We hope you all are enjoying the longer days of sunlight! The Social Justice Fellows are hard at work and continue to inspire us. Our Fellows are advancing their projects demonstrating excellent leadership skills, determination and a passion for justice. It is with great pleasure that we have an opportunity to share their updates, with the hope of bringing a little more sunshine into your day. We hope you will enjoy this month’s Social Justice Fund newsletter:
In 2015, you helped re-bed the entire shelter! Well, it’s 2022, and our beds are showing some ware and tear. The goal of this Dog Bed Donation Drive is 200 beds – enough to replace all dog beds at Ventura County Animal Services.
If you are able to help us reach our goal, please visit www.vcas.us/DogBedDonation or click the button below. On this website you will see how many beds have already been donated, and how far we are from our goal. Beds are automatically shipped to the Camarillo Animal Shelter at 600 Aviation Drive. Please feel free to leave an “In Memory of” or “In Honor of” message when checking out.
The City of Oxnard collected more than 206 tons of bulky trash over four weekends in March as 1,432 Oxnard residents took advantage of the free Neighborhood Bulky Item Drop-Off Day events. Hosted in partnership with Caltrans, the community events help prevent the illegal dumping of furniture and other trash in Oxnard’s streets, parks and alleyways.
The new Neighborhood Bulky Item Drop-Off Day program created four regions for drop-off events that allowed every neighborhood in the City an opportunity to dispose of old mattresses, damaged furniture and other large, bulky items for free throughout March.
The 5th annual Old Boney Mountain Hot Summer Night festival, which features over 100 small-batch hot sauce companies from around the world, is seeking sponsors. The event is set for Thursday, July 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Los Robles Golf Course in Thousand Oaks. Its theme is “Bringing People Together.”
Hot Summer Night proceeds benefit the Ventura County Fire Department Widows, Orphans & Assistance Fund and the Old Boney Mountain Foundation For Kids.
The West Ventura County Business Alliance, the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, will host the State of the University address by President Richard Yao, Ph.D., of California State University Channel Islands on Friday, April 29.
Each year the president addresses the business community. Yao was appointed to serve as the fourth president of CSUCI in January 2022 after serving as interim president since January 2021.
For 34 years, the Ojai Wine Festival has served as the primary non-profit fundraising effort of the Rotary Club of Ojai West Foundation and its numerous philanthropic endeavors. This year, proceeds from the Ojai Wine Festival will benefit local charities including HELP of Ojai, Secure Beginnings, Ojai Unified School District, and support the free Ojai Community Band concerts in Libbey Bowl in July and August. Historically, proceeds from the Ojai Wine Festival have donated more than $1,400,000 to Rotary’s charity efforts around the world.
Applications available Thursday, March 31
Aplicaciones disponsibles jueves el 31 de Marzo
1009 Peterson Ranch, Templeton (9-5PM)
Story Time at the Museum:
Earth Day
Friday, April 1st from 3-4pm
at the Museum of Ventura County
Free
The Museum of Ventura County has partnered with the County Library to bring bilingual (in English and Spanish) in-person Story Time every first Friday of the month at 3pm, for free. That way, kids will have time to come right after school. This month’s theme is EARTH DAY. Join us for stories, then play and learn in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Chumash Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL! Click here to learn more.
A new test predicts sepsis before blood clots cause permanent organ damage, markedly increasing survival.
Do tortoises have a favorite color? Is car exhaust damaging to plants? Do insects get lonely? These are some of the intriguing questions explored by students who entered the 2022 Ventura County Science Fair.
The Science Fair was held virtually on March 18, with 230 students presenting their projects to volunteer judges via online video.
The 35 projects that received the highest scores will go on to represent Ventura County in the California Science & Engineering Fair on April 12. See the local winners and view their projects at this link.
The California Labor Market Information Division (LMID) released its February 2022 report on Friday, again this month later than per the usual schedule of the 3rd Friday following the prior month, accommodating time for LMID’s annual recalibration of the data.
Ventura County had a strong month by nearly all labor market indicators, adding a total of 5,300 jobs, 1,900 in Farm, 2,700, in all other private sector industries and 700 in Government. The unemployment rate improved from 4.8% in January all the way down to 4.1% in February, putting us even with the U.S. rate and well ahead of California as a whole, at 4.8%. Even more encouraging, our Labor Force increased by 5,200 workers jumping back into the game, now at 413,100. For the official data, click here. For our reflections, please read on.
