Category: Local

Santa Barbara County Food Action Network Announces New Chair to the Executive Committee

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2021 • Comments Off

The Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (SBCFAN) is pleased to announce Kiah Jordan as Chair to its Executive Committee. SBCFAN’s Executive Committee is comprised of a broad spectrum of community leaders who drive the work of the organization and act as ambassadors to advocate and network on behalf of SBCFAN.
Jordan is the founder of Impact Family Office, a multi-family office serving clients as guides, advisors, and trustees. Before starting Impact Family Office, he worked for Santa Barbara Capital, a real estate investment firm, and with clients in the wine industry, tech sectors, and international manufacturing. Jordan graduated from Westmont College with degrees in Economics/Business and Spanish, and received a Master’s degree in Social Entrepreneurship from USC’s Marshall School of Business. He is a National Certified Guardian by the Center for Guardianship Certification and a licensed Professional Fiduciary by the California Professional Fiduciaries Bureau.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Loans, Grants, Tax Credits and Unemployment Benefits

by Community Contributor • March 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Loan Opportunities

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Potentially fully forgiven loan for businesses, nonprofits, veteran organizations, tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, independent contractors and other eligible borrowers keep their workforce employed during COVID-19.

DEADLINE: March 31, 2021
Learn more CLICK HERE.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 3, 2021 — COVID-19 Vaccine Information

by Community Contributor • March 3, 2021 • Comments Off

COVID-19 Vaccines are available for adults age 65 and older, healthcare, food and agriculture, education and childcare, emergency services and qualifying regional center family caregivers. More information at the following link: www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/.

More appointments are available at this time. Register at www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/

The Foundation at Hearst Castle Announces Four New Board Members

by Community Contributor • March 3, 2021 • Comments Off

The Foundation at Hearst Castle announced today the appointment of four new members to its growing Board of Directors. Each will help support the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts to conserve Hearst Castle and inspire students from underserved communities through its innovative STEAM Program at the Castle education initiative.

Consulado de Mexico en Oxnard — Invitación a Negocios Latinos: Sobreviviendo y Recuperándose en tiempos de COVID

by Community Contributor • March 3, 2021 • Comments Off

Por considerarlo de su interés les compartimos la siguiente invitación por parte de SCORE Hispano.

Talleres completamente en español, que dieron inicio el 17 de febrero y que continuarán todos los miércoles a las 5:30 pm terminando con el 10 de marzo..

Próxima sesión, miércoles 3 de marzo.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

by Community Contributor • March 3, 2021 • Comments Off

On February 23rd, Governor Newsom signed into law a comprehensive package providing urgent relief for the small businesses of CA. The package provides an additional $2 billion – a four-fold increase over the $500 million currently being distributed – for grants up to $25,000 for small businesses impacted by the pandemic, and allocates $50 million of this total for non-profit cultural institutions.

Lendistry with the CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will be opening 4 additional rounds of applications. Please review the information below about Round 3 and Round 4.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 2

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

Hello Ventura County – Apologies for the late night stats update. This evening Governor Newsom toured our vaccine site at the Ventura County Office of Education. The video update from the visit to be shared tomorrow. To date more than 202,000 community members have been vaccinated in our County.

VCCDC — Up to $100,000 in home buying assistance now available!

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) is celebrating the success of its first “From Here Forward” program recipient. Last month, Mia Martinez, a long-time Ventura County resident, closed on her first home with the help of $100,000 in down payment assistance from VCCDC. With available funding for more families, VCCDC is inviting residents to apply for this special program.

CSUCI is part of Excelencia in Education’s new research on Hispanic-Serving Institutions over the past 25 Years

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) is one of the Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the nation that invested in “25 Years of Hispanic-Serving Institutions,” a research project conducted by Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education.

Excelencia—an institution dedicated to the advancement of Latinx students in higher education across the nation—is co-hosting a virtual event, “California Briefing on 25 Years of HSIs in Accelerating Latinx Student Success,” on Tuesday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. In addition to CSU Channel Islands, partnering institutions include CSU Northridge, CSU Monterey Bay, CSU San Bernardino, Fresno State, the California State University system, California Community Colleges, and the University of California Merced.

The public is invited to register for the free presentation at: https://www.csun.edu/node/11001/california-briefing-25-years-hsis.

Port of Hueneme Distributes Food and Grocery Carts

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

In the nearly one year since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, the people most directly affected in South Oxnard have been farmworkers and their families – food access is critical for those whose jobs and health have been impacted. Many efforts have sprouted to help provide food and COVID-19 resources and relief, and Oxnard’s Southwinds Neighborhood Council has been holding weekly food distributions. Saturday’s Southwinds event, in collaboration with the Port of Hueneme, its customers and other partners, marked the Port’s 45th food distribution event, as they continue to be committed to community.

UCSB — The Current — ‘COVID-19 Prevention and Intervention’ and more news

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

An online discussion and Q&A with campus experts explores the science of COVID-19 vaccines and other, non-pharmaceutical interventions.

CSUCI’s Ekhobot, ‘Learning Online 101’ and Student Affairs Division win national recognition

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has earned national recognition for innovative programs in the Division of Academic Affairs’ Teaching & Learning Innovations area, as well as the Division of Student Affairs.

CSUCI is one of 10 universities across the nation to garner one of the inaugural Virtual Innovation Awards: Excellence in Delivering Virtual Student Services, a newly created award program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and presented Feb. 23 through the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. It carries a prize of $15,000.

Trinity Pacific Wins Top Two Spots in 2021 Ventura County Mock Trial

by Community Contributor • March 2, 2021 • Comments Off

Trinity Pacific Christian School in Thousand Oaks is the first and second place winner of the 2021 Ventura County Mock Trial with Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley taking third place.

The winning teams were announced this evening after seven days of competition that were held entirely online for the first time ever due the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-six teams from 22 high schools throughout Ventura County participated in this year’s competition, which is coordinated by the Ventura County Office of Education. Here is how the top eight teams placed:

Ventura City Council Appoints District 4 Councilmember Jeannette Sanchez-Palacio

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

During its special City Council meeting on February 20, 2021, the Ventura City Council approved the appointment of Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios, who took an oath of office, to fill the District 4 vacancy after interviewing 14 candidates.

Under Section 705(c) of the City of Ventura’s Charter, the City Council approved an appointment process to fill the District 4 vacancy on February 1, 2021. The vacancy was created after City Councilmember Erik Nasarenko was appointed as the new District Attorney for Ventura County on January 26, 2021.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — EDC Focus on Equity and Inclusion

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

I started my career in human resources and eventually found myself working as a corporate recruiter. As a young and albeit naïve professional, focusing on diversity in the recruiting process was not in my immediate field of vision because, at the time, the topic of “inclusion and diversity” was not necessarily at the top of the national dialogue.

Fortunately, the experience of observing and participating in the recruiting process of hundreds of candidates began to shape my understanding of the importance of diversity.

Ventura College Receives Two Awards for Excellence

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

We are pleased to announce that Ventura College has been presented with two awards of excellence this year, from the California Colleges Board of Governors and the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

“We are so proud of our faculty, staff and administrators for their tireless work to help improve the college experience for our students. These awards are a nod to their remarkable efforts,” said Ventura College President Dr. Kimberly Hoffmans. “Our

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — The Latest on Vaccines

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Beginning this week, the state has begun to use a 70/30 formula in allocating vaccine doses. 70% of our vaccine doses will go to those who are 65 and over while 30% will be going to those residents who fall under Vaccine Tier 1B: education/child care workers, food and agriculture workers, and emergency services workers.

Vaccine appointments will be made available for Emergency Services Workers, Grocery Workers, and Phase 1A Health Care workers beginning March 1st at 9am on the County’s COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment website.

Island Packers Cruises Now Offering Trips to Scorpion Anchorage In Channel Islands National Park – The Galapagos of North America

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Island Packer Cruises, established in 1968, has recently begun to operate daily scheduled trips for day visitors and campers from Ventura Harbor Village to Scorpion Anchorage in Channel Islands National Park – The Galapagos of North America.

The new pier at Scorpion Anchorage now allows Island Packers, the official park concessionaire, to offers safe and accessible access at Scorpion Anchorage.

Guest commentary — HR 1 For the People’s Act – Making Democracy Work

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

On January 4, 2021, H.R. 1 For the People’s Act was introduced and is currently being reviewed by Congressional committees. The bill provides an opportunity to expand and protect voting rights, get big money out of politics, hold elected officials accountable and assure our democracy is representative of all Americans’ voices and values.

The vast majority of Americans support this bill, including 56% of Republicans. Special interests spent $14 billion to influence the 2020 election, the most amount of money spent on an election in the history of the U.S.

Ventura County Community Development Corp. — Reminder — FREE Classes Online

by Community Contributor • March 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Do you have a will or a trust? If the answer is no, you are leaving your loved ones and your assets at risk if you something were to happen to you. Join us to learn how you can prepare and protect yourself and your loved ones with a few simple steps! With guest speaker, attorney Roy Schneider

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 update for Feb. 28 — More Vaccine Appointments to Open March 1

by Community Contributor • February 28, 2021 • Comments Off

More COVID-19 Vaccine appointments will open on Monday morning. The online appointment portal will be available beginning at 7 am at the following link: www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.

The registration phone line will also have appointments available beginning at 8 am. The phone line is for those with limited access to the internet. The phone number is 805-477-7161.

Learn more about the eligible sectors at the following link https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/

Bilingual report — SBCC School of Extended Learning launches ‘Back-to-Work,’ rapid career training for unemployed amid COVID-19

by Community Contributor • February 26, 2021 • Comments Off

SBCC School of Extended Learning is proud to announce the free ‘Back-to-Work’ program. The program was created as a rapid solution to help unemployed Santa Barbara County community members secure employment. Back-to-Work participants will receive training, grant funding, job search support and more. The application deadline for the first three Back-to-Work career tracks is March 9.

“The pandemic’s toll on local service jobs is pushing already vulnerable families into crisis,” said Joyce Coleman, Vice President of SBCC School of Extended Learning. “Our Back-to-Work program focuses on local job markets that, in part due to the pandemic, have immediate high-demand for trained workers.”

Oxnard College — Que Sucede Interview on Oxnard College TRIO programs

by Community Contributor • February 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Listen to this Spanish-language interview with Katie Pena, director of TRIO programs at Oxnard College, and Luis Garcia, student services assistant, as they talk about TRIO programs, which provide services for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The interview aired on 102.1 FM y 910 AM La Mexicana (KOXR), 96.7 FM La Mejor (KLJR), and 102.9 FM Radio Lazer (KXLM).

Bilingual commentary — Sifting Through Parents’ Papers

by Community Contributor • February 26, 2021 • Comments Off

Upon the death of a parent, we children find ourselves scrambling about, muddling through the logistics: finding a mortuary, arranging religious and/or memorial services, choosing a cemetery and possibly meeting with family and friends for that last goodbye at the burial grounds. Of course, much of this can be pre-arranged.