Category: Cultural

November cover story: Holiday helping season is under way

From food drives to toy donations, groups already helping those in need By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 As the 805 region enters the holiday season, the time is here for local organizations to step up their efforts to help…

Guest commentary: El Día de Los Muertos and Halloween: Quo Vadis?

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 /…

Bilingual commentary: Republican obstinacy

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…

Guest commentary: The Devil made me do it. American exceptionalism revisited

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 After…

Organización en California de Líderes Campesinas to conduct candlelight vigil, ‘Apron Project’ exhibit on Oct. 25 in Oxnard

OXNARD — Líderes Campesinas will hold a vigil against domestic violence from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 500 No. Juanita Ave., Oxnard. As a united community, we will remember women who have died as…

22 new volunteer wish granters needed in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo Counties

SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA BARBARA COUNTIES — Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties currently has a critical need for 22 new  Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County Volunteer Wish Granters. 20 New Wish Granters are needed in Lompoc, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria and 2…

Bilingual report: Santa Maria performance poet Enedina Castañeda appears in Hollywood

  HOLLYWOOD — Poet / Poetisa Enedina Castañeda of Santa Maria performed with other Latin-American poets Oct. 8 at the Celebrity Centre in Hollywood. It’s a preliminary event for an international upcoming event in 2014 (embracing the arts in all its…

Guest commentary: No place to call your own

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editors 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 Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Fires…

Bilingual commentary: Women warriors

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 Women…

Guest commentary: Lessons from the Working Class. “When the Moment Comes”

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 “The…

Chicano Art Collection of Ben Saiz opens Oct. 21 at Ventura College Santa Paula. Reception is Oct. 25

SANTA PAULA — The Chicano Art Collection of Ben Saiz will open Monday, Oct. 21 at Ventura College Santa Paula, 957 Faulkner Road, 106, Santa Paula. Curated by Xavier “Big X” Montes, the exhibit features original works of art by Diego Rivera, David…

Guest commentary: A review of the history of perceived, real oppressive actions of law enforcement

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 Frank P. Barajas /Guest contributor…

Guest commentary: Oxnard’s Arts in Public Places and that silly little world called ‘sustainability’

An open letter to Oxnard’s Art in Public Places Committee 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…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers opens new toddler program

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Centers, in partnership with First 5 Ventura County and the Ocean View School District, opened the new Little Dolphins Early Learning Program on Aug. 28, at the Ocean View Early Education Site (OVEES), creating…

Guest commentary: Vestal Virgins

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 Ancient…

Panel discussion examines plight of ‘Out of Status’ students throughout history on Oct. 15 at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — They are among California’s highest achievers. High school graduates — in many cases their class valedictorians — community volunteers and now university students. They are hardworking seekers of their own version of the American Dream. They are also…

Guest commentary: El Día La Raza. What happened to the indigenous race?

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…

Mexican American Bar Association to present annual scholarship dinner on Oct. 18

OXNARD – The Ventura County Mexican American Bar Association and the Education Foundation of MABA will present their annual scholarship dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. Luis J. Rodriguez,…

Photographer to discuss how ‘The Migrant Project’ cultivated food forward on Oct. 19

SANTA PAULA — Photographer Rick Nahmias will speak at the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 about the creative journey behind his featured exhibition, “The Migrant Project,” the Museum of Ventura County reported in…

Consulado de México to present one-week mobile consulate services in Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo

OXNARD — The Consulado de México en Oxnard will present a special one-week mobile consulate services in Oct. 16-20 in Santa Maria and Oct. 23-27 in San Luis Obispo, officials reported Wednesday in a media release. Services will only be…

De Colores Art Show to celebrate 20th anniversary

SANTA PAULA — The 20th De Colores Art Show, an annual group art exhibit showcasing Latino art and culture, will premiere at the Santa Paula Art Museum on Sunday, Oct. 27 with an opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m.,…

Bilingual commentary: Cultural Jews … But Cultural Catholics?

