hillman + New Meme Contest + More!

by Community Contributor • January 12, 2021 • Comments Off

You’re invited to join us on Zoom on Thursday, January 21, 2021 @ 6:30pm—7:30pm for Ivor Davis: Up Close & Personal with Chris Hillman. Among the topics of conversation, Mr. Davis will interview Chris Hillman about his recent memoir, “Time Between: My Life as a Byrd, Burrito Brother, and Beyond,” his time living in Ventura County, his rock ‘n roll roots, and much more. This is not to be missed!

Ventura County District 5 Supervisor Carmen Ramirez takes oath of office

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2021 • Comments Off

District 5 Supervisor Carmen Ramirez took her oath of office on Jan. 5.

“I am honored to begin my service representing the residents of Ventura County’s Fifth District. I know that we have many serious challenges to overcome the difficulties each of us experience in different ways because of the health and economic crisis. But I am an optimist and believe that working together for the greater good will get us to a better future. Thank you for the opportunity to serve,” said Supervisor Ramirez.

Bilingual commentary — The Promise and the Challenge of 2021

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2021 • Comments Off

We’ve just bid adieu to The Terrible Year. Yes, 2020 was the year that many of us simply want to forget and make believe it never happened. But it did happen. And we are not going to snap back to normal in the very near future, at least, just because a vaccine on a white horse is about to ride into town. Maybe we’re “done” with the pandemic and believe that we should “take our chances” because we’re so tired of the lockdowns and restrictions that robbed us of life as we knew it.

In 2021 the blessings of Unconditional love For all

by Community Contributor • January 8, 2021 • Comments Off

Unconditional love is not so much about how we tolerate and endure each other, but rather how we welcome and embrace each other, no matter the circumstances.

Unconditional love is about how we promise ourselves to never under any conditions stop bring the flawed and humble truth of who we are to each other.