Community Environmental Council (CEC) proudly announces the recipients of its 2022 Santa Barbara Earth Day Environmental Hero Award. CEC will honor Kenny Loggins, award-winning singer-songwriter and humanitarian, along with certified graduates of CEC’s UC Climate Stewards program. The awards ceremony will take place at this year’s Santa Barbara Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre.
The awards ceremony will feature a video acceptance speech from Kenny Loggins and live appearances from several UC Climate Stewards alumni. More info on CEC’s Earth Day event is available at SBEarthDay.org.
RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE OF WOMEN IN TRADE
April 5 @ 10:00 am
The event will focus on customs challenges, including best practices, lessons learned over the past two years, and solutions moving forward. Attendees will hear the perspectives of customs agencies in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, as well as women in trade entrepreneurs from the three countries.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
La Dra. Sevet Johnson ha sido seleccionada como Funcionaria Ejecutiva del Condado Interina
La Junta de Supervisores ha seleccionado por unanimidad a la Dra. Sevet Johnson para fungir como Funcionaria Ejecutiva del Condado Interina, con vigencia a partir del 23 de marzo de 2022. Como parte de su función, la Funcionaria Ejecutiva del Condado Interina también será la Secretaria de la Junta de Oficio. La Junta también ha acordado por unanimidad realizar un reclutamiento a nivel nacional de un Funcionario Ejecutivo del Condado permanente. “Nuestra Junta desea agradecer a la Dra. Johnson por su liderazgo durante este periodo”, dijo la Presidenta de la Junta, Carmen Ramirez. “Confiamos en su capacidad de ayudar a dirigir mientras comenzamos una búsqueda del próximo Funcionario Ejecutivo del Condado”.
“Gracias por esta oportunidad y voto de confianza. Tengo muchos deseos de trabajar con su Junta para apoyar todas las funciones del Condado y de trabajar con todas las partes interesadas durante este periodo, mientras buscamos nuestro nuevo Funcionario Ejecutivo del Condado”, dijo la Dra. Sevet Johnson.
Lea el anuncio completo: https://www.vcnewschannel.com/news/518-dr-sevet-johnson-selected-as-interim-county-executive-officer
The Museum deeply appreciates these thoughtful gifts of tribute
that sustain the legacy of the Museum’s mission.
The following individuals have chosen to celebrate the legacy of friends and family members through a gift of remembrance or honor in their name to
the Museum of Ventura County.
?
House Farm Workers! has opened applications for its 7th annual Ellen Brokaw House Farm Workers! scholarship for college-bound and current college students who are children of Ventura County farm workers, including seasonal and retired farm workers. Eligible students may submit applications online at www.HouseFarmWorkers.org. Three students will be selected to receive $3,000.00 each towards their continued education and will be honored at House Farm Workers! annual “From Field to Fork,” fundraiser, which will be held in July. Scholarship applications must be submitted no later than April 29, 2022.
The scholarship is named in honor of Ellen Brokaw, an important member of the agricultural community in Ventura County and the founding chairwoman of House Farm Workers!. Brokaw, a prominent member of our county’s agricultural community, is a dedicated and inspirational leader and advocate who is committed to improving the lives of farm workers and their families.
State eviction protections end March 31st, along with the state-run COVID rental relief program. Luckily, Santa Barbara County has our own program, which will continue accepting applications after March 31st.
However, anyone who owes rent starting April 1st may be at risk of eviction, even with a pending rental assistance application. Legislators in Sacramento are working quickly to extend the eviction protections to those with pending rental assistance applications. I strongly encourage anyone who needs assistance to apply by March 31st. There is no guarantee that you will receive eviction protections but it is being worked on.
The United Way of Ventura County’s 17th annual Spirit Awards will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 4 at the Hyatt Regency Westlake, 880 S. Westlake Blvd., Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village.
Ceramic Tile Two-Day Workshop (Ages 16+)
Wednesday, March 30, and Thursday, March 31, 2022, from 6 PM to 9 PM each evening
$75 for two-part series
Time’s running out to register for teaching artist Roxanne Casas’ Ceramic Tile Two-Day Workshop at SPAM’s Cole Creativity Center! The two-part class will teach you ceramic essentials, like sculpting, painting, carving, and design. You’ll finish the workshop with an incredible self-portrait wall piece to take home. The cost of this two-part course is $75. All skill levels are welcome, and all supplies will be provided.
California Lutheran University received its largest National Science Foundation grant to date — $307,486 for a biologist and her students to study sexual selection in tiny Brazilian squirrel monkeys.
