Category: Family

Bilingual report — Gold Coast Health Plan earns NCQA Plan Accreditation

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CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) (on Jan. 22) announced it has earned Health Plan Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.

NCQA Health Plan Accreditation is a widely recognized, evidence-based program dedicated to quality improvement and measurement. It provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to align and improve operations in areas that are most important to states, employers and consumers. It’s the only evaluation program that bases results on actual measurement of clinical performance (HEDIS® measures) and consumer experience (CAHPS® measures).

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Community support urgently needed to protect access to medically necessary meals in Santa Barbara and Goleta

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SANTA BARBARA & GOLETA — Organic Soup Kitchen is asking the community to step in during a critical moment to help prevent nutrition gaps for low-income residents living with serious and chronic illness. 

Over the past year, Organic Soup Kitchen partnered with a local health care provider to deliver medically tailored meals to individuals whose health depends on consistent, nourishing food. That partnership helped many people stabilize their health during periods of acute medical need. 

Today, that same funding now typically supports meal access for about 12 weeks. While short-term nutrition intervention is an important part of medical care, many individuals living with cancer, autoimmune disease, and other chronic conditions need ongoing food support well beyond that window. 

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2026 Events & Festivals announced in Lompoc on California Central Coast

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LOMPOC — Lompoc celebrates its culture, creativity, and history through a year-round lineup of festivals and events. From food-focused gatherings and historic home tours to arts festivals, aviation showcases, wine weekends, and living-history programs at La Purísima Mission, the city offers something for every interest and season. Here are some events to look forward to in 2026:

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Allan Hancock College kicks-off Spring 2026 classes

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SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College welcomed thousands of students back to campus this week as spring 2026 classes began January 20 at the college’s Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center.

Both campuses were buzzing with activity as students arrived for the first week of the semester. More than 10,800 credit and noncredit students enrolled in spring classes at Hancock, a 7% increase from the 2025 spring semester.

“Our staff and faculty are excited welcome students to campus for spring classes,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Our students come to Hancock with big goals, and we are committed to providing the support, guidance, and resources they need to succeed from day one.”

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Museum of Ventura County — You’re Invited to an opening reception for a new exhibition, more news

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We invite you to join us for an opening reception celebrating Pages to Posters: The Visual Worlds of Simms Taback.

Friday, February 13

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Museum of Ventura County

100 E. Main Street, Ventura

Guests will enjoy an early look at original artworks, posters, and more, as the exhibition reveals how Taback’s distinctive visual language shaped educational materials, commercial design, and storytelling for generations.

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ICE OUT 805 Solidarity Concert and March held in Santa Maria

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SANTA MARIA — A community-led action brought together grassroots organizers, rapid response volunteers, youth leaders, and musicians to stand in solidarity against ongoing immigration enforcement violence across the Central Coast during the ICE OUT 805 Solidarity Concert/March on Jan. 15, 2025 in Santa Maria, representatives of the 805UNDOCFUND reported on their Facebook page.

Led by those carrying a banner that read “ICE OUT OF CALIFORNIA” the protesters marched down the residential streets in Santa Maria calling for the end of ICE activities in the region.

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Bilingual report — City of Ventura launches housing workshop series

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VENTURA — The City of Ventura is launching Ventura Housing Connections, a free workshop series that helps tenants, property owners, and property managers build informed, successful rental relationships.

The workshops will deliver clear, practical guidance on rental rights and responsibilities, housing standards, communication strategies, and local housing resources. Designed for both new and experienced renters and property owners, the series supports conflict prevention, stronger communication, and housing stability throughout Ventura.

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After 100 years of industrial use, Crooked Palm now permanently protected for recreation, ecological restoration

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“Crooked Palm’s transformation from an abandoned industrial site to protected land is a victory for Ventura and all Californians. Restoring this land protects habitat, strengthens regional climate resilience, and opens healthy access to the outdoors in a community where it’s needed most,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, Vice President of the Pacific Region and California State Director for Trust for Public Land. “For the first time in more than a century, this land will increase connection to the Ventura River and provide the public with the physical and mental health benefits that come with close-to-home access to nature.”

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Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Mariachi Reyna de Los Ángeles through Jan. 18

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SANTA BARBARA — Join ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) for free community performances by Mariachi Reyna. The performances are part of Viva’s mission to make world-class performing arts accessible to students, families, and underserved communities throughout Santa Barbara County.

FREE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES 

Friday, January 16 | 7 PM  Isla Vista Elementary

Saturday, January 17 | 7 PM | Guadalupe City Hall

Sunday, January 18 | 6 PM | Marjorie Luke Theatre

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles®, the first all-female mariachi in the United States, is that they have paved the way for other female mariachi groups to exist at the professional level. Reyna, which was formed in 1994, has truly broken the stereotypes surrounding Mariachi music. In a musical landscape of songs that are often written by men, and for men, Reyna has created their own history.

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Central Coast United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) — Grateful for you and the community power we’re building

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As the year comes to a close, we want to pause and say thank you.

(2025) brought real challenges – and even in just the last few days, ICE has once again caused real fear and harm in our communities. Neighbors are showing up for one another with care, courage, and solidarity, reminding us that safety and resilience come from deep community organizing and connection.

This year you and your CAUSE staff, leaders, and coalition partners were able to meet this moment – showing up alongside families, tenants, farmworkers, and youth when it mattered most, while continuing to strengthen our organizing and shared values.

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Southeast Ventura County YMCA served over 34,000 people and provided $439,797 in financial assistance In 2025

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“Our financial assistance program ensures everyone has access to after-school care, swim lessons, youth programming and facility memberships regardless of income status,” says Ronnie Stone, Southeast Ventura County YMCA president and CEO. “From these foundational YMCA programs to our community outreach, we remain dedicated to changing lives and fostering growth in every generation we serve.”

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Cottage Health’s Grotenhuis Pediatric Clinics move to New Santa Barbara location

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“With all specialties under one roof and expanded space, this new clinic strengthens collaboration among our teams,” said Chief Pediatric Medical Officer Dr. Miriam Parsa. “Being right across from the hospital also supports smoother coordination when children require other services.”

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Museum of Ventura County — Free Admission for All in January

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The beginning of a new year is the perfect time for something new! Throughout January, enjoy FREE admission for all at the Museum of Ventura County. Join us to explore, reflect, and connect.

Open Thursday to Sunday

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

100 East Main Street, Ventura

Free admission is made possible by the generous support of Bill and Elise Kearney.

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Cottage Health welcomes its first baby of 2026

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SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital welcomed its first baby of the new year.

New parents, Jessica and Laurence welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Isla, at 4:41 am on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH).

Weighing 8 pounds and 16 ounces and measuring 20.5 inches, Baby Isla’s arrival marked an exciting start to the new year.

As the family begins this new chapter, a sentiment they shared felt especially fitting: “A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care.” — Frank Herbert, Dune

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Ventura Music Festival — When was the last time…?

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If you are a Ventura Music Festival family member, some of our 2025 concerts are surely on your list. 

While tradition says, “celebrate your 30th wedding anniversary with pearls,” the Ventura Music Festival presented or cosponsored its most ambitious ever 30th season in 2025 — with a string of 30 treasured performances over eight months for audiences of every music taste in a dazzling array of music styles.

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My Way Home (Doing business as Ventura County Community Development Corp.) — Thank you for an impactful 2025!

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As we come to the close of 2025, I want to begin by saying thank you for being part of our community.

We were able to accomplish a lot of great things in 2025, including:
Assisting 265+ families in achieving or preserving homeownership
Providing 1,130+ individuals with free homeownership and financial education
Providing 515+ families with access to free financial coaching
Financing $15M+ in first mortgages for low- and moderate- income families for the purchase of safe and affordable homes
Awarding or facilitating $1.4M+ in down payment and closing cost assistance for low- and moderate- income families

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Casa De Vida Inc. — Looking ahead with gratitude

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As we near the end of another year, we want to take a moment to say thank you. Your generosity, prayers, and encouragement have meant more to us than we can fully express.

This year brought its share of challenges for Casa De Vida. There were moments of uncertainty that tested our faith and endurance. Yet through it all, God remained faithful, and our community continued to stand with us.

As we reach the end of this final quarter, we are grateful to share that things are beginning to improve. Support has increased, stability is returning, and we are entering the new year with renewed hope. Your belief in this mission has helped us make that progress.

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805UNDOCUFund — Impacts of ICE Raids in the Past 4 Days

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In the past 4 days, nearly 3 out of every 4 kidnappings occurred in Santa Maria.This level of concentration cannot be explained away as “targeted enforcement.” It reflects systemic racial profiling, particularly against Latino and Indigenous migrant communities, including Mixtec and other Indigenous peoples.

This terror is not incidental — it is the intended outcome.

These actions undermine constitutional protections, violate due process, and impose collective punishment on entire communities. The psychological toll, trauma, chronic stress, fear, will last long after these raids end.

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Community Alert: Escalating ICE raids across the Central Coast 805. UndocuFund issues urgent call for Community and Financial Support

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CENTRAL COAST —  805UndocuFund is urgently alerting the community to a devastating escalation in immigration enforcement activity across Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties over the past several days. These actions are causing profound harm to immigrant families, workers, and entire communities, with lasting consequences for public health, safety, and the regional economy.

Over the weekend alone, 805UndocuFund’s 805 Rapid Response Network alongside autonomous community patrol and defense groups SBResiste, and Carpinteria Sin Fronteras, documented 58 ICE kidnappings across the Central Coast:

• Saturday, December 27, 2025:

35 total — 33 in Santa Maria and 2 in San Luis Obispo

• Sunday, December 28, 2025:

23 total — 13 in Lompoc, 8 in Santa Maria, and 2 in Santa Barbara

• Monday, December 29, 2025, ICE continues operations in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, terrorizing residents, destabilizing workplaces, and leaving families in crisis.

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