
Distinguished professor emeritus Benjamin Cohen shares insights on potential economic impacts of Russia-Ukraine conflict for the European Union and the United States.

FRIENDLY VALLEY will play from April 8th-April 24th, 2022 with performances on Friday and Saturday Evenings at 8:00 PM and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 PM. No appointments necessary, cold readings from the script. This is a non- equity production. THERE IS NO PAY. Inquiries about auditions and play may be directed to Elixeo Flores at elixeo@gmail.com.
*All personnel, including actors, must be vaccinated to enter the theater.

This month, celebrate Black History Month by learning about the contributions of African-American scientists and doing your own fun experiments: commemorate one of the first African-American female chemists, Bettye Washington Greene, by making your very own slime. You can make your slime glitter, glow-in-the-dark, foam, or maybe even a combination! Then, test how fast your eyes adjust to different images thanks to the discoveries of ophthalmologist, inventor, and UCLA professor, Dr. Patricia Bath.

A state-of-the-art family entertainment venue, managed by Aarmark Beer Gardens, Inc., will join the seaside attraction mix at the Ventura Harbor Village with the approval of a multi-year lease on January 19, 2022 by the Ventura Port District Board of Port Commissioners. The 5,736 square foot venue, with plans to open in 2023 and its official name still to be announced, will specialize in artisan food, top-rated international beers, a legendary wine list, and multitude of entertainment activities.

MCASB’s Teen Arts Collective (TAC) is a hands-on program that makes the contemporary art world accessible for Santa Barbara students ages 15-18. Over the course of the program, TAC members develop visual literacy skills, strengthen leadership abilities, and begin cultivating their own creative networks through exposure to practicing artists and arts institutions in the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles areas.
This will be accomplished through:
Meeting with locally and internationally acclaimed leaders in the arts
Field trips to local galleries, artists’ studios, and distinguished regional arts institutions
Workshops and discussions in weekly, after-school meetings
Planning and curating a culminating exhibition of TAC participants’ artwork

The Day of Service this month, dedicated to volunteering in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, is especially germane for us to acknowledge and celebrate here at People’s Self-Help Housing. Daily, our organization and residents benefit from the numerous and compassionate efforts from volunteers throughout the Central Coast. They include those who serve alongside us at our learning centers, at events, support us in public settings, and serve to guide our governance.
You continually inspire and encourage us in your volunteerism, and that same spirit in turn runs through the personal lives of many of our employees. Team members volunteer on other nonprofits boards, support youth groups, and participant in community events. They serve on city councils, planning commissions, local service clubs, as well as in their places of worship.

Greetings! A new year has begun, and though we collectively find ourselves facing new challenges and closures due to the pandemic, there are still many arts opportunities to enjoy in our community. Below you’ll find various events, news, grants and educational resources for artists, arts organizations and arts supporters. We hope you are continuing to make, enjoy and support art!

OPAC has been approved for a $35,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support OPAC Studios, a new initiative that provides a creative space for underserved Oxnard teens, including BIPOC, indigenous, at-promise, and those experiencing homelessness. Under the framework of Creative Youth Development, this program offers ongoing free classes that are well-rounded, in-depth experiences in a variety of visual artistic mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, textile arts, and more.

The High Street Arts Center in Moorpark
Click Here
is currently looking to cast several roles in their production of
In the Heights
Kevin Rosario – Baritone (to E4) – Late 30’s to early 50’s.
Abuela Claudia – Alto belter (F#3 to C5) In her late 60’s to 70’s, but can be played by a younger actor in 40s-50s and aged up to look older.
Also casting, Men’s dancing ensemble ages 18-30s.

Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, has daily departures to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor Village and is now offering Winter Whale Watching excursions. Book your spot today to view these magnificent mammals at www.islandpackers.com.
A winter Whale Watch is a perfect way to gather with family and friends to view Pacific Gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Baja. Pacific Gray Whales are normally sighted in the National Marine Sanctuary near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island continues through April 23, 2022. Thismammoth migration of over 20,000 whales and 6,000 miles twice a year remains a major attraction in Southern California.

I want to wish you a healthy and happy New Year, and encourage you to live with less worry. I believe that living without worry is not about ignoring dangers, it is about controlling what you can control, taking precautions, but also living your life and not putting energy into what is outside our control.
“If you have a piece of truth, do not hide it like a treasure, but hang it on a shingle for the world to see.”

There are only four days remaining to view Rosha Yaghmai: Drifters at MCASB before it’s gone. Join us for the final days of this exhibition!
It has been an honor to host Rosha Yaghmai at MCASB and we are so grateful to our community for welcoming this exhibition. Thank you to all who have visited in person; your continued support makes it all possible. Click here to view our hours >>>
We are looking forward to seeing you at our next exhibition!

MVC Insider Season 3
Episode 3: Lucy Hicks Anderson
Friday, January 7, 2022 @ 10am
On Facebook Live
Get to know your local trans icon and trailblazer Lucy Hicks Anderson! Lucy was the first trans woman in history to fight for marriage equality in court, was an award winning baker, and ran a bordello here in Ventura County. That’s just in a nutshell– you won’t want to miss this MVC Insider! Mark your calendars and tune-in on Facebook for the next five Fridays at 10am. Check out all upcoming MVC Insiders here.

As 2021 comes to a close, we look back at the immense challenges we’ve all faced this year. This year has without a doubt been difficult and a little different for everyone. Keeping in mind the patients and their families who put their trust in Clinicas; we recognize that creating joy during the holiday season is just as important as providing quality health care to our community.

Taking into consideration that our Southern California region is experiencing a 26% COVID-19 positivity rate, and Los Angeles County currently has a 17.6% positivity rate and in consultation with our infectious disease experts, we have decided to continue to have our “A Healthier Future” float participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade.?Unfortunately, we will not feature our 20 front-line medical heroes as float riders and “out-walkers.” We must prioritize the health and safety of our front-line medical staff and ensure we are able to treat patients during this recent surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant.

“Coffee With A Black Guy” presents “Processing Loss: A conversation on mental health and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 deaths on BIPOC communities” via Zoom at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26.
CWABG founder James Joyce III, will be joined in conversation by Michael Cruse, Bereavement Services Manager for Hospice of Santa Barbara who will offer a “Human” perspective and the role of “Culture” on the subject of bereavement and mourning. That couple with the impacts of several highly visible cultural losses and the processing of loss throughout our history – think Strange Fruit, provides context for an engaging and enlightening conversation about processing loss and grief.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Parallel Stories “On Freedom: A Conversation with Author Maggie Nelson” at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31.
Author Maggie Nelson returns to SBMA’s Parallel Stories with a reading and discussion of On Freedom: Four Songs of Care and Constraint, a boundary-pushing, provocative work that explores the notion of freedom through four lenses: art, sex, drugs, and the climate. In this highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning The Argonauts, Nelson continues to astound as “one of the most electrifying writers at work in America today, among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation” (The Guardian).

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) will join the Camarillo Public Library in commemorating Cesar Chavez and his contribution to agriculture, labor rights, and environmental justice. Following a reading of Kathleen Krull’s “Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez,” SEEAG will provide children and their families with a look into the importance of our agricultural workers, the crops grown in Ventura County and how these crops contribute to our nutritional well-being.

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Ballet Hispánico Noche de Oro: A Celebration of 50 Years, Friday, Friday, April 29th at 8:00 p.m. at The Granada Theatre.
Named one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico celebrates Latinx cultures through innovative performances that elevate diverse artists and ignite cultural pride. This 50th anniversary program from the pioneering, New York-based company features Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s biting, West Side Story-inspired Tiburones. The award-winning Lopez Ochoa, a sought-after choreographer who excels at narrative ballet, has created works for 68 dance companies worldwide. Noche de Oro also includes Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s 18+1 and Vicente Nebrada’s Arabesque.

Esta obra reflexiona sobre la interacción entre las relaciones humanas, la burocracia y el significado de la vida y la muerte. Un hombre se embarca en el último viaje de su vida, solo para ser confrontado por una enfermera que desafía su existencia y cómo tener equipaje nunca ha sido más importante.

On Thursday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its eleventh annual Night in Oaxaca. Night in Oaxaca is a celebration of the indigenous migrant community of California’s Central Coast and MICOP’s largest and most-sought after fundraiser. After two years of virtual programming, we are proud to bring our supporters a hybrid experience, in-person at Olivas Adobe in Ventura and online.
This year we are gathering around the theme of “Fortaleciendo Nuestras Raíces” or “Strengthening our Roots.” Reflecting on the pandemic and our recent growth, Night in Oaxaca will celebrate our indigenous community’s resiliency and rooted connection to our organization. The evening welcomes a diverse crowd of supporters and leaders from across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. All proceeds fund MICOP’s work of supporting, organizing and empowering indigenous migrant communities of the Central Coast.

Los Mixos, one of Oxnard’s newest music bands, in collaboration with Red Sky Productions and HOPE Social Skills for Teens with Autism, will be performing live for a multi-camera, internet-streamed studio concert called Downtown Window (DTW), to promote their original 5-song music EP. The concert will be performed and streamed on the internet at www.DowntownWindow.com on Saturday, August 27th at 4pm at the Red Sky Productions studio in downtown Oxnard. Through the livestream, fans will see and hear Los Mixos’ newly released songs filmed in a music video type set with lighting, set design and props with the help of a crew of camera operators, sound engineers, a cinematographer and television director.

The Santa Paula Art Museum presents “Remedios (Remedies),” a solo exhibition by Conejo Valley artist John Galan. With artworks rich in symbolism and vibrant hues inspired by his Mexican heritage, Galan’s exhibit explores the connections between mind, body, nature, and healing. Meet Galan at the show’s premiere on Saturday, September 17, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the premiere is $5 for SPAM members, and $10 for non-members. Wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. “Remedios (Remedies)” will be on view at the Santa Paula Art Museum from September 17, 2022, to January 8, 2023.

Signing Black in America is the second film in the Talking Black in America documentary project. It features the pioneering research on Black ASL by Dr. Joseph Hill (Rochester Institute of Technology), who will join us by zoom to discuss the film and his work. Join us for this fascinating exploration at the cutting edge of ASL research!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Flamenco! The passionate strumming of guitars, the thundering rhythms created by dancers’ feet striking the stage – this is Flamenco in its pure essence. Bring your flowers, fans and castanets and get ready to yell Olé! as Wendy Castellanos-Wolf and the rest of Flamenco805 set the stage on fire with their entrancing movements and heart-wrenching expression.

Award-winning author Javier Zamora will discuss his new memoir, “Solito,” on Oct. 19 at noon as part of Moorpark College’s Undocumented Student Action Week, Oct. 17-21. The hour-long Zoom event is free to students and the community.
“We are excited to have Javier Zamora as the keynote speaker for Undocumented Student Action Week this year,” said Alex Yepez, Moorpark College counseling services specialist and Dreamers support lead. “Javier’s story and experiences reflect those of many of our undocumented student population at Moorpark College. It is critical to host a speaker such as Javier to validate and lift up the experiences of our students, especially in this current political climate.”

“Electricidad,” an urban Chicano drama set in East Los Angeles, comes to the Moorpark College Performing Arts Center with an all-Latina/Latino student cast. The Theatre Arts department production premieres during Latinx Heritage Month and runs Oct. 13 – 23, with evening performances Thursdays through Saturdays and Sunday matinees.
The Oct. 15 performance will include a meet-and-greet with the cast after the show and free tacos from Epic Taco food truck. The special event coincides with the end of Latinx Heritage month and is sponsored by Moorpark College’s Heritage Month Committee.
“The cast and crew will take the audience on a magnificent journey where they will experience a part of Mexican-American culture that is not often discussed or portrayed,” said Jorge Herrera, C.Phil., who served as the cultural consultant for the production to ensure its cultural authenticity. Herrera is a professor of ethnic studies at California State University, Fullerton, and teaches ethnic studies courses at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges.

In celebration of Filipino-American History Month, renowned Filipino artist Eliseo Art Silva comes to campus for an art exhibition and lecture presentation. Mr Siilva is well known for his major public art projects, including the famed gateway and “Gintong Kasaysayan” mural in Los Angeles’s Filipinotown. His work is celebrated for establishing a new visual language for understanding the Filipino experience at home and abroad.
Mr. Silva’s presentation in the Performing Arts Building will be accompanied by a traditional Filipino dance performance by Ventura-based dance troupe Salin Lahi. Afterwards we will walk to the McNish Gallery of Art for an opening reception hosted by the Filipino-American Council of Ventura County.

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Carla Morrison on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Campbell Hall. “One the major lyricists of her generation” (NPR), Latin Grammy Award winner and international sensation Carla Morrison makes her Santa Barbara debut. She describes her 2021 release, El Renacimiento, as her “most personal album yet.” That’s something coming from an artist renowned for her raw, emotional retellings of heartbreak and loss. In concert, Morrison delivers multi-dimensional versions of her songs in a voice saturated with genuine emotions.

Tickets are now on sale for the WAR New Year’s Eve concert at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard.
Click here for tickets.
Hosted by Steve Perez of KRUZ 103.3, with an opening set by Dr. T and The Blues Criminals, doors open at 6 p.m.
Multi-platinum selling WAR, the original street band, has been sharing its timeless music and message of brotherhood and harmony for over four decades before millions across the globe. The long list of hits includes “Low Rider,” “The World Is A Ghetto,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “The Cisco Kid,” and many more.

Submissions are now being accepted for participation in the March 1-31 virtual ‘Women Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival’ (Grito de Mujer), said Simi Valley resident Teresita Calderón, poet, a writer, and a volunteer coordinator for the Woman Scream International Poetry and Arts Festival.
Born in the Dominican Republic, The Woman Scream Poetry Festival is an annual international chain of cultural events during March that compiles all arts and unifies diverse voices of the world against women violence. It has been celebrating since 2011.

Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us here at the Santa Paula Art Museum. Our partners at Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley helped to get us in the spirit with their recent Christmas cactus art project! (Our museum educators teach weekly art lessons at the club’s three sites in Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru.)
Thank you for making partnerships and programs like this one possible in 2021. Here’s to a new year full of art, joy, and trips to the Museum! Speaking of, check out our upcoming classes and 2022 exhibition lineup below.
The Santa Paula Art Museum will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, but will be otherwise open as usual (face masks are required).

MVC Insider Season 3
Episode 1: Erle Stanley Gardner
Starting Friday, January 24, 2022 @ 10am
Fridays @ 10am on Facebook Live
We are officially back with Season 3 of “MVC Insider”! Join us on Facebook Live for the first episode of MVC Insider this Friday, December 24, 2022 at 10am! Mark your calendars and tune-in on Facebook Live for the next five Fridays at 10am.
Krystell Jimenez, Project Archivist, uncovers relics from the John C. Orr Collection pertaining to the prolific novelist and Ventura County native Erle Stanley Gardner who wrote the popular Perry Mason series