Have you heard the buzz about Teatro De Las Americas’s spectacular production of Muero por Vivir? It’s an event you absolutely can’t miss! Secure your seat today by grabbing your tickets online. Join us for an unforgettable experience!
VENTURA COUNTY — in partnership with the City of Oxnard and the Economic Development Collaborative Accelerate California: Inclusive Innovation Hub, the Ventura County Chapter of SCORE will present its second in-person no cost workshop On November 12. To ensure broader accessibility and support for the Spanish-speaking small business community in the Oxnard area, the SCORE workshop will be presented in Spanish.
CENTRAL COAST — This month, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) have unveiled their new Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver award at their corporate headquarters in San Luis Obispo.
Achieved in collaboration with In Balance Green Consulting and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this certification recognizes properties built with exceptional sustainable construction practices. The goal of LEED is to create ‘better buildings that promote sustainability, enhance individual human health, and protect and restore water resources’.
Santa Paula is on the front lines of a fight against a deadly disease targeting citrus trees. The Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner is calling on the community to help stop the spread of Huanglongbing (HLB) a disease vectored by the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP).
Residents in quarantine zones are asked to not move any plant material – this includes fruit, leaves, branches, and even dirt. The Ventura County Agricultural Comissioner/Weights & Measures Department is working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to mitigate the situation.
The disease is not harmful to humans but it is detrimental to citrus trees. Right now the goal is to slow the spread to give science and research time to develop possible treatments.
Call the CDFA pest hotline at 1-(800)-491-1899 if your trees are showing symptoms of ACP/ HLB and they can arrange to have your tree tested.
Want to learn more? Take a moment to watch the video on how HLB affects local citrus.
Dear Friend,
During this season of gift giving, I’ve been reflecting on all the amazing gifts People’s has received this year:
82 new employees: The need keeps growing, and so do we. The ability of our mission and organization to attract professional, committed individuals is an imperative if we are to continue confronting the housing crisis head on.
$1M in housing impact notes: It takes considerable philanthropic vision to fund project pre-development costs, they are typically not exciting or visible, but they are vital. We were so grateful for this incredible opportunity to move multiple challenging projects forward. Thanks to our Resource Development and Accounting & Finance teams who safely and soundly manage our financial resources, we can accomplish more mission and meet philanthropist partners’ objectives.
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.
Application Period Timeline: For the remainder of the 2023-2024, applications for the California Competes Tax Credit will be accepted during the following periods:
January 2, 2024 – January 22, 2024
March 4, 2024 – March 18, 2024
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College Community Education is inviting community members to enroll in free noncredit classes this spring.
This spring noncredit classes include a wide range of engaging courses that span a multitude of subjects including arts and crafts, wellness, English language learning, technology, career development, GED preparation and much more. The noncredit classes provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for new and returning students, as well as life-long learners.
“Community Education is more than just classes. It’s a door to opportunities, the first step into an educational and personal journey,” said Hancock Dean of Academic Affairs Sofia Ramirez Gelpi “We offer students from all walks of life a supportive learning environment that encourages personal growth and will help them achieve their educational goals, from learning English to transitioning to credit programs.”
SANTA PAULA — During a largely ceremonial Council meeting on the evening of December 6, 2023, former Vice Mayor Leslie Cornejo, a distinguished Santa Paula businesswoman and owner-operator of Santa Paula Travel Service, assumed the esteemed role as the 121st Mayor of Santa Paula, coincidentally on her birthday. This transition of leadership unfolded amidst a packed Council Chambers as Cornejo graciously accepted the mayoral responsibilities, receiving the symbolic gavel from the outgoing Mayor Andy Sobel.
Primera muestra de cortos en español del Teatro de las Américas 2023
Teatro de las Américas Spanish Short Film Showcase
CAMARILLO —The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) is now enrolling employees in workplace English language training at NO-COST, thanks to a one-time grant from the Employment Training Panel. This opportunity is specifically designed to serve workers who are immigrants and refugees or non-English speakers within the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.