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 Articles…

UCSB Early Academic Outreach to hold ‘Higher Education Week’ starting Oct. 8

SANTA BARBARA — The Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) at UC Santa Barbara will hold its fall Higher Education Week, a four-day series of events beginning Oct. 8, the university reported in a media release. Representatives from universities, colleges and…

Bilingual report: Mexican government issues statement on AB 60

MEXICO, D.F. — Regarding the bill signing ceremony of Assembly Bill 60 (AB60), “Immigrant Driver’s Licenses” held (Oct. 3) at City Hall in Los Angeles, California, the Ambassador of Mexico in the United States, Eduardo Medina Mora, issues the following statement:…

Enedina Castañeda to perform on Oct. 8 at Celebrity Centre in Hollywood

HOLLYWOOD — Poet / Poetisa Enedina Castañeda of Santa Maria will be performing with other Latin-American poets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 at the Celebrity Centre, 5930 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. It’s a preliminary event for an international upcoming event in…

CLU to present ‘Un cuento chino (Chinese Take-away)’ on Oct. 9

THOUSAND OAKS — California Lutheran University will present “Un cuento chino (Chinese Take-away)” as part of its International Film Festival/Reel Justice Film Series at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9 at Muvico Thousand Oaks 14, 166 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. “Chinese…

Susan Zamudio-Gurrola to speak on Ventura County farmworker housing on Oct. 10 in Santa Paula

SANTA PAULA — Susan Zamudio-Gurrola will speak about the twentieth century history of Ventura County farmworker housing at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at the at the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum, 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula. The speaker, who…

L.A. author, professor to speak on popular music along U.S.-Mexico border on Oct. 13 in Ventura

VENTURA — L.A. author, academic, and music critic, Josh Kun will present the program “Across Cultural Divides” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St., Ventura, in the Museum’s Martin V. and Martha K.…

Bilingual report: Free flu shots starting Oct. 5 throughout Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY — Community Memorial Health System’s Centers for Family Health, in conjunction with Ventura County Public Health, will provide free flu shots for people over 60 years old, people with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, healthcare personnel that provide direct patient care, children…

Bilingual commentary: New Pope, new hope

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 We…

United Way’s ‘Day of Caring’ volunteers clean up La Colonia Boxing Gym

Photos by Jess Gutierrez ©2013 New boxing ring, landscaping part of agency’s countywide effort By Jess Gutierrez / Amigos805 contributor More than 40 volunteers from throughout Ventura County painted, landscaped, cleaned and installed a new boxing ring at La Colonia Boxing Gym in…

Guest commentary: The illusion that education is the stairway to whiteness. Waiting for the next Sputnik moment

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 From…

‘Mixtec Indigenous Leaders’ panel talk set for Oct. 2 at Oxnard College

OXNARD — Maricela Morales, Jessica Arciniega, Arcenio Lopez and Israel Vazquez will speak at the panel presentation ‘Mixtec Indigenous Leaders: Models for Mobilizing and Empowering’ from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000…

La Colonia Youth Boxing Gym target for United Way’s Latino Action Team project on Sept. 28

OXNARD — The La Colonia Youth Boxing Gym is this year’s target for Fifth District Supervisor John Zaragoza and United Way’s Latino Action Team “Day of Caring” project, Zaragoza reported Thursday in a media release. United Way volunteers will be painting,…

Flamenco Arts Festival 2013 to be held Sept. 28-29

SANTA BARBARA — The “Flamenco Arts Festival 2013” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara, with dance workshops from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29 at Santa…

Destino awards $72,000 in grants to prepare local Hispanics for college

CAMARILLO — Destino: The Hispanic Legacy Fund, an initiative of the Ventura County Community Foundation, awarded a total of $72,000 to five nonprofit organizations at the 2013 Destino Grant Awards Reception earlier this month, the organization reported Wednesday. The Destino…

Bilingual commentary: Literature by women

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 Once…