Category: Cultural

MICOP seeks volunteers for monthly Mixteco community meeting on Jan. 26

Volunteers are needed support the monthly Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project community meeting on  Saturday, Jan. 26 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. “We will be trying something new (and old, if you remember back a few years ago) this…

Bilingual commentary: The luckiest generation

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…

Melinda Palacio to hold book signing on Jan. 19 in Ventura

VENTURA — On the heels of having won the 2012 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award for her début novel, Ocotillo Dreams, local author and poet Melinda Palacio returns to sign her new book of poems, “How Fire Is a Story,…

Bilingual commentary: Pain and acceptance

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…

Deadline approaching for El Concilio’s annual Latino Leadership Awards nominations

Nominations will close at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 for El Concilio Family Services 24th annual Latino Leadership Awards, the Oxnard-based organization reported this weekend. El Concilio has expanded the criteria beyond education for the annual awards to be presented June 7,…

Commentary: National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

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 During…

Bilingual report: Agriculture, De Colores Art Show talks to be held Jan. 10 in Santa Paula

The Santa Paula Art Museum and the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will co-present the “Second Thursday Gallery Talks” program on Thursday, Jan. 10. John Nichols, photographer and creator of the annual Art About Agriculture exhibit,…

Bilingual report: ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! to present Ballet Hispanico classes / performance Jan. 10-13

Franchesca Marisol Cabrera, a former Spirit of Fiesta, returns to Santa Barbara as education coordinator with Ballet Hispanico when the group appears in the region Jan. 11 through 13. ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! will present New York-based Ballet…

Celebración del Día de Reyes de la ciudad de Lompoc

LOMPOC — El domingo 06 de enero cerca de 400 niñas y niños se dieron cita en la Iglesia de La Purísima Concepción en la ciudad de Lompoc, CA., para saludar a Melchor, Gaspar y Baltazar, siguiendo una de las…

Bilingual commentary: Polytheism

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…

Bilingual commentary: Baby steps

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor When I was younger (and more foolish), night would come and once again I would question why I dared to think that I could do it all.  Like the superwoman who believes that she can…

Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate to hold ‘Reyes Magos’ celebration on Jan. 6 in Lompoc

The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard, Unity Shoppe Organization and La Purísíma Concepción Catholic Church will hold a “Reyes Magos’ celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6 at the church, 213 W. Olive Ave., Lompoc. Families are invited for…

Los Aguiluchos Marching Band to perform on Dec. 27 in Oxnard

OXNARD — Los Aguiluchos Marching Band of Puebla, Mexico, will perform at 1 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. The marching band will also perform at the 124th annual Pasadena Tournament of…

Bilingual commentary: Communicating, or missing brain cells?

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…

Commentary: Tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary: It’s not only about gun control

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 After…

Bilingual commentary: Higher education for Latinos

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…

Students participate in STEM Conference at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — Women leaders in science, engineering and education shared their expertise and time with more than 200 girls in grades 6-12, parents, teachers and counselors at the recent 2012 Upper Hand to College STEM Conference, held at UCSB, organizers…

Bilingual report: El Centrito, MICOP to present ‘Piñata Making Workshop’ on Dec. 14

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Centers, in partnership with Mixteco/Indigina Community Organizing Project (MICOP), will host the fifth annual “Piñata Making Workshop” from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday Dec. 14  at El Centrito’s main campus, 450 So. K St. (The…

El Concilio Family Services expands criteria for Latino Leadership Awards nominations

  El Concilio Family Services in Oxnard has announced that it has expanded the criteria beyond education for nominations for the 24th annual Latino Leadership Awardes, to be presented June 7, 2013 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Oxnard. The…

Clinicas to distribute toys to its patients through Dec. 21

Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will be distributing toys at its clinics throughout Ventura County through Dec. 21, the health care provider reported Monday in a media release. For the past four years, during the holiday season, Clincas del Camino…

Bilingual commentary: Pearl Harbor

By David Magallanes /Guest contributor A few days ago we commemorated the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. For the ancient Hawaiians, the place was called Wai Nomi; that is, Pearl Water. It must have been a…

MICOP seeks volunteers for ‘Fiesta Navideña 2012’ on Dec. 15

Volunteers are needed support the annual Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project’s “Fiesta Navideña 2012,” which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 in El Rio and Oxnard. “There are still volunteer opportunities for this Saturday’s Fiestas in Oxnard and El Rio…

La Hermandad, MICOP, One Step A La Vez among local groups benefiting from McCune Foundation grant

Deadline for next grant program is Jan. 14, 2013 The McCune Foundation has awarded more than $360,000 for community organizing and social justice initiatives in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Sixteen groups received grants in November to organize residents in…

Bilingual report: Deadline is midnight Dec. 6 to register for ‘Santa to the Sea’ race to benefit El Concilio

El Concilio Family Services in Oxnard will benefit from the fifth annual “Santa to the Sea” Half Marathon, Relay, 5K Run and 1K Kids Run on Sunday, Dec. 9. The deadline is midnight, Thursday, Dec. 6. Call El Concilio at…

Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas’ PASTO-Re-La opens Dec. 7 in Oxnard

Teatro de las Américas will present “PASTO-Re-La” from Dec. 7 through 15 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center Black Box Theater, 4000 So. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Presented in Spanish with English supertitles; tickets for the family-friendly program are available…

Public Utilities President Mike Peevey to speak at CI’s Lacayo Institute on Dec. 10

CAMARILLO – The Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies at CSU Channel Islands (CI) will host its first Lacayo Forum on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012, featuring Michael R. Peevey, President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  The Lacayo…

Bilingual report: ‘Always Running..’ author Luis Rodriguez to speak Dec. 5 at Oxnard College

Author and poet Luis Rodriguez, best known for his 1993 memoir, “Always Running — La Vida Loca Gang Days in L.A.,” will be the guest speaker during Oxnard College’s “One Book One Campus” presentation from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday,…

Deadline is Dec. 12 for matching donation for farm worker housing

VENTURA COUNTY — Dark, small, crowded, dilapidated… substandard and unacceptable. These are words that are commonly used to describe the housing available to farm worker families in Ventura County, and yet farm workers sustain agriculture in our community and bring…

Bilingual report: Ventura College, Ventura College Santa Paula offer English language improvement classes

Ventura College offers a variety of options for those who wish to improve their English language skills, the Ventura County Community College District reported in a media release. The new English for Multilingual students (EngM) are for students who do not…

Ventura College Santa Paula open for registration

The Ventura College Santa Paula site is now open for registration, offering a semester of classes and resources available to the community, the Ventura County Community College District reported in a media release. Classes begin January 14, 2013. Visit the…

Bilingual commentary: Human Touch — Judgment, then understanding

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Huff, huff, puff, puff … inhale, exhale.  It was another evening of routine discipline as I plowed my body around the running track at the local park. The landscape was predictable in this neighborhood: the…

Bilingual commentary: Taos Pueblo: A unique Christmas celebration

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Freezing air from snow-capped mountains pinches your nose as you walk toward Taos Pueblo on Christmas Eve. Moving into the crowd gathered around the adobe chapel, you hear people speaking hushed Spanish,…

CLU gets $1.6 million Upward Bond grant

THOUSAND OAKS — The U.S. Department of Education has awarded California Lutheran University a $1.6 million grant to continue and expand its TRIO Upward Bound Math and Science Center over the next five years, the university reported Thursday in a…

Letter to the Editor: A Potential Antidote to Gang Violence: Membership in a Boys & Girls Club

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.  To the editor: Congratulations…

Bilingual commentary: The Guardians

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…

Commentary: When grief is home for the holidays

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 /…

Bilingual report: Host families needed in late December for Los Aguiluchos marching band

OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services in Oxnard reports that host families are needed for Los Aguiluchos for Dec. 26 and 27th. The marching band, from Puebla, Mexico, will perform at the 124th annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on Tuesday,…

Bilingual commentary: Mysterious processes

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 David Magallanes / Guest…

Bilingual report: Oxnard officially launches Spanish broadcast of city council meetings

OXNARD — In an effort to reach Spanish speaking residents, provide easier access to information about city government, and create an inclusive decision making process for all residents of Oxnard, the City of Oxnard will officially begin broadcasting city council…

El Centrito co-founder receives prestigious grant from The California Wellness Foundation

OXNARD — Since the economic recession struck, nonprofit agencies throughout the country have struggled to stay afloat and sustain services at sufficient levels to meet the increasing demand. El Centrito Family Learning Centers, an Oxnard nonprofit that provides bilingual education services…