The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) recently announced grant award recipients?of the Inclusive Innovation Hub (iHub2) program. This one-time, $250,000 grant will run for a 15 month period and will help accelerate regionally focused strategies to spur innovation and diversification across industry sectors and geographies while attracting entrepreneurs from underserved business communities.
The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) announced grant award recipients?of the Inclusive Innovation Hub (iHub2) program. This one-time, $250,000 grant will run for 15 months period and will help accelerate regionally focused strategies to spur innovation and diversification across industry sectors and geographies while attracting entrepreneurs from underserved business communities.
There are only four days remaining to view This Basic Asymmetry featuring work by artists Patricia Ayres, Simone Forti, Miguel Angel Payano Jr., Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and Gabriela Ruiz.
This Basic Asymmetry presents the work of five artists whose practices make available their personal processes of introspection, creating a space for the viewer to reflect on their own relationship to their bodies and how that informs one’s perception of others. Addressing the dissonance in our reckoning between self and other, the works exhibited here accommodate space for mutual exploration.
Admission is always FREE! Click here to read more >>>
The Sight + Sound Film Festival is accepting film submissions now through June 12 for its second annual event to be held September 30 – October 2, 2022 at select venues in Historic Downtown Oxnard. The event is a joint effort between OPAC, the Film, Television, and Electronic Media program at Oxnard College and Downtown Oxnard.
Filmmakers of all levels may submit works in the following categories: Narrative Features and Shorts, Documentary Features and Shorts, Romantic Comedy, Dramatic, Thriller/Sci-Fi, Films produced in Oxnard/Ventura County and by local filmmakers, Student films, Music Videos, ASMR, and Animations.
“Our commitment is to collaboration, unity, diversity and giving voice to artists and issues around the world and to promote awareness and healing as we endeavor to present the best possible cinematic works, speakers and workshops by artists locally, regionally and even internationally” said Carolyn Merino Mullin, festival director.
Congressmember Salud Carbajal has announced the winners of the fifth annual Congressional Women of the Year Award, including Community Environmental Council CEO Sigrid Wright. This prestigious award honors six exceptional women across the 24th Congressional District who have left a positive impact on their communities.
“With the many daunting challenges of the growing climate crisis, Sigrid’s dedicated environmental leadership in Santa Barbara has guided the community in facing those changes,” Congressman Carbajal said. “I am honored to recognize her contributions to our community.”
WEV is seeking to hire a full-time Bilingual Program Officer to support our Emprendedores Spanish language business training, coaching and micro-grant program. ?This role can be based in the Ventura or Santa Barbara office, with hybrid work opportunities. WEV (pronounced “weave”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. We are a purposeful, mission-driven organization with a passionate and engaged staff based in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, whose primary focus is on supporting women-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. For more information and to apply visit: www.wevonline.org/jobs/bilingual-program-officer/
Santa Barbara City College extends congratulations to students Carie Millard, Nicole Pena, Olivia Reed and John Fletcher (not pictured) for being named 2022 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-California Award Winners. This year’s list of award recipients includes 114 students from across the California Community Colleges for the All-California Academic First, Second and Third Teams. To view the team selections and rankings, click here.
PTK recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations. Building on the success of the national All-USA Team Program, PTK launched the All-State Academic Team Program. The purpose of this program is to provide recognition at the state level for these top community college students.
It’s National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and we’re showing gratitude for dispatchers at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County Fire Department! They are the calm voice on the other end of the line that provides critical support to the community, deputies, and first responders. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our community!
The CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) student who founded the national Youth Pride Association (YPA) has been named a 2022-2023 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow.
Chemistry major Cameron Bartosiewicz, who founded the 501(c)3 to support and advocate for LGBTQ youth, is among 173 students from 38 states and Mexico to be named a Newman Fellow.
The Ventura County Flower and Weed
Show and Exhibit
April 22nd – 24th
at the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula
Free
LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions, Inc., an aerospace power generation and electric propulsion design company in Goleta, announced (on April 12) the commercialization of its patent-pending, hybrid electric power system for aircraft.
Drop by to check out our
student-led startups at the New Venture Fair,
and vote for your favorite teams!
Researchers find that state-level decarbonization policies have received a significant amount of bipartisan support.
A farmworker strike for the agriculture company Aquistapace Harvesting Inc. took place April 11 in Santa Maria, California with the support of non-profit organizations, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project and CAUSE.
Workers at Aquistapace Harvesting Inc. are on strike to demand an increase in the payment of strawberry boxes as no increases have been seen in past years. With the increase in gasoline, housing and food. Collective workers are demanding the following in order to sustain themselves:
1. Increase in strawberry boxes to $3.50
2. Paid holidays / double when working
3. Working condition – Do not work during rains / pay double box price on rainy days
The Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) and the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative are co-hosting a five-part webinar series to educate participants about carbon sequestration and carbon offsets. The series kicks off April 19, and will conclude on May 18.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality, governments, businesses, and communities will need to consider carbon sequestration and offsets as part of the solutions toolkit. Because there are a lot of unknowns and misunderstandings surrounding carbon removal, largely due to the complex and developing nature of the industry. This series aims to introduce potential stakeholders to carbon sequestration and offset markets and to facilitate dialogue, foster connections and projects, and address barriers.
VENTURA SCORE: GETTING STARTED WITH QUICKBOOKS ONLINE-HOW TO SET UP QUICKBOOKS FROM SCRATCH
April 12 @ 10:30 am
This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the features, functions and benefits of QuickBooks Online for small business owners as well as assist you in implementing accounting best practices to manage your business finance. This webinar will concentrate on steps to properly record payroll transactions that are administered by third party companies like ADP and Paychex. Juliana Ramirez from JR Bookkeeping will live answer your questions related to the subject matter including live demonstrations.
Community Environmental Council (CEC), Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB), and Paseo Nuevo are delighted to announce that artist Maria Arroyo has been selected to paint this year’s Earth Day Mural!
Selected from submissions from across Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SLO counties, the 2022 Call For Entries prompted artists to submit their artistic concepts online alongside a proposal for a mural that expresses what Earth Day and Climate Leadership mean to them. Maria Arroyo’s concept was selected to appear on the Paseo Nuevo Arts Terrace Parking Deck adjacent to MCASB.
Behind the scenes at the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder & Registrar of Voters’ office, it is crunch-time. Conducting the June Primary Election takes months of advance preparation, with everyone and everything in full swing at the 60-day mark of April 8, known as “Election Day-minus-60,” or E-60. This year is even busier than usual as Ventura County gears up for its first “Voters Choice Act” (VCA) Primary Election.
The Economic Development Collaborative is partnering with the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the California Academy for Economic Development, and Edison International to promote the statewide Outsmart Disaster campaign which equips businesses with the tools and resources they need to be prepared for disaster.
Complimentary business resiliency resources and trainings provided by the State of California by California’s Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency with The California Academy for Economic Development and supported by Edison International.
A 64-year-old man stops breathing while working out at the gym. A pregnant woman’s baby won’t wait for her to get to the hospital. A 50-year-old man collapses while hiking and his heart stops beating.
In each case, the “first first-responder” was a Ventura County Fire Department dispatcher who answered a phone call for help and guided the reporting person on what to do to save lives or deliver a new one into the world.
“Our dispatchers provide a vital link in countywide public safety services every day,” Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said. “While few people who need our help know a dispatcher by more than a voice on the phone, their dedication and care for others sets an example we all should appreciate.”
Approximately 150 people attended the 8thannual Bravo Awards hosted by the National Association of Women Business Owners, Santa Barbara Chapter (NAWBO-SB). NAWBO Santa Barbara recognized women business owners and community leaders in the Santa Barbara area who have demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation.
Accomplished leaders in their industries, dozens of women were nominated by NAWBO-SB members and the Santa Barbara community. The eight winners were celebrated this month at the Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta.
Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to equity supports Latino-owned businesses in recovering from the pandemic.
There is so much we have learned from birds, and there is much more to learn as we unlock the secrets of their magnificent abilities.
By observing birds over millennia, we finally figured out, just over a hundred years ago, how to emulate their flight and soar through the air—first in propeller planes, and now in jets. Birds gave us a solid starting point for developing our ability to fly.
Two $250,000 grants from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing will enable a successful CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) teacher residency partnership program to expand and explore new opportunities.
One of the grants went to the teacher residency program launched in 2019, which provides full tuition for CSUCI teaching credential candidates who are selected as residents, plus a stipend up to $10,000. The program is in partnership with the Oxnard School District (OSD), Oxnard Union High School District (OUHSD); the Rio School District and the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD).
Throughout April, there are many opportunities for community members across the county to learn more about sexual violence, actions they can take to prevent it, and how to foster healthy relationships in their lives. Lumina Alliance and our sister agency, Cal Poly Safer, have planned a series of events for the month of April. Some highlights include:
Ventura County is challenging residents living in Ventura County unincorporated areas to work together to clean up their communities by disposing/recycling household materials. These events are provided on behalf of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, Ventura County Public Works Agency, Harrison Industries, and Waste Management.
Residents currently subscribed to trash, recycling, and green waste service through a County contract collector will receive a notice in the mail one (1) month prior to each event. All events will have minimum contact and will be drive-through. There will be assistance with vehicle unloading and all County Covid-19 guidelines will be followed.
The Museum of Ventura County and the Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula will present a series of events in April.
Arts & Lectures premieres its commission from Jennifer Koh and Davóne Tines, an original multimedia performance.
Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB)’s illuminate Speaker Series returns for 2022. HSB kicked off this year’s series on February 16, 2022.Illuminate is a free series which started in 2020 and addresses aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and offers insights on how to navigate through this new reality we are all dealing with.
This year, the series is every other month and began with Sharon Salzberg who presented A Resilient Heart on February 16, 2022. The series continues with Amanda Kloots in April, Kristin Neff in June, Kelly McGonigal in August, Richard Louv in October and Trudy Goodman and Jack Kornfield in November.
“Throughout the pandemic, our illuminate Speaker Series has been a very important way for us to provide the community with hope during a time of transition,” said David Selberg, CEO of Hospice of Santa Barbara. “We are extremely grateful we get to continue the series and want to thank everyone for supporting it.”
A grateful THANK YOU for supporting the School of Management yesterday on Cares Day!
Our entire community of alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends came together to help us Reach for the Stars and meet both of our giving challenges to unlock an extra $20,000, thanks to Jeffrey ’91 and Lia Brouelette and Herbalife! We received a total of 166 gifts for a total of $62,931 to support our future business leaders of tomorrow.
If you were tied up yesterday and weren’t able to give, there is still time. Choose your passion and consider a contribution to one of our four funds:
Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman hailed (April 5) executive actions from President Biden’s administration, which would expand access to coverage for American families by fixing the “family glitch” and directing federal agencies to continue working to expand affordable, quality health care coverage:
“In California, we are thrilled to see the Biden administration continue to strengthen and expand upon the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, bringing high-quality and more affordable health care coverage to millions of Americans.
Help us Reach for the Stars, today, on Cal Lutheran Cares Day! As an important member of our School of Management (SOM) Community, we’d love your support today so we can continue to provide educational opportunities for the next generation of business leaders.
We are raising funds for four different causes, and you can choose what you are most passionate about. This year, the School of Management’s goal is to double our donors.
We are proud to announce that the Santa Barbara Fair & Expo, “Santa Barbara Rides Again!” theme held in 2021 and produced by Earl Warren Showgrounds has won 4 awards for the “small fair category – under 50,000 attendance” at the Western Fairs Association’s annual convention and trade show.
1.62 Creative Group, a local advertising agency, presided over the entire marketing campaign, media strategy, TV and radio concept and production, social media ad designs, graphic designs, and press releases.
Home staging continues to save homeowners time and generate more money from a sale than homes that are not staged. According to a 2021 survey by The National Association of Realtors®, 41% of real estate agents said staging a home can increase the value of offers by up to 10%. It was also found that home staging can greatly decrease the amount of time a house spends on the market as buyers can better visualize a property as a future home. As staging often requires sellers to remove or significantly reduce the presence of their belongings in a home, PODS Local offers tips and solutions to help homeowners sell their homes quickly and for higher closing prices.
With a $5.4 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation, a global research team will seek to understand microchimerism.
Guaranteed Rate, a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services, welcomes Mark Johnson as a Vice President of Mortgage Lending at its Santa Barbara, Calif. location.
“We are thrilled to have Mark and his amazing colleagues joining our Santa Barbara team,” said Guaranteed Rate Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending and Branch Manager Jeff Bochsler. “They bring years of experience and expertise that will position our company for massive growth and success in this region.”
Cody Makela, a partner and financial planner at Arlington Financial Advisors, has received the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation President’s Award for outstanding service.
It’s the first time the trust has presented this award, which seeks to recognize community members who have gone above and beyond to help preserve Santa Barbara’s history for future generations. Makela sits on the board of directors for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, where he serves as secretary.
Rebozo Festival, Inc., is pleased to announce the 18th Annual Rebozo Festival in accordance with Covid-19 restrictions. The Rebozo Festival Event will take place at Camarillo Ranch on Sunday, May 15, 2022.
Our focus this year are the Farmworkers of the Ventura County Community who have been deeply affected during Covid-19. The Abundant Table-Solidarity Shares is the Selected 2022 Grant Recipient who will be awarded the Grant amount of $10,000.00.
A second Pfizer and Moderna booster dose is now available for people who received their first booster dose at least four months ago. Eligible Californians include people who received their first Pfizer or Moderna booster and are age 50 and up or individuals who are age 12 and up and moderately to severely immunocompromised. The CDC also recommends everyone who received a J&J booster receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 4 months after their first booster. Talk to your provider about receiving your booster today! For information about COVID vaccines, visit www.vcrecovers.org/vaccine
California Lutheran University’s School of Management continues to provide a stimulating environment for our learners and the community around us, even in these unusual times. Today, we are once again happy to share a selection of exciting news, updates, and upcoming events with our communities in Southern California and beyond.
We encourage you to stay current on what’s going on at the School of Management by following our Showcase page on LinkedIn.
The Yarrow Family YMCA is seeking sponsors for its 8th Annual Golf Classic, taking place Monday, May 2, at the North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. The title sponsor for the YMCA’s “On Course For A Cause” tournament is Amoroso Companies.
Available sponsorships range from tee/green signs to exclusive host sponsor.
The day’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast, putting contest and open driving range. The shotgun tournament is at 11:00 a.m. Participants are served lunch and opportunities for prizes. The day concludes with a reception and award presentations.
Earlier this week, 42 representatives from over 30 local nonprofit and healthcare organizations met via ZOOM to discuss how they can work together to respond to the extreme needs caregivers in Santa Barbara County experience.
By joining forces to help unpaid family caregivers self-identify and find supportive services, the Caring Together Santa Barbara County collaboration reminds residents that they are not alone in their caregiving efforts. There is a network of organizations to support them and the needs of their loved ones.
ABOVE: The farm stand at Dare 2 Dream Farms in Lompoc. CREDIT: Dare 2 Dream Farms Agricultural Enterprise Ordinance Provide feedback on the Environmental Impact Report Provide Comments By Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at 5 p.m. The County of Santa Barbara…
The Ventura County Community College District will join the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to commemorate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Awareness Month. Throughout April, VCCCD and its colleges will raise awareness of DEI through free virtual and in-person events, including a webinar on April 13 with acclaimed labor and social justice activist Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers union and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Our students, faculty, classified staff and administrators bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the classroom and workplace,” said Board Chair Dianne McKay. “Respecting these differing views allows us to learn from one another, build trust and create a culture of belonging, acceptance and social justice across the District.”
“When it comes to dementia care, boredom is the enemy.”
David Troxel~ An expert in Alzheimer’s disease and memory care, Trainer and coauthor (with Virginia Bell) of books, (notably, The Best Friends™ Approach to Dementia Care and memory care and the past CEO of the Santa Barbara Alzheimer’s Association.
Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and representatives from Community Water Center (CWC) announced legislation (March 31) to strengthen the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and protect drinking water supplies for communities.
“New water wells and groundwater extractions are being approved without adequate analysis of their impact on the drinking water of disadvantaged communities,” said Bennett. “Approval without that analysis can cause significant negative impacts on over-drafted water basins and disadvantaged communities drinking water.”
We are excited to launch our first quarterly newsletter of 2022!
Thank you to all our supporters who saw us, and our kids, through some difficult times. As we come out of COVID, we are excited for the possibilities. We are almost fully staffed, unmasked, and ready to go!
This year we will be focusing on sharing the word about our great programming, including summer camps, and inviting our kids back! We are repairing and replenishing our Clubs as most of our focus the last couple of years was on keeping the doors open to serve our kids. And we did keep our doors open for those who need us most!
A new study finds that ancient migration from the south brought maize and contributed to early Maya ancestry.
