Category: Family

Jan. 5-8 — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! to present Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano. New York’s Ballet Hispanico to perform (Feb. 6-12), Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitán (April 27-30)

CENTRAL COAST — From cowboy traditions of Colombia and Venezuela, to the Latin dance scene of New York, and many rich cultural traditions between, ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! announces its twelfth season of free family performances in neighborhood venues…

Ongoing: ‘Designs from the Deep: The Architecture of the Shell’ at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum

OXNARD – The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will host an opening reception for its new exhibition, Designs from the Deep: The Architecture of the Shell, from 5-7 p.m., Oct. 27. The exhibit features close to a thousand stunning shells from…

Catch the “ELF on the GO” Holiday Bus!

Ride Gold Coast Transit District’s Decorated Holiday Bus this December OXNARD —  Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) is excited to announce that a specially decorated holiday bus will be traveling the streets of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme and Ojai this…

RISE Receives $20,000 Grant from The Mary Kay Foundation to Help Maintain Critical Shelter Programs

Domestic Violence Shelters Nationwide Receive $3 Million in Unrestricted Funds SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – During Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October, RISE received a $20,000 unrestricted grant from The Mary Kay Foundation to help combat domestic violence and provide…

Family Service Agency announces $500K in funding for evidence-based Holistic Defense Program

SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) has received a $498,524 grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to conduct a pilot study of Adult Holistic Defense Case Management (AHDCM) in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office.…

Montecito Family YMCA: 7 Healthy Habits for Your Family to Help Solve Childhood Obesity

California now ranked No. 1 in percentage of children considered overweight or obese; Childhood obesity has more than tripled during the past 30 years MONTECITO – September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and while the dangers of childhood obesity are…

Bilingual commentary: A Visit to Mom and Dad

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

Governor signs Jackson’s bills on Title IX rights, teaching healthy relationships skills in school

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has  signed a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure that students and schools are aware of their rights and responsibilities under Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in education. Senate…

United Way of Ventura County provides update on ‘Building Healthy Smiles’ initiative

Dear Friends, We have so much to share with you in this newsletter. Thanks to your generosity, our programs are expanding and serving more local residents throughout Ventura County. Please scroll down and take a moment to read more about…

Community Philanthropy Teams Up to Fund New Vehicle for Youth and Family Services YMCA

SANTA BARBARA  – Noah’s Anchorage, a program of Youth and Family Services YMCA, was the grateful recipient of a new vehicle to aid in the necessary daily transportation of youth in the program. The vehicle purchase was funded by donations from the…

Foster VC Kids, Ventura County Office of Education Collaborate on Innovative Support Systems for Foster Youth

Parent Teacher Forum to be held Oct. 11 VENTURA COUNTY — School stability is extraordinarily difficult for youth that experience life in foster care. Less than 50% of foster youth graduate from high school and only 3% go on to…

Snap a “Selfie” for Hunger Action Month

VENTURA COUNTY — September is Hunger Action Month, and FOOD Share is asking everyone to share the message that 1 in 6 Ventura County residents is still food insecure. That’s 136,000 of our children, families, and seniors who lack, at…

Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center Hosts Halloween Spooktacular and Open House

SANTA BARBARA — Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center invites the community to its second annual Halloween Spooktacular and Open House on Wednesday, October 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Hearts’ riding facilities, located at 4420 Calle Real in Santa…

‘El Proximo Paso’ Event Provides College Information to Spanish-speaking Parents and Teens

SANTA BARBARA — The young members of the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s Teen Night program recently hosted an innovative event to address what they had identified as the most pressing challenge for Santa Barbara teens – information…

Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project to present Día de los Muertos Celebration on Nov. 6

OXNARD — The Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project will present “Día de los Muertos: An Annual Indigenous Celebration” from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 at Heritage Square, 731 S. A St., Oxnard. The event includes an altar contest, food, music,…

Resolving the ‘Hispanic Paradox’ — Study co-authored by a UCSB researcher reveals Latinos age slower, neutralizing higher health risks of obesity and diabetes

By Jim Logan / UC Santa Barbara A new paper co-authored by a UC Santa Barbara researcher reveals that Latinos age at a slower rate than other ethnic groups. The findings, published in the current issue of Genome Biology, may one day…

Bank of America Grants $10,000 toward Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Programs

CENTRAL COAST — Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) announced it has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Bank of America in support of their critical affordable housing developments and support programs for their residents in the Tri-Counties. The Bank of America…

Lompoc Family YMCA’s 17th Annual “Kids for Character” Golf Tournament Successfully Raises Support for Local Youth and Families

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Family YMCA hosted its 17th Annual “Kids For Character” Golf Tournament, “The Ketrenia Klassic,” in memory of the late Ketrenia Hall on July 22 at the Village Country Club. This year’s tournament was a soaring success…

2016 RISE Up Award Winners Announced

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – The RISE Up Awards recognize excellence in community service supporting RISE’s sexual assault and intimate partner violence programs; the 2016 RISE Up Award winners are District Attorney Investigator Donna Jones, RISE Friends Committee member Nancy…

NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County to Offer Family-to-Family Education Program for Families of Adults Living with Mental Illness

SANTA BARBARA — NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County, a program of the Mental Wellness Center, will offer its Family-to-Family Education Program for family members of adults living with mental health conditions. The free, 12-session course is designed to help all…

United Way of Ventura County reports on Stuff the Bus program, 12th Annual Spirit Awards Gala honoring Hank Lacayo

President’s Message  Dear Friends, Summer has been busy at United Way. Thanks to the generosity of donors contributing at 70 collection sites across Ventura County and the generous time of our volunteers, our Stuff the Bus program again exceeded our expectations.…

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Members Visit Washington D.C.

CARPINTERIA — Ten local girls from Girls Inc. of Carpinteria recently returned from an inspiring trip to Washington D.C. as part of the organization’s Eureka! program, a five-year, college-bound program that aims to break gender stereotypes and encourages girls to…

¡Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara! announces Cimarrón: Music from the plains of Colombia performance from through Sept. 18

  SANTA BARBARA — From the plains of the Orinoco River which runs between Venezuela and Colombia, Cimarrón perform the festive dance music of joropo, a fiercely virtuoso display of rippling melodies and powerful rhythms combining Andalusian, indigenous American, and African roots.…

Support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Enter to Win V.I.P. Tickets to See Dolly Parton at the Santa Barbara Bowl

United Way of Santa Barbara County Program Ensures Children Ages 0-5 Have Access to Books SANTA BARBARA – In support of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, United Way of Santa Barbara County is raffling an exclusive V.I.P package to Dolly Parton’s…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers unveils updated website

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Centers unveils a refreshed website that highlights the agency’s mission “to create a multicultural community of excellence by inspiring the children, youth and families of Ventura County to learn, lead and reach their greatest potential.”…

Bilingual commentary: Lessons From the Story of Dory

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

MICOP to present ‘Night in Oaxaca Quinceañera 15’ on Aug. 20

OXNARD — The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project will present “Night in Oaxaca Quinceañera 15” from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Genevieve Flores-Haro at…

321 Ways to Love: Local couple dedicates 35 years of service to Ventura County children and youth

VENTURA COUNTY — When Barbara and Edward Williams became a foster family in 1981, they couldn’t have foreseen the love that would fill their home. Recently honored by Foster VC Kids and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, the Williams…

Channel Islands YMCA Association chosen to be honored at first-ever California Nonprofits Day celebration

SACRAMENTO — On Wednesday, June 22, Channel Islands YMCA Association, with branches in Camarillo, Ventura, Montecito, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez and Lompoc, will be honored as a Nonprofit of the Year at a celebration of California Nonprofits Day at the…

Bilingual commentary: Flowers and Daughters

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

Bilingual commentary: Daughters’ Connection with Nature

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

Montecito Family YMCA Celebrates Father’s Day – a Tradition Started at the YMCA

MONTECITO — On Sunday, June 19, the Montecito Family YMCA joins the nation in celebrating Father’s Day and recognizing the impact fathers and adult male role models make in children’s lives. The Y, a leading nonprofit in fostering positive youth…

Gold Coast Health Plan Awards Nearly $60,000 to Support Community Health Care Programs in Ventura County

Medi-Cal Plan Issues Funds Under New Community Investment Initiative CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is sponsoring two programs under its newly created Alternative Resources for Community Health (ARCH) initiative. The goal of ARCH is to invest in the health and…

Bilingual commentary: Cognitive Testing…What’s My Name?

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

33rd annual California Strawberry Festival (May 21-22) benefits local charities, students

OXNARD — The 2016 California Strawberry Festival gets underway with its 33rd seasonal celebration May 21 and 22 on 15 picturesque acres at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard. Ranked nationwide among the top outdoor Festivals, the event boasts strawberries…

Bilingual commentary — Fair Wage: Let’s Be Cautious

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…

El Centrito Family Learning Centers announces ‘Pathways Community Luncheon 2016’ on May 20

OXNARD — El Centrito Family Learning Center has announced its “Pathways Community Luncheon 2016″will be held from noon to1:30 p.m. Friday, May 20. The third annual event brings together more than 150 community leaders, parents, speakers and businesses to raise funds…

Bilingual commentary: Grandparent Privileges and Responsibilities

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 David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…