To provide accessible career-aligned English upskilling courses, EDC is partnering with EnGen, a registered BCorp delivering English language training for workers at many of America’s largest corporations. Training benefits include:
SANTA MARIA — After 16 weeks of classroom and field instruction, 34 cadets graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy on Dec.7. The cadets were recognized for completing the Emergency Medical Services Academy 1A during a ceremony at Hancock’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.
Upon completion of the training, the cadets can provide basic life-saving skills and have passed a national registry test to become emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
SANTA MARIA — A total of 79 students graduated from Allan Hancock College’s nursing program on Dec. 7, continuing the college’s legacy of training highly skilled healthcare workers.
The graduating class included 46 graduates from Hancock’s registered nursing program and 33 graduates from the college’s vocational nursing program. The graduates and their families celebrated with a ceremony at the Marian Theatre on the college’s Santa Maria campus. Both groups received commemorative pins marking their accomplishments.
“Training public servants is one of the most important missions of a community college,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “I am honored that our nursing students have chosen this profession.”
SANTA MARIA — Twenty-six recruits graduated from Allan Hancock College’s Basic Law Enforcement Academy on Dec. 6 at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc.?
The graduating recruits of Class #23-126 gathered with their friends and families to celebrate the completion of more than 856 training hours required to graduate from the academy and enter careers as peace officers. Nearly all of the recruits have already been hired by Central Coast law enforcement agencies.?
“You have strapped into the seat of one of the greatest rollercoaster rides of your life,” Grover Beach Police Chief John Peters told the graduates. “This profession will have you experiencing more things than you ever imagined.”
PORT HUENEME — The City of Port Hueneme, in collaboration with the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) and the Ventura County Library, is pleased to announce a Call for Artists and Request for Qualifications for the development of a new mural at the Ray D. Prueter Library located at 510 Park Ave in Port Hueneme, California. This project will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the City of Port Hueneme and will launch the City’s public arts initiatives.
SBA: INTRO TO GOVT CONTRACTING
December 5 @ 10:00 am
This webinar will provide a brief overview of SBA programs and services, with an emphasis on SBA’s federal contracting resources! Have you considered, is government contracting a good fit for your business ? This will be an intro to small business certification programs. Government contracts are a tremendous financial opportunity for small businesses, and the U.S. government is the largest customer in the world. It buys all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities — and it’s required by law to consider buying from small businesses. The SBA has several contracting assistance programs, and federal contracting resources available to assist entrepreneurs. This is a great opportunity to get any questions you may have answered and find out about the multiple resources available to help you on your way to small business success. This event will take place online, please register for the log on information. SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. For reasonable accommodation request please send an email to lado@sba.gov at least 7 days in advance.
SANTA MARIA — For the 15th year in a row, Allan Hancock College’s CARE program provided students who are single parents with a turkey and other Thanksgiving meal items free of charge.
A total of 51 individuals and families stopped by CARE’s “Turkey Fest” booth outside the college’s Santa Maria campus on Nov. 21, where CARE staff provided them with everything needed to prepare a delicious Thanksgiving meal. The packages included a turkey, potatoes, beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pie, whipped cream and butter. Also included were turkey preparation and cooking instructions.
“We know times are tough, so we are thrilled that we can provide this food and put a smile on the faces of our students,”?said Hancock CARE/EOPS Coordinator Fabian Mendoza
The California Labor Market Information Division has released its October 2023 report, showing job growth in Ventura County across just about all industry sectors and losses in none.
For the most encouraging news, now at 349,600 total industry jobs, Ventura County is up by more than 10,000 jobs since just prior to the pandemic.
While that’s extraordinarily positive for overall recovery, the major labor market indicators are still a bit mixed, as we had a slight uptick in October in the number of unemployed workers and in the unemployment rate, up from 4.4% in September to 4.5% in October. To be clear, the unemployment rate is up not because we’re failing to create jobs, rather because more workers are coming back to the labor force and because volatility, or churn—workers changing jobs—remains high.
Native American Heritage Month is a time to honor, learn and stand united in appreciation of the invaluable contributions of Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. Celebrating the rich history and vibrant cultures of Native American communities is critical for fostering understanding, preserving cultures and promoting unity across our nation. The EDC is dedicated to providing equitable access to resources, advising and capital. Since 2010, the EDC has helped generate over $130 million in revenue to Native American businesses.
The EDC is proud to support the community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
2023 State of the County: A Triumph in Safety and Progress
Celebrating 150 years as a County, on November 2nd, community members gathered at the iconic Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for the State of the County address by CEO Dr. Sevet Johnson. In a visionary speech, Dr. Johnson delivered an update on the County’s programs, initiatives and future endeavors.
Dr. Johnson also proudly highlighted the County’s achievements and distinction as not only fiscally healthy but as the “safest large county in the State of California.”
VENTURA — Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters Michelle Ascencion announced the extension of the Declaration of Intention period to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023, for one judicial office that is scheduled to be voted upon at the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election.
We invite you to take a look at our 2022-23 Impact Report, a compilation of the top milestones from this past year! For the first time, this report is available in both English & Spanish. Together, we are building so much more than housing!
During my elementary and high school years, my history teachers were passionate about imparting their knowledge and perspectives. One of my problems at the time was that I did not appreciate their wisdom and incisive insights into the forces that shape our world.
Looking back, I wish I could have allowed them to fill the vessel that should have been receptive and overflowing. Like most young people, I would venture to say, I did not see the point in learning about a world that, I thought, “no longer exists.”
But the world of the past is still very much in our midst, just as our ancestors have had a powerful hand in shaping who we are today.
Labor Market Report for September 2023
The California Labor Market Information Division released its September 2023 report earlier this month, showing moderate improvement across all the major labor market indicators. Ventura County gained a total of 2,800 industry jobs, helping to lower the unemployment rate from 4.7% in August to 4.5% in September.
While those are positive indicators for the economy, more interesting was the increase in the total labor force by 5,900 workers, now at 418,800, an encouraging upsurge but still 2,300 workers shy of our pre-pandemic level in September 2019. It appears now that most of the workers that dropped out during COVID are back, except—and this is significant—for those who aged out of the labor force or left the region entirely. The “aging out” piece might be the biggest part of the story, as the demographics show we are aging as a region.
We were thrilled to join the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo and El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) at the ribbon cutting for their Project Homekey housing in Paso Robles! This site provides 28 rooms of emergency shelter and 60 permanently supportive units of affordable housing.
Our combined programs for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) seek to provide a more robust illustration of the true diversity of the Latinx experience in Santa Barbara County.
La combinación de nuestros programas para el Día de los Muertos pretende ofrecer una mejor ilustración de la verdadera diversidad de la experiencia Latinx en el condado de Santa Bárbara.
Mountains to Sea Jubilee – Celebrating 150 Years of VC!
Join us for a FREE family festival celebrating Ventura County’s 150th anniversary! The festival will take place in Santa Paula on Saturday, October 21 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Activities will include live entertainment on multiple stages, a kids’ zone, food trucks, arts & crafts stations, and more!
While you enjoy the fun, don’t miss the opening of the special 150th Anniversary museum exhibit! The Agricultural Museum in Santa Paula will host the opening for Ventura County: The Place We Call Home – a special reflection on our county.
Uplift Central Coast Coalition has announced a the launch of their new brand identity, website and social media accounts! Uplift Central Coast’s reimagined brand reflects their bold vision and commitment to uplifting the residents and economy of the Central Coast.
CAMARILLO — The Ventura County Department of Child Support Services (VCDSS), in collaboration with First 5 Ventura County, is thrilled to announce the Harvesting All Dads event scheduled for October 7, 2023. This unique gathering aims to celebrate fatherhood and connect with dads in the community, fostering a supportive environment for them to share their insights. The event will take place from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the scenic Camino Real Park in Ventura.
As part of the ongoing commitment to enhancing fatherhood experiences in Ventura County, the Harvesting All Dads event welcomes all dads to participate in a morning filled with food, games, and valuable resources. The event is a crucial component of the county-wide Fatherhood Initiative that VCDSS is currently developing. The primary goal of this event is to better understand the needs of fathers in the community and to tailor services and resources accordingly.
“Father involvement is pivotal for the holistic development of families and communities,” says Director Marcus R. Mitchell. “We, at VCDSS, along with our partners at First 5 Ventura County, recognize the significance of actively engaging fathers in the journey of parenthood. The Harvesting All Dads event is more than just a gathering; it’s an opportunity for us to directly connect with dads, listen to their perspectives, and collaboratively create a fatherhood experience in Ventura County that is inclusive and resourceful. We believe that by understanding the needs of fathers, we can better support them in their role as parents.”
I was recently listening to a radio program discussing illiteracy and poverty in our country. These two intractable problems in our society are inextricably linked to each other. They also explain a lot of the darker forces that are shaping our future—and that of our children.
As I searched the Internet for some insight into the aforementioned forces, I came across a few uncomfortable propositions. I was reluctant to accept them. But I had to admit to myself that there were good reasons to at least entertain the possibility that these propositions contained some truth.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura’s Office of Arts and Culture is honored to be a recipient of a $25,000 Humanities for All grant from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This grant will support programs and projects connected to the County’s 150th Anniversary events, celebrating the theme of “Our History, Our Future, Together,” and planned by the County of Ventura, the Museum of Ventura County, and other community partners.
This funding will support a variety of 150th Anniversary activities throughout Ventura County, which will culminate at two communitywide events: the Mountain to the Sea Jubilee in Santa Paula on October 21, 2023, and the State of the County at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley on November 2, 2023. In addition to these capstone events, funding from California Humanities program will support these 150th Anniversary events:
Aunque desde Washington DC no se ve ningún apoyo presupuestal significativo para abordar la crisis de viviendas asequibles, este mes vimos venir una ayuda útil, variada y pragmática desde la legislatura de California.
No surgió una solución milagrosa, pero en conjunto los proyectos de ley enviados al escritorio del Gobernador, medidas que se someterían a votación en las boletas, hacen que la construcción de viviendas asequibles sea menos onerosa, más ágil y ayude a frenar sus crecientes costos. Las señales más positivas fueron que estas medidas experimentaron relativamente poca oposición, sólo algunos niveles limitados de discusión en el debate público, y que existe una sensación cada vez mayor de consenso en todo el estado.
Algunas victorias importantes para la creación de nuevas viviendas asequibles incluyen:?
The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance in English and Spanish through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:
Start-up Guidance
Marketing & Branding
International Trade
E-commerce & Social Media
Manufacturing Assistance
Legal Compliance
Strategic Planning
QuickBooks & Accounting
And MORE
SANTA BARBARA – – Acompáñanos en nuestra reunión en persona donde hablamos sobre negocios.
Estamos encantadas(os) de que Esperanza Vargas, clienta de WEV, sea la anfitriona de este evento gratuito de networking y comparta más sobre su viaje empresarial.
Ven a establecer contactos, inspírate y conoce a otras(os) dueñas(os) de negocios en tu comunidad. El personal de WEV Vanessa Valerio también compartirá los próximos cursos de negocios y seminarios web para 2023. Se proporcionarán aperitivos ligeros y bebidas.
Regístrate aquí y comparte con tus amistades.
Afina tu garganta y ven a divertirte en la esperada Karaoke Night del teatro de las Américas. Organizado por voluntarios y amigos del teatro. Disfruta de un refresco o una copa de vino mientras escuchas las canciones favoritas de la voz de amigos que esta noche se convertirán en grandes cantantes y coopera con el Teatro de las Américas para que haya más teatro en español en Oxnard.
***
Practice your singing and come and have fun at the long-awaited Karaoke Night at the Teatro de las Américas. This event is organized by volunteers and friends of the theater. Enjoy a soft drink or a glass of wine while listening to the favorite songs of the voice of friends who will become great singers tonight and cooperate with the Theater of the Americas so that there is more theater in Spanish in Oxnard
I have often thought about the burdens that girls and women have—burdens that are unique to them. It is often difficult, if not impossible, for men to comprehend the joys and traumas of childbirth, the stress of dealing with the menstrual cycle, the health issues that men will never have to consider for themselves.
I also sympathize with women’s constant need to protect themselves—from men. Certainly, female-on-male abuse and violence exist, but male-on-female brutality and assault is several orders of magnitude greater.
Women have one huge advantage over men that induces a secret jealousy in men: the ability to form deep and meaningful relationships with other women.
EN ESPAÑOL: COMO CONSTRUIR TU EQUIPO FINANCIERO
7 de septiembre a las 12:00 pm
Aprenda cómo, identificar sus necesidades, conectar con asesores profesionales, investigar y entrevistar, y alinearse con sus valores. Patrocinado por Bank of America.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE
Kelly Noble, our exceptional Office Manager, is celebrating 20 incredible years with EDC. Since 2003, Kelly has been an indispensable part of our team, contributing her expertise, dedication and infectious positivity. With a background in party planning, catering and entrepreneurship, Kelly brings a unique blend of creativity and precision to her role.
VENTURA — Ocean water quality results for samples collected this week indicate ocean water quality at the following Ventura County beach sampling location failed to meet State standards for bacteria:
SANTA BARBARA — UC Santa Barbara is conducting a research project with Latina, Latino, or Hispanic immigrant families who currently live apart because one parent migrated to the United States, while the other parent remained in a country within Latin America. Families who participate in the study will receive $140 in compensation for their time.
SANTA PAULA — The Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) has been granted first-year funding by the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) to advance the Isabella Project. With the impending implementation of Universal Pre-K (UPK) in California, the funding will be instrumental in addressing potential disruptions faced by early childhood education (ECE) providers and fostering resilience during this transition.
California’s implementation of UPK over the next several years with full implementation by 2025-26 will ensure all children who turn four years old by September 1 of a given school year are provided free access to a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program from their local school district.
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Parks & Recreation Department and the Santa Paula Unified School District are proud to announce a transformative partnership focused on increasing access to youth sports in the community. This collaboration aims to overcome barriers and provide a comprehensive range of sports opportunities for students in 3rd to 8th grade.
Recognizing the importance of youth sports in fostering physical activity, teamwork, and personal growth, the Parks & Recreation Department and the School District have come together to develop a program that addresses existing challenges. The goal is to ensure that all interested youth have the chance to participate, regardless of financial constraints or logistical hurdles.
The National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center are forecasting the potential for Hurricane Hilary to impact central and southern California counties, including any area within Santa Barbara County. Moderate to heavy rain, strong winds, coastal storm surge and erosion, and hazardous sea conditions are possible. These conditions may start locally as early as Sunday afternoon (August 20).
The National Weather Service has also issued a FLOOD WATCH for the foothills above Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria and the Eastern Santa Ynez mountain range due to the potential for heavy rainfall from Hurricane Hilary. The FLOOD WATCH is in effect from Sunday (August 20) at 4pm through Monday (August 21) at 11pm.
Here are some resources you can use to get the latest information:
EN ESPAÑOL: SBA: 10 PASOS PARA INICIAR SU EMPRESA
15 de agosto a las 11:30 am
Emprender un negocio requiere planificar, tomar decisiones financieras cruciales y realizar una serie de actividades legales. Acompañe al SBA en este seminario web para conocer cada paso.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE
WEV: WHAT IS IMPOSTER SYNDROME?
August 15 @ 12:30 pm
Have you experienced feeling like an imposter? Do you doubt your abilities and/or capabilities? This is called Imposter Syndrome. Imposter Syndrome is a common experience that is completely normal. Join WEV for this presentation with Isabelle Hertz, founder and CEO of Isabelle Hertz Coaching, who will discuss and teach you about Imposter Syndrome, how to navigate it and what strategies can be used when you notice it arising.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) today announced the appointment of Eve Gelb as its new Chief Innovation Officer. With a proven track record of success, Eve will serve in a critical role, helping drive excellence, innovation, and quality care for GCHP’s more than 250,000 Medi-Cal members.
“As part of Gold Coast Health Plan’s mission to continue to build and improve equity and access across the Medi-Cal system of services and supports in Ventura County, we thoughtfully added a Chief Innovation Officer position to our Executive Team – which itself is an innovation for the organization,” said Nick Liguori, GCHP’s Chief Executive Officer. “Eve will lead the way as we improve the execution and integration of complex, mission-critical and strategic initiatives that will ultimately lead to better outcomes for our members, greater access to quality care, and a superior member experience.”
Throughout the United States, speakers of English use many different variations of Standard English. For example, the English spoken by the Creoles of Louisiana is quite different from the English spoken by Mexican Americans in Los Angeles, the elites in Boston, and residents of the Bronx in New York.
All of us have heard, or used, Black English. It is distinct in its pronunciation and grammar, differing somewhat from the Standard English that is taught in our schools. This variant of English used to be called, somewhat condescendingly, “Nonstandard Negro English.”
In the 1970s, Black scholars decided to rebrand this form of English as “Ebonics” (Ebony + Phonics). It was an attempt to normalize and respect the English spoken by the majority of African American students in the Oakland, California area. The school board made the decision to account for this background in the students that they served while teaching them Standard English in the classrooms.
VENTURA — The County of Ventura and the Museum of Ventura County will be holding a series of family-friendly pop-up celebrations across the county in celebration of the 150thAnniversary of Ventura County. The pop-up celebrations will be held at larger festival events and will feature community organizations that will provide opportunities for adults and children to interact and learn more about the rich history and traditions of Ventura County. These community partners will provide opportunities for residents to participate in arts and crafts activities, enjoy performances, and learn more about Ventura County’s heritage both past and present. A full calendar of events can be found at www.venturacounty150.com
Teatro de las Américas presenta para la familia un espectáculo lleno de humor, títeres, payasos, magia, y misterio.
Escrito por el grupo cómico del Teatro de las Américas con: James Donlon, Alina Cenal, Albert Smith, Mateo Escobedo y Óscar Marrón. Dirigido por James Donlon.
***
Teatro de las Américas presents a show full of humor, puppets, clowns, magic, and mystery for the family.
Written by the comedy group of the Theater of the Americas with: James Donlon, Alina Cenal, Albert Smith, Mateo Escobedo and Oscar Brown. Directed by James Donlon.
In 2021, we recognized, or mourned (I won’t say “celebrated”), the 500th anniversary of the Conquest of Mexico. On August 13, 1521, Tenochtitlán fell into the hands of the Spanish conquerors led by Hernán Cortés.
It was the beginning of the end for Indigenous Mexico. It was also the birth of modern Mexico, along with a unifying European language. The conquerors also introduced a new religion that was forced to shape itself around the contours of indigenous beliefs.
One would hope that when a student chooses to study the Spanish language, it would mean that the learner will become conversant with native speakers of Spanish. The problem is that “native speakers” of Spanish include both European Spaniards and Latin Americans, whose Spanish is similar but at the same time demonstrate distinctive differences.
No experience required! Free of charge
Sing! is designed to empower young people, from 1st to 6th grade, to communicate with confidence, empathize with others, and encourage creative thinking. Sing! will help children learn about their own personal history through music and provide an opportunity to connect with others through the joy of singing.
Economic Development Collaborative encourages you to sign up for our partner’s no-cost events and webinars.
Plan ahead! Our full partner event schedule is updated at the start of each month.
“As a Climate leader for California’s Central Coast, we recognize that without community resilience, extreme heat will continue to exacerbate the underlying inequalities within our region,” said CEC Director of Climate Resilience Em Johnson. “Leading a regional coalition of over fifteen government agencies, grassroots organizations and community-based organizations, our vision as an EHRA partner is to reduce our region’s economic and health disparities related to the prevalence of extreme heat.”
EN ESPAÑOL: SBA: 10 PASOS PARA INICIAR SU EMPRESA
25 de julio a las 11:30 am
Emprender un negocio requiere planificar, tomar decisiones financieras cruciales y realizar una serie de actividades legales. Acompañe al SBA en este seminario web para conocer cada paso.
HAGA CLIC AQUÍ PARA INSCRIBIRSE
Why are so many of us reluctant to follow “the rules.” As it turns out, there is a whole slew of reasons why we just can’t “behave.” But why would we want to, anyway?
There are reasons that rules exist in society. There may be some rules that are unnecessary, coercive, or frivolous. But for the most part, in our country, at least, rules permeate our lives to protect us and others. They also make life better for all of us.
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.
Application Period Timeline: For the remainder of the 2023-2024, applications for the California Competes Tax Credit will be accepted during the following periods:
July 24, 2023 – August 14, 2023
January 2, 2024 – January 22, 2024
March 4, 2024 – March 18, 2024
A California high school English teacher, Marta Shaffer, has declared that teaching proper English grammar in our classrooms sustains white supremacy in our education system.
Either Ms. Shaffer has a point, or she is someone who searches tirelessly for supremacist underpinnings where there may be none—or at least not to the extent that she perceives.
VENTURA — On Tuesday, June 27, though unanimous vote, the Board of Supervisors approved the County Parks Department to enter into a dual lease agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Nyeland Acres Promise for management of the John C. Zaragoza Nyeland Acres Community Center and Park. The 2.2-acre park property, which is currently owned by the County of Ventura but under management by the Boys and Girls Club, is not available to the public on a full-time basis. Through the voted-on agreement, the County will now assume all oversight and maintenance for the park area through the County Parks Department, which will allow the neighborhood park to be open from dawn to dusk for the Nyeland Acres community. As well, the buildings will now be jointly operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme and Nyeland Promise.
“This is a very large deal to our community,” stated District 3 Supervisor Kelly Long. “Rolling this park into part of the County’s parks system allows us to take the liability off of the Boys and Girls Club and open it up even more to the community as a whole. It allows us to really develop the park for the community.”
VENTURA — The County of Ventura and Focus on the Masters Arts Archive & Library (FOTM) are presenting the History Is Now, 2023 photography and art exhibition at the County of Ventura Government Center – Hall of Administration, Atrium Gallery, located at 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. Open now through September 5, 2023 as a part of the County’s 150th Anniversary events, the exhibit celebrates the many artists who have made an impact in Ventura County over the past 150 years.
SANTA PAULA — On Nov.16, 2022, the City of Santa Paula announced that Chevron, in partnership with its affiliate Union Oil Company of California, made a generous offer to donate the historic former headquarters of Union Oil Company of California to the City. This donation would include the building, a $2 million grant to facilitate necessary maintenance, and select memorabilia displayed in the museum. Since December, staff has been conducting due diligence and negotiating a transfer agreement which would establish the City as the permanent owner of the property. In addition, the City established an ad hoc committee to assist in the evaluation of the property transition and future use of the facility.
“The donation of the former Union Oil Company of California headquarters is a remarkable opportunity for the City of Santa Paula. We are grateful to Chevron and Union Oil Company of California for their commitment to preserving our history and supporting the revitalization of our community,” stated Mayor Andy Sobel.
To ensure community involvement in shaping the future of the property, the City has planned two Community Workshops & Tours led by David Yoshitomi, Arts & Culture Manager of the County of Ventura.
For community colleges, the pandemic stressed the need to expand the ways we serve our community. Unfortunately, that’s especially true here in Oxnard, where families were disproportionately impacted by the effects of COVID-19. That’s why a year ago, the Ventura County Community College District invested $1.5 million to help Oxnard College launch two special initiatives aimed at better serving our community’s non-English speaking families and working adults.
When I was growing up here in Ventura County, my sister and I often served as de facto translators for my parents, helping them navigate English-speaking businesses, public institutions and neighborhoods. Over time, they picked up more of the language — even taking an English class at one point — and were increasingly able to engage with the broader community around them. My parents eventually leveraged this important skill — speaking English — to build small businesses and improve my family’s economic situation.
