Category: Education

Latino Health Awareness Month calendar released

In honor of Latino Health Awareness Month, the Ventura County Public Health-Chronic Disease Prevention Program, Oxnard Police Department and The Network for a Healthy California — Gold Coast Region Latino Campaign, have teamed up to promote a number of events in September, including…

Commentary: Complications of diabetes in the United States

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Last week’s article discussed the ‘Diabetes Epidemic’ in the Latino community. I hope you remembered the challenge: eat more green vegetables and begin to exercise fifteen to thirty minutes a day. The other day I mentioned…

Latino links: Educational trends

The number of 18- to 24-year-olds attending college hit an all-time high of 12.2 million in October 2010. A good part of that grow was attributed to a 24 percent jump in Hispanic enrollement, according to a report by the…

Bilingual report: Three bills awaiting governor’s signature

Three pieces of legislation being carried by first-term State Assemblymember Das Williams (D- Santa Barbara) are currently awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature after successfully navigating the legislative process in both the Assembly and Senate. the office of Assemblymember Das Williams…

MICOP seeking volunteers on Aug. 26, 27

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) is seeking volunteers to fill 500 backpacks with school supplies starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 So. Gisler St., Oxnard. MICOP is also seeking volunteers from 4 to…

Commentary: Diabetes in the U.S. Latino community

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Last week I shared a family incident, which many people said they identified with on two levels. One was the “Sandwich Generation,” which I also call the “Quesadilla Generation,” because I often feel like sticky queso pulled…

‘Che’ film, faculty discussion set for Aug. 23 at UCSB

John Foran will be the faculty speaker prior to the presentation “Che: Part One” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the UCSB MultiCultural Center in Santa Barbara. Part of the UCSB Education Abroad Program’s “Word Revolutions Film Series,” the…

Commentary: Chaos

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Earlier this year I started to read a book that is not your average bedside novel. When people at a party ask me, “What books are you reading now?” I no longer tell them that…

Mora to lead CSU Channel Islands Alumni & Friends board

Fernando Mora has been elected president of the 2011-2012 Alumni & Friends Association Board of Directors for CSU Channel Islands, the institution reported on Wednesday. “This is a very important opportunity for me to give back time and energy to…

Lacayo celebrating 80th birthday on Aug. 20

Henry “Hank” Lacayo will celebrate his 80th birthday at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 during the “Hank Lacayo 80th Birthday Tribute & HLI Fundraiser at Spanish Hills Country Club, 999 Crestview Ave., Camarillo. Join us in celebrating Hank’s lifetime of…

Danza Folklórícas de México celebrar 14 de Agosto

Danzas Folklórícas de Méxîco de la Federacíon de Clubes Unidos Mexícanos, 1 a 5 p.m. domingo, 14 de Agosto, Pacifica High School, 600 E. Gonzales Road, Oxnard. Con “La Guadalupana” de Club Copándaro, Michoacán; “Los Huehues” de Tlaxcala; “Los Diablitos”…

MICOP seeking donations for ‘Operation Backpack’

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project is seeking donations for “Operation Backpack,” its 2011 backpack drive. Backpacks filled with school supplies will be donated to children of indigenous farmworkers. MICOP is seeking supply-packed backpacks (scissors, crayons, pens, pencils, etc.) or cash to…

Boys & Girls Clubs launch Million Dollar Raffle fundraiser

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme has launched its Million Dollar Raffle fundraiser, with ticket holders eligible to win the grand prize of $1 million cash. Other prizes include a 2012 BMW Mini Cooper, 2012 Chevrolet Corvette,…

Commentary: Searching For Aztlán—Part III

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor On April 3, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, Martin Luther King gave, in retrospect, an eerily prophetic speech that hinted at his assassination one day later. He also appeared to shred the veil between our perceived…

Commentary: Searching for Aztlán, Part II

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor In my article last week, the first regarding the search for Aztlán, I mentioned that I first heard about this mysterious place during my college years. Since I was an engineering major, and not a…

CSUCI named a “2011 Great College to Work For”

CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been named one of the best universities in the nation to work for, according to a new survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education, the university reported this week in a media release. This is the…

Commentary: Why write?

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Today was one of those days when I just didn’t want to write. It was chilly outside my warm blankets and overcast. My character, Juana Maria, pobrecita, had just received a letter from her mother-in-law, Mrs.…

Poet Enedina Castañeda to speak at July 23 conference

Santa Maria educator and poet Enedina Castañeda, author of Del Puño y Mente de Una Mujer… Poemas, will speak at the seminario “El Desafío de Triunfar,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 23 at the Holiday Inn, 14299 Firestone Blvd., La Mirada.…

Taller de Lenguas Indígenas 19-21 de julio en la Universidad de Channel Islands

“Me permito informar a la comunidad que en el Taller de Lenguas Indígenas que se realizará en la Universidad de Channel Islands, CA., se inscribieron cerca de 70 personas. “La finalidad del taller es conocer la riqueza de las Lenguas Indígenas de México, apoyar…

Commentary: So you want to write

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor There is a saying that “everyone has a story,” and that is true, but few know how to translate stories into books for readers. What motivates a person to write? What are the tips and…