Assistant professor Anita Stone, the lead principal investigator, and 12 undergraduate students will spend four summers studying sexually selected traits and behaviors in the Saimiri collinsi species living in the eastern Amazonia forest. The Thousand Oaks resident wants to determine whether the females actively choose their mates, or passively accept the winners of male-male competitions.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will celebrate empowering women and girls at its annual Women of Inspiration luncheon on Monday, April 11 from 12pm-1:30pm at the organization’s campus at 5315 Foothill Road in Carpinteria. The fundraiser event will feature Tracey Van Houten, a rocket scientist and lead engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), as the keynote speaker.
In her nearly two decades at JPL, Van Houten had the opportunity to work on the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rover missions, an Earth Science mission called SMAP, and more than 100 conceptual space missions. Currently the Europa Clipper System Testbed Lead Engineer at NASA’s JPL, Van Houten calls herself a ‘STEMinist’ – an activist, advocate and mentor for women and all those who have been historically excluded from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields.
Cabrillo EDC was honored to work with GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles (GRID GLA), a nonprofit organization that installs solar power systems and provides job training for economic and environmental justice communities. During a week-long project in early March 2022, GRID GLA installed 64 solar panels on a ten-car carport at the Cabrillo EDC’s Camino Esperanza property in Simi Valley.
Camino Esperanza is a rental community serving seniors aged 62 years and older with 30 one-bedroom units. Eleven units are for Seniors with developmental disabilities at 25 percent of the area median income. The remaining 19 units are available for seniors earning up to 50 percent of the area median income. Two units are ADA compliant and 28 are fully adaptable.
Do tortoises have a favorite color? Is car exhaust damaging to plants? Do insects get lonely? These are some of the intriguing questions explored by students who entered the 67thannual Ventura County Science Fair.
The Science Fair was held virtually last Friday, with 230 students from 17 local middle and high schools presenting their projects to volunteer judges via online video. The 35 projects that received the highest scores will go on to represent Ventura County in the California Science & Engineering Fair on April 12. A list of the winners with links to their display boards and written reports is provided below.
Physicists contemplate the premise of “Don’t Look Up” and the technology it would take to save humanity from an existential cosmic threat.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is pleased to announce four new additions to the Justice for All event series that features public figures, organizers, thinkers and doers who expose deeply embedded injustices and call for a more equitable future.
Just added:
Thursday, April 7th, Manzanar, Diverted, film screening & discussion with Director/Producer Ann Kaneko;
Monday, April 18th, Father Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries on The Power of Extravagant Tenderness;
Friday, April 22, Director of the MIT Media Lab’s Space Enabled Program, scientist Danielle Wood on Space Enabled Earth Justice: Using Space Technology to Improve Life;
Tuesday, May 3rd: Data scientist Cathy O’Neil who explores how to cultivate dignity in an age of social media and hyper-partisan politics in her book The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation.
The Fulbright Program has namedCSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) a 2021-2022 Top-Producing Institution for Fulbright Scholars.
In a list published recently by the Chronicle of Higher Education on behalf of the Fulbright Program, CSUCI is among 11 masters-granting colleges and universities across the nation that had two Fulbright Scholars named for 2021-2022.
This year’s Fulbright Scholars are Professor of Finance Priscilla Liang, Ph.D. and Professor of Applied Physics Geoff Dougherty, Ph.D.
CSUCI is already starting off strong for next year, too, with Professor of Political Science Scott Frisch, Ph.D. being awarded a Fulbright for 2022-2023.
Wednesday marks the 12th anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the most significant improvement to America’s health care system since the passage of Medicaid and Medicare more than five decades ago. On this anniversary, Covered California celebrates the progress made since passage of this groundbreaking law and is reminding people that they may still be able to sign up for comprehensive coverage during the current special-enrollment period.
The Board of Supervisors has unanimously selected Dr. Sevet Johnson to serve as Interim County Executive Officer effective March 23, 2022. As part of this role, the Interim County Executive Officer will also be the Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board. The Board also unanimously agreed to conduct a nationwide recruitment for the permanent County Executive Officer. “Our Board would like to thank Dr. Johnson for stepping up during this time,” said Chair of the Board Carmen Ramirez. “We are confident in her ability to help lead as we begin a search for the next County Executive Officer.”
“Thank you for this opportunity and vote of confidence. I look forward to working with your Board to supporting all functions of the County and to working with all stakeholders during this time as we look for our new CEO,” said Dr. Sevet Johnson.
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®, or NDAFW, is an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners—to help advance the science, so that we can improve the prevention and awareness of substance misuse in our own communities and nationwide.
Laura Kaminsky & Mark Campbell in Conversation
Thursday, March 24, 4:30-6:00 PM
MCASB, 653 Paseo Nuevo
Join us for a discussion with Laura Kaminsky, composer, & Mark Campbell, co-librettist, of As One, the most performed contemporary opera in America today. This event is FREE, however, registration is required. Please click here to register now!
This event has been conceived of and is sponsored by, Opera Santa Barbara. Doors open at 4:30 pm to allow guests to view MCASB’s current exhibition This Basic Asymmetry. The panel discussion begins at 5:00 pm.
As One makes its Santa Barbara debut at the Lobero Theatre on March 25 & 27.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) will be hosting its first-ever Move For Kids’ Sake, an event and fundraising campaign that will focus on healthy living awareness. Through activities like in-person martial arts and yoga demonstrations, hiking, a surf day, and a health fair, community, youth and BBSVC participants will be introduced to new ways to get active and live healthy, first-hand. The agency’s inaugural Health Fair this year is located in Simi Valley’s Rancho Simi Community Park (Erringer and Royal) on Saturday, May 21. The Health Fair will provide families with additional information and resouces to promote a lifetime of healthy living for our Littles.
New research reveals the strong family ties of Latina teens, themes evident in Oscar-nominated films “Encanto” and “West Side Story.”
In her nearly three decades with America’s Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, Mara Rodriguez has remained devoted to students, animals large and small and to the college itself. Her dedication to the college and the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) has garnered Rodriguez a special honor: 2022 VCCCD Classified Employee of the Year. The award recognizes classified professionals who demonstrate professional ethics and standards and serve the community with purpose and passion.
The District awards this distinction in accordance with the California Community Colleges (CCC) Board of Governors, who will consider Rodriguez for the CCC statewide award. Additional VCCCD Classified Employee of the Year nominees included Lt. Cesar Romero of the District Administrative Center, Amparo Medina of Oxnard College and Jessie Llamas of Ventura College.
Do you want to take part in our democracy? Do you enjoy public service? Apply to be a part of our awesome team! Ventura County Elections is seeking to fill 380 Temporary Intermittent Elections Voting Assistant positions immediately at an hourly rate of $22.37 to assist with the June 7, 2022 Statewide Direct Primary Election.
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¿Gustaría usted tomar parte en nuestra democracia? ¿Disfruta usted en el servicio público? ¡Aplique para ser parte de nuestro equipo impresionante! La División de Elecciones del Condado de Ventura está en búsqueda para llenar de inmediata, 380 posiciones Temporarias Intermitentes de Asistente de Votación Electoral a $22.37 por hora para asistir con la Elección Primaria Directa Estatal del 7 de junio de 2022.
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) on March 18 announced it is the proud recipient of a competitive grant for $300,000 to monitor and share findings on air pollution, wildfire smoke, and pesticide exposure at the neighborhood level throughout Guadalupe and the Santa Maria Valley.
“Everyone deserves to be air aware,” said Mireya Piña, Parent Engagement Coordinator for Family Service Agency at Little House by the Park in Guadalupe. “There are a lot of health-related concerns like asthma and stroke due to fire, smoke, and diesel exhaust in our air. At the end of the day, we’re talking about air equity. When we look at that lack of equity in Santa Barbara County, some people can stay protected and informed. But, at the same time, other groups in the community can’t afford that luxury and rely on organizations to stay informed of things like air pollution.”
Referencing its decades-long history in healthcare on the Central Coast, CenCal Health published its annual community report this week. Titled “Building on a Legacy: Evolution·Progression·Transition,” the multi-media account of the health plan’s current position in the community is readily available in English and Spanish at cencal2021.org. Established in 1983, CenCal Health is the Medi-Cal health plan that serves one in four residents of Santa Barbara County and one in five residents of San Luis Obispo County.
As many cities throughout California struggle to address the State’s $160 billion total unfunded pension liability that accrued prior to the 2013 California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), the City of Oxnard is proactively considering issuing a Pension Obligation Bond (POB) to tackle its portion.
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) and Grant Program (CCGP) are available to businesses that want to locate in California or stay and grow in California. Businesses of any industry, size, or location compete for over $180 million available in tax credits by applying in one of the three application periods each year. Applicants will be analyzed based on twelve different factors of evaluation, including number of full-time jobs being created, amount of investment, and strategic importance to the state or region.
The California Department of Water Resources (CADWR) announced a reduced water allocation to 5% on March 21 from the State Water Project (SWP) following a historically dry winter. The new limited allocation may lead to restrictions on outdoor watering as priority must be given to ensuring the health and safety needs of residents are met.
The Conejo – Las Virgenes Regional Drought Partnership – