By Hannah-Beth Jackson Last year, California created the state’s first-ever Earned Income Tax Credit. This tax credit, which I supported, will put money back into the pockets of California’s low income working families to help pay for groceries, catch up…
Category: Education
CSU Channel Islands’ Student Affairs division earns national award for excellent diversity, staffing practices and work environment
CAMARILLO — Excellent diversity, staffing practices and work environment are among the reasons CSU Channel Islands (CI)’s Division of Student Affairs has won a designation as one of the “Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs” for a second year in a…
Bilingual commentary: Equal Opportunity in Creation
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes Some of us in our Western culture turn to the Bible to teach us something about the nature of ourselves as human beings, about our origins and early history. Others of us who are less…
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…
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…
emPower Hosts Free Energy Efficient Furnace Workshop in Santa Maria on Jan. 19
Jan. 19 workshop to be held at Veterans Memorial Building SANTA MARIA — With Santa Barbara County now firmly in winter, emPower Central Coast will be offering advice and information on selecting a new high-efficiency furnace during a free, Jan. 19 workshop. …
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…
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara Members Awaken the Force with Hour of Code
/ Girls Inc. Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s Goleta and Santa Barbara Centers were buzzing on Friday afternoon, as the local affiliate hosted the “Hour of Code” to introduce girls to coding and computer science. Approximately two dozen girls…
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…
CSU Channel Island students offer free in-home service for Latina/os with traumatic brain injury
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) Health Science students are seeking Ventura County Latina/os with a traumatic brain injury to take part in a free in-home service called “Trabajadora de Salud,” the university reported in a media release. Assistant Professor of Health…
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…
Local news briefs
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…
Commentary: Hispanics awaiting Supreme Court decision on voting districts
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 While the song goes “The Eyes of Texas are Upon You,” it’s more of a case that the eyes of Hispanics nationwide is upon Texas and a pending decision by the U.S. Supreme Court…
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…
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…
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…
UCSB’s Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science is named an outstanding regional role model
By Julie Cohen / UCSB The UC Santa Barbara chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) has received the 2015 Outstanding Regional Network Role Model Award. This award marks the fourth in as many years bestowed…
Bilingual commentary: Obesity…And We Wonder Why?
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor There was an interesting juxtaposition of articles in this past week’s Ventura County Star. One of them* was entitled “Americans becoming more obese,” as in, what else is new? In the same section of the newspaper, there…
Museum of Ventura County to present sneak preview of ‘Bordertown’ on Nov. 20
VENTURA — The Museum of Ventura County will present a sneak preview of “Bordertown,” a new Seth MacFarlane comedy to debut on Fox in January 2016, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.…
Bilingual commentary: Avoiding What We Don’t Understand
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor This past week, I decided to confront something that I had studiously avoided all my life because I just didn’t understand it. Abstract art. I had grown up surrounded by the classical art created by my Mexican…
Emmy Award-winning journalists join Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers for ‘Politics in America’ talk on Nov. 12
OXNARD — Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will present a special evening of political discussion and debate on Thursday, Nov. 12 with award-winning journalists Myrka Dellanos, Ruben Navarrette Jr. and Julio Varela as part of its continuing Latino Thought Makers Live…
Gold Coast Health Plan to recognize Diabetes Awareness Month with resource fair on Nov. 7 in Oxnard
OXNARD — Gold Coast Health Plan will recognize Diabetes Awareness Month in November with a “Diabetes Awareness Resource Fair” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Oxnard Public Library, 1251 S. A St., Oxnard. The program will feature…
Local news briefs
SANTA BARBARA — Award-winning author Reyna Grande will be presented with UCSB’s 12th annual Luis Leal Literature Award during a ceremony at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the McCune Conference Room, 6020 Humanities and Social Sciences Building at UCSB.…
Bilingual commentary: “After 17”
By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Country-Western music is well-known for its ability to powerfully express the heartaches, the grudges, the pleasures and the joys that we experience in our lives. It often sings of our delights, tragedies and transitions — including those…
Business: WEV to present free Spanish self-employment sessions
Orientations will be held Nov. 4 in Oxnard, Nov. 11 in Fillmore and Nov. 12 in Ventura From Amigos805 staff reports Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV). will hold free, one-hour informational sessions facilitated by Spanish Program Coordinator Leticia Sandoval in Ventura…
Local business information
> The EDC-VC and EDD will present a “Federal / State Basic Payroll Tax Seminar” from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Ventura EDD Tax Office, 4820 McGrath St., Suite 200, Ventura. Participants will receive information…
Health: Open Enrollment for Covered California begins Nov. 15
Period is one time of year when most Californians who need insurance cannot be denied by a health plan. Deadline is Feb. 15 By the Ventura County Health Care Agency VENTURA COUNTY — Open Enrollment starts Nov. 15 and continues…
Local health information
> Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will provide information on Covered California and free health screenings at selected locations throughout the month of November in Ventura County. Click here to find times, dates and locations. > The Ventura County…
More Día de los Muertos events coming this weekend, beyond
From Amigos805 staff reports Día de los Muertos events will continue this weekend in Camarillo, Goleta, Nipomo, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Santa Paula and Ventura. Camarillo • CSU Channel Islands will present its annual Día de los Muertos celebration 4…
Guest commentary: The lonely book review
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 Not…
Channel Islands High School graduate and assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, Maria Echaveste to speak at CSU Channel Island on Oct. 27
CAMARILLO — “From La Colonia to the Clinton Administration, and to Cal: Learning and Leadership — A Conversation with Maria Echaveste” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27 CSU Channel Island. The public is welcome to attend. Growing up…
CI Science Carnival unleashes the curious kid in all of us on Oct. 24
CAMARILLO — Slime, banana pianos and the ever-popular screaming Gummi bears will be among more than 80 exploding, oozing, glowing and just plain fascinating hands-on science activities at CSU Channel Islands(CI)’s Seventh Annual Science Carnival, the university reported in a media…
Día de los Muertos events continuing this weekend
From Amigos805 staff reports Día de los Muertos events are continuing this weekend in Oxnard and Santa Barbara. The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard will present its annual Día de los Muertos program as part of its Family Day from 11 a.m. to…
Bilingual commentary: The Love of Math
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor In a recent newspaper article (I still read the paper version daily), an event in our county and elsewhere caught my attention: a “TriMathlon.” I had never seen this clever play on the word “triathlon,” which refers…
The OC Literature, Arts and Lecture Series Fall 2015 to present ‘Réne Corado — From Shoeshine Boy to Scientist’ on Oct. 21
OXNARD — The OC Literature, Arts and Lecture Series Fall 2015 will present “Réne Corado — From Shoeshine Boy to Scientist” from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Oxnard College Performing Arts Center, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.…
Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts to present ‘An Evening with Actors Judy Reyes, Reynaldo Pacheco and Julissa Arce’ on Oct. 21
OXNARD — Oxnard College Institute for Latino Performing Arts will present a special evening with actress Judy Reyes and immigrant rights activist Julissa Arce with host Rick Najera at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 as part of Oxnard College’s Latino Thought Makers…
A UCSB professor’s personal experience with issues of immigration shapes her academic passions
By Nora Crutcher / UCSB Narayani Lasala-Blanco knows firsthand the struggles Latino and other immigrant families face when they come to the United States. She experienced them herself, as a child living in Santa Barbara in the late 1980s. Now an…
A UC Santa Barbara researcher’s book on Spanish-language radio earns national awards and a place in the national conversation
By Jim Logan / UCSB Dolores Inés Casillas, an associate professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at UC Santa Barbara, picked a good time to write a book about the ways Latinos use Spanish-language radio. Not that…
Día de los Muertos events beginning this weekend
Día de los Muertos events are beginning this weekend in many locations in the 805 region. The Carpinteria Library will present “La Catrina,” a Día de los Muertos celebration, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5141 Carpinteria Ave.,…
De Colores Art Show to hold opening reception on Oct. 17
SANTA PAULA — The Santa Paula Art Museum will present the 22nd “De Colores Art Show: Campesinas,” opening with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at 117 N. Tenth St., downtown Santa Paula. The De Colores Art Show is an annual…
Santa Barbara Art Museum to present ‘Looking In, Looking Out: Latin American Photography starting Oct. 18
The Santa Barbara Art Museum will present “Looking In, Looking Out: Latin American Photography” from Oct. 18 through Feb. 14 at 130 State St., Santa Barbara. Selected from the museum’s permanent collection, the 47 works explore various aspects of Latin American history and…
Bilingual commentary: The Golden Age of Islam
By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor In the midst of turbulence and social upheaval in the Middle East today, and with prejudicial hatred against Muslims increasing throughout our country, it is hard for us to comprehend a time in which Islam was highly…
CLU’s International Film Festival to present ‘Even the Rain’ on Oct. 7
THOUSAND OAKS — CLU’s International Film Festival will present “Even the Rain” (Spanish) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at the Carmike Thousand Oaks 14, 166 W. Hillcrest Drive. With ample irony, Even the Rain explores the effects of Spanish imperialism,…
October cover story: Day of the Dead coming to life in 805 region
Cities from Camarillo to Santa Maria will present numerous activities during Día de los Muertos celebration to honor departed souls By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 About three decades ago most of the general public in the 805 region had not…
Commentary: Campesinas are the focus of this year’s De Colores Art Show in Santa Paula
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 For Xavier Montes, the inspiration for this year’s De Colores Art Show hit close to home to the aunt who raised him. “When I see women working in the fields, I think of Carmen, my mother…