Amada Irma Perez to unveil new book on July 12

Amada Irma Perez will unveil her new book and give a presentation at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 at the Pleasant Valley Senior Center, 1605 Burnley St., Camarillo. For more information, call Kathleen Kaiser at 805.524.6970. *** Amada Irma Perez…

Bilingual report: Mexican Consulate posts video of photographic exhibit

The Mexican Consulate in Oxnard has posted a video on the photographic exhibit on immigration by José Hernández Claire — “Exodo Natcional,” featuring images from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. *** José Hernández Claire literalmente retrata estas historias…

CSUCI’s Lacayo Institute receives $25,000 grant from AT&T

The Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) at California State University, Channel Islands, recently received a grant for $25,000 from AT&T, the university reported Wednesday in a media release. The grant will fund a Telecommunications/Technology Literacy/Workforce…

Commentary: What’s “The Big Deal?”

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier/ Guest contributor Michele Serros fans, mark your calendars. Lulu y Mucha present a Lucy Rodriguez film based on a short story from Serros’ book “How to Be a Chicana Role Model.” It debuts at the Ventura Film Festival,…

Commentary: Staying healthy in an unhealthy nation

By David Magallanes / Guest contributor Summer is at last arriving! Here on the coast, the sun manages to finally break through the clouds every day and bestows upon us a tempered warmth that invites us all to head for the…

Commentary: Staycations

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor School is out, summer is officially here, and the kids want to go on vacation. What do you do when you have limited resources and time? You ‘staycation.’ “What’s that?” the kids said when I…

Film screening of ‘Memories of a Mexican’ on June 23

  The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation will present the film screening for “Memories of a Mexican” at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23 at Presido Chapel at El Presido de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, 123 E. Canon Perdido…

Commentary: It’s not easy being a pescetarian

By David Magallanes/ Guest contributor Wikipedia, the online free (but very informative) encyclopedia, defines what I practice: Pescetarianism is the practice of a diet that includes seafood, and excludes other animals. In addition to fish and/or shellfish, a pescetarian diet typically…

MICOP to hold monthly meeting on June 18

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project presents its monthly community meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at Harrington Elementary School, 2501 Gisler St., Oxnard. English-speaking volunteers needed for literacy program. Call Donna Foster at 805.483.1166, send an email…

Commentary: Toes in the sand. Nose in a book

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor This catchy  headline is the title for Border’s summer book list. Now if we could just find the time to read the entire list and have the money to buy all the books. Since that’s…

Ventura County Contractors Association announces 2011 scholarship recipients

  Twelve students receive scholarships to continue education in the construction industry Francisco Cancinco of California Polytechnic at Pomona; Eric Pinuelas, Adolfo Camarillo High School and John Lopez of California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo were among the 12 Ventura County students…

Commentary: Summer reads for teens

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier /Guest contributor Secretary of Education Arne Duncan described summer learning loss as “devastating.” Researchers often refer to this loss as the “summer slide.” Studies show that students’, who read more, read better; they also write better, spell…

Lacayo Institute at CSU Channel Islands receives $60,000 grant from Southern California Gas Co.

The Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) at California State University, Channel Islands, has recently received a grant for $60,000 from the Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), the university reported on June 2. The HLI…

Review: Summer reads for children

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor Studies show that children who read four or more books over the summer fare better on reading-comprehension tests in the fall than their peers who read one or no books. Here are some Américas…

MICOP offering unpaid internship

The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project has an opening for an unpaid internship starting Monday, June 13. Internship Responsibilities MICOP seeks a 10-hour per week Technology Intern from June 13 through Aug. 15.  The Intern’s responsibilities will include: Improving our Excel…

Cabrillo celebrates 30th anniversary with Family Festival on June 4

The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a family festival and resource fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 4. The event, “Pathways to Peace and Prosperity,” is free to the public and will take place at Plaza Park,…

Oxnard High School Academic Decathlon Team receives recognition

Ventura County Fifth District Supervisor John C. Zaragoza congratulated Oxnard High School’s Academic Decathlon Team “A” with a presentation of commendation at the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, May 24, the supervisor’s office reported in a…

Mariachi Charro Suit fundraiser set for May 26

A “Mariachi Charro Suit Fundraising Dinner Showcase” will be held Thursday, May 26 at Sugar Beets Restaurant, 455 So. A St., Oxnard, Xavier “Big X” Montes reports. The event features students from the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center in Oxnard, including…

Foro gratuito VIH/Sida 26 de Mayo

Foro gratuito VIH/SIDA, 6-8 pm Jueves 26 de Mayo, Ventura County Public Health, 2240 E. Gonzales Road, Suite 200, Oxnard. Informes e inscripciones: Ventanilla de Salud de lat Agencia de Salud del Condado de Ventura y el consulado de México…

Review: ‘Folsom Lockdown’ – Book of Poetry

By Mona AlvaradoFrazier / Guest contributor A few days ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Melinda Palacios read several of her poems. She was a guest poet at the Carnegie Museum’s 2011 Arcade Poetry Series in Oxnard. I’m a…

Community celebrates LULAC state convention in Oxnard

Community members celebrated the 64th annual California State Convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens held May 20-22 at the Residence Inn Marriott in Oxnard. The event was hosted by LULAC District 17 and was scheduled to include…