Dear Friends,
As we wrap this incredible 30th season, we’d love to hear about the concert(s) you attended. Your feedback helps us shape what comes next – artists, venues, start times, even the snacks!
The Ventura County Fire Department will host the 2025 Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony:
Thursday, November 6th
10:00 am to 11:30 a.m.
Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura.
Artist Kim Garcia’s new LA show “Tender Material” connects family stories with Philippine cultural history.
View this email in your browser FOOD SHOPS ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS Connect & Share with #DowntownOxnard Copyright © 2025 Oxnard Downtown Management District, All rights reserved.
GOLETA — Jackie Carrera, President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation, and Ashley Costa, Executive Director of the Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization, will be honored at the 2026 LEAP Awards, alongside Das Williams, who will be recognized as Distinguished Alumnus.
The 2026 LEAP Awards will be a milestone celebration of LEAP’s 55th anniversary as a nonprofit and 50 years of its Children’s Center. For the first time in six years, the event will be held in person at the stunning Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The brunch will bring together community leaders, philanthropists, and partners who believe in creating thriving futures for children and families.
“As we celebrate 55 years of service, we are honored to recognize Jackie Carrera, Ashley Costa, and LEAP alumnus Das Williams. Each, in their own way, has strengthened families, lifted voices, and inspired children to shine. Their leadership reflects the very heart of LEAP’s mission, and we are proud to celebrate them alongside our community,” said Lori Goodman, LEAP CEO.
MCASB Launches Future Fund
in 50th-Anniversary Campaign
Art and free speech are essential to a healthy democracy—Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) calls on our communities across Santa Barbara and the Central Coast to help safeguard the region’s only dedicated, free contemporary art museum. Once again communities are in crisis—and this time, artists and art institutions are on the front line standing up against authoritarianism. Join us!
SANTA MARIA — Retired Allan Hancock College Graphic Design Professor Nancy Jo Ward has been selected to exhibit her mixed-media work at the XV Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy, Oct. 18–26, 2025.
Ward, who recently concluded 27 years of service at Hancock, will present three works— titled Anna-Louise, Katerina and Selia—at the prestigious international exhibition. Her invitation places her among an international roster of more than 500 artists and designers more than 80 countries.
Ward’s practice blends digital technology with traditional materials to explore psychological portraiture, memory, identity and the aesthetics of post-internet culture, an approach that aligns with the Biennale 2025 theme, “The Eternal Union Between Light and Darkness.”
Students in grades six through 12 who want to take meaningful climate action are invited to a FREE, hands-on workshop at CEC’s Environmental Hub, co-hosted by CEC and Santa Barbara High School’s Environmental Advocacy Club. In this session, we will dive into environmental policy advocacy, break down the public comment process, and show you how to use your voice to stand up for climate justice.
Researchers created an algae-based gel for studying mammary epithelial cells, which form milk-producing ducts and glands in healthy breast tissue and can transform into cancer cells.
PURCHASE TICKETS DID SOMENONE SAY PRIZES!? Be ready to enter the silent auction and raffle drawing at the Halloween Disco! Prize opportunities include: ?? 1 RAFFLE TICKET: $25 ?????????? 5 RAFFLE TICKETS: $100 ????? SILENT AUCTION: PRICES VARY DEPENDING ON…
“LEAP has always believed that when we bring people together, we can solve big challenges. The diaper drives are proof—students, businesses, churches, and organizations all stepped up. Each diaper collected represents relief for a caregiver and comfort for a child, and we are grateful to everyone who made that possible,” said Lori Goodman, CEO of LEAP.
Looking for an event venue that aligns with your values and amplifies your impact? The Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub offers versatile, eco-friendly spaces for every type of gathering.
Situated in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, The Hub embodies sustainability and community spirit. Beyond its green design, each event at the Hub supports CEC’s mission to advance bold, scalable solutions to the climate crisis. From intimate meetings and panel discussions to community workshops, networking mixers, and celebrations, your gathering becomes part of a larger movement toward climate resilience and local empowerment.
Our 2025 Playhouse Build Blitz will bring together more than 150 local volunteers to decorate custom playhouses to gift to local military and veteran families. This event provides volunteers a unique opportunity to celebrate Veterans Day by thanking military families for their service and helps raise funds for Habitat Ventura’s life-changing programs through sponsorships for the playhouses built by volunteers.
No Kings Day rallies are planned throughout the Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties region on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in protest of the policies of the Trump Administration. The rallies are being organized by Indivisible and supported by a variety of organizations.
“In America, we don’t put up with would-be kings,” Indivisible stated in a variety of posts.
“Our peaceful movement is only getting bigger and stronger. “NO KINGS” is more than just a slogan—it’s the foundation our nation was built upon. Born in the streets, carried by millions in chants and on posters, it echoes from city blocks to rural town squares, uniting people across this country to fight dictatorship together.”
Please see links to local protests, news coverage in the region.
OXNARD —Oxnard College is celebrating its 50th anniversary this academic year, reflecting on five decades of empowering students, shaping careers and strengthening Ventura County. The milestone was marked on September 25 with the unveiling of a new campus mural by alumna Elisa Torres and her team of student artists.
Funded by the Oxnard College Foundation, the mural depicts the people, places and traditions that have defined Oxnard and the college’s role in the community over the last half-century. The college first opened its doors in 1975 after local families, community leaders and activists came together to advocate for equitable access to higher education in Oxnard.
In his book “When It All Burns,” Jordan Thomas sets out to answer a straightforward question: What led to today’s megafires? What emerged was an immersive account of a changing world.
We hope this newsletter finds you well and safe. We are pleased to share with you our latest updates on the 805UndocuFund’s efforts in taking charge of the newly operated Rapid Response Network. Previously owned by CAUSE, we have trained over 1,000 volunteers throughout the tri-county since the beginning of 2025. To date, we have almost reached our fund goal & immediately having been dispersed $478,000 to 388 families! All our successes could not have been achieved without the support from the community.
SANTA BARBARA — Join us at LoDo Studios for the “Hope Grows Wild” Mural Unveiling, where we celebrate growth, resilience, and the beauty of community art from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara.
VENTURA — Ventura Harbor Village kicks off October seaside sunshine and embraces the spirit of the season with a full lineup of events. From an EV Car Show, to hallowed-themed family activities with witches, and doggies, and zombies, Ventura Harbor Village sets the stage for plenty of options to participate this October for a sparkling and spooktacular good time! venturaharborvillage.com/events
View this email in your browser Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara Supper Club Presents Dia De Los Muertos x Diwali Wednesday, October 22, 2025 A one night only collaboration celebrating 500 years of culinary exchange between Mexico and India…
Hello Community!
We had a blast spending time with you all this past Sunday at the opening reception of San Milano Drive! We want to thank you all for bringing the good vibes!
Big shoutout to our vendors who kept us fed, hydrated, and kept the jams flowing. Also a HUGE thanks to the amazing volunteers that made this event possible.
Special thanks to our media partners Santa Barbara Magazine, KCLU, and LUM Art Magazine.
If you haven’t seen Santa Barbara Independent’s Fall Arts Preview, read more about the exhibition.
Researchers are working to bring highly sensitive quantum experiments outside of the laboratory.
Commercial refrigeration is among the most energy-intensive operations in the food business, and outdated systems are costing us more than just money. Many older units use refrigerants that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
Selected for the honor alongside UC Berkeley physicist and former advisor John Clarke, they were lauded for work that, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, “revealed quantum physics in action.”
Clases de danza en dos estilos/?
Dance classes in 2 styles:
Folclórico
Con/with Ms. Xochitl
Movement
Con/with Mr. Javier
Niñas y niños de 7 a 14 años / Ages 7-14
(Dependiendo de la cantidad de inscripciones, las clases podrán ser separadas por edad / Depending on enrollment, ages can be divided)
The Festival will open with a new two-week High School Intensive (June 14–25) for accomplished musicians ages 14–18, followed by the celebrated six-weekFellowship Institute (June 27–August 8) for pre-professional musicians ages 18–34. Together, the High School Intensive and Fellowship Institute create a dynamic eight-week Festival filled with concerts, recitals, special events, and educational offerings that position the Music Academy as a leader in training the next generation of classical musicians.
We are so grateful to those who joined us last Saturday at CEC’s Green Gala, an inspiring evening of resilience, strength, and climate action.
Together, we raised more than $100,000 to help implement and accelerate bold, equitable solutions to the climate crisis, including wildfire resilience, climate leadership, community safety, and environmental advocacy.
Your partnership strengthens our resolve to meet the climate challenges ahead and propels our dedication to building a safe, resilient, and just world for generations to come.
Thousand Oaks Rotary Street Fair & EV Showcase
Sunday, October 19
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
449 N Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks
Learn more.
The Valentine Reserve team has launched a restoration effort to preserve the camp’s century-old cabins, ensuring they remain a resource for education, research and environmental stewardship well into the future.
Join us for the eagerly awaited release of the Ventura County Civic Alliance 2025 State of the Region report on
Monday, November 10.
This trusted report presents Ventura County data and trends spanning ten areas of community impact including Agriculture, Economy, Education, Land Use and Public Safety.
Hear keynote speaker and report author Tony Biasotti as he delivers a deep dive into the data.
Following the keynote, a diverse and distinguished panel, moderated by David Maron, will discuss the report and share their experiences managing organizations in Ventura County.
Attendees receive a copy of the report and buffet breakfast.
“Mexican Prints” at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum features José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, and fellow artists who shaped 20th-century printmaking.
Join us for a vibrant Play Date in the Garden with Pinaysphere, where kids dive into Filipino culture by crafting their own bahay kubo! A bahay kubo is a traditional Filipino house built on stilts, made from natural materials like bamboo and coconut fibers, showcasing Filipino ingenuity, sustainability, and community spirit. This playful activity celebrates the simplicity and creativity of these iconic homes, known for their adaptability and resourcefulness. Led by Pinaysphere, an organization dedicated to empowering Filipino women and youth through art and culture, this event will be filled with fun, learning, and creativity as we explore the beauty of Filipino heritage together! Register online HERE.
PORT HUENEME —The Port of Hueneme’s 12th Annual Banana Festival set a new attendance record this past Saturday, welcoming more than 13,000 community members for a day of music, food, tours, and family fun.This year’s theme, “Making Workforce Waves Through Global Trade,” spotlighted the people who turn ships and cargo into local careers and opportunity.
Festivalgoers enjoyed banana-inspired treats, live performances from Instone Live, Morie & the Heavy Hitters, Savor, and The Brandon Ragan Project, and family-friendly activities like the kids’ zone and pie-eating contest. Land and sea tours offered a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse to the Port’s operations, showing firsthand how bananas, cars, and other global goods move through Ventura County’s only deep-water harbor.
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Community members who are not already subscribed may sign up to receive our newsletter in English here and in Spanish here.
OXNARD — This year’s altar is inspired by the monarch butterfly, a powerful symbol of the soul, transformation, and migration. In a city shaped by immigrant stories, the theme highlights the beauty and resilience of movement across borders. In Mexican tradition, the monarchs’ annual arrival in central Mexico each fall is believed to carry the spirits of departed loved ones back to earth, making them a cherished emblem of Día de los Muertos. Community members are invited to submit a photo of a departed loved one to be lovingly displayed. The Opening Reception will feature a ceremonial Aztec blessing and dance and a performance by Ballet Folklórico Mestizo of Oxnard College.
This year, with the help of Allee and Sue, we’re excited to present Vuelo de las Almas—an art gallery showcasing works by over 20 artists, each created on a wooden monarch butterfly canvas. The gallery will be held inside the Chapel, with a meet-and-greet hosted by Allee and Sue at 5 PM.
From move-in activities to a first-ever spirit rally, UC Santa Barbara kicks off a new year with a week’s worth of fun.
IN-PERSON EVENT: CITY OF OXNARD: READY • SET • GROW: SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS WORKSHOP SERIES
September 30 @ 9:00 am
Join the City of Oxnard and Economic Development Collaborative for a 3-part series to help business owners improve legal compliance, financial planning and marketing. Participants will receive hands-on, practical training to achieve real results, such as official registration, funding readiness, and customer growth. This 3-workshop series will be conducted in English, with the option to answer questions in Spanish. Hands-on materials will be provided in both languages. Address: Oxnard Main Library, 251 S A St., Oxnard, CA, 93030.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Join us for the Ventura County Taxpayers Foundation’s Taxpayer Celebration Luncheon on October 9th, where we proudly announce Laurie Bennett, Vice President of ARBEE, Inc. (Fence Factory and C&W Construction Specialties), as the 2025 recipient of the Bill Wilson Award for Taxpayer Excellence!
Creative Hang with
The One Oh One
?
Wednesday, September 24, from 6 PM to 9 PM
Free for everyone (food not included)
We’re excited to host The One Oh One’s September Creative Hang inside SPAM’s Cole Creativity Center! Mingle with fellow creatives while you enjoy live music by Matterform band. Anna’s Cider and brewLab Craft will keep you hydrated, and Chavas Tacos will be serving up yummy bites. The event is free for everyone (food is not included).
MORE INFO
Thank you to everyone who joined last night’s Zone 0 Town Hall—both in person and online. I’m especially grateful to our expert panelists for sharing their knowledge and to the Ventura County Fire Department for their hospitality in hosting the event.
If you weren’t able to attend, you can watch the full recording here. You’ll also find links to the panelists’ slides next to their bios below.
The Board of Forestry updated their Frequently Asked Questions Document yesterday, click here to review. I also want to thank those who submitted thoughtful questions during the meeting. My team and I are gathering responses, and I’ll be sharing updates with you soon.
“The premise of the film is incredibly fascinating. It’s very rare to see classical music on the big screens… – music, comedy, drama.”
LOMPOC — Here in Lompoc, nightlife is about easy going good times. A relaxed drink with friends. A late bite after a day of wine tasting or hiking. Maybe some live music or a laid-back DJ set. You won’t find velvet ropes or booming nightclubs, but you will find a few friendly places to hang out and unwind when the sun goes down.
Ready for a mellow night out? These local spots keep the lights on just a little longer.
Reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores en español
(Board of Supervisors’ Meetings in Spanish)
El Condado de Santa Bárbara está ofreciendo interpretación en español de las reuniones de la Junta de Supervisores. Véalo en vivo en nuestro canal de YouTube en español, o las personas suscritas a la televisión por cable pueden acceder a la programación secundaria de audio (SAP) en los ajustes de idioma.
Aún se requiere pedir con anticipación l
“This event beautifully demonstrates how community, history, and philanthropy can come together to create lasting impact,” said Doug Jenzen, Executive Director of the Foundation at Hearst Castle. “Funds raised will help conserve two rare 17th-century Peruvian tapestries and keep Hearst Castle’s treasures ready to inspire future generations.”
Enfoque Guided Exhibit Tours
Sunday, September 21
1 – 2 p.m.
@the Agriculture Museum
926 Railroad Avenue, Santa Paula
Join us for a free, public tour of Enfoque led by members of our Latino Advisory Committee and Museum Docents. In a relaxed and reflective tour setting, explore themes of cultural identity through powerful images and stories—share perspectives, spark insight, and connect. Find out more information HERE.
From our friends at Ojai Underground, and sponsored by Ventura Music Festival, join us for THE CHRIS O’LEARY BAND. A devastatingly soulful vocalist, dynamic harmonica master, and superlative songwriter, Chris O’Leary is among the blues and roots world’s most talented unsung heroes.
VENTURA COUNTY — Community leaders, elected officials, and labor rights icon Dolores Huerta gathered on Sept. 5, 2025, to celebrate the grand opening of Dolores Huerta Gardens Apartments. This new affordable housing development from Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) brings 58 units specifically for farmworkers, veterans, and low-income families to Ventura County.
Named in honor of legendary civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, the new development reflects her lifelong fight for justice, equity, and the empowerment of working families. This property not only expands access to safe, affordable housing, but also stands as a symbol of resilience, dignity, and community transformation.
“Dolores Huerta Gardens is a foundation for families to build brighter futures,” said Victoria Brady, CEO of Cabrillo EDC. “This community reflects our deep commitment to providing safe, affordable housing for those who need it most, and to creating spaces where residents can truly thrive.”
Just one week away is Raising Justice – our 19th annual community celebration and fundraiser! We want you there to celebrate our movement and support tenants, environmental justice, and immigrant workers.
FOUR FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
Thursday, September 18 | 7 PM | Carpinteria Vets Memorial Building
Friday, September 19 | 7 PM Isla Vista Elementary
Saturday, September 20 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall
Sunday, September 21 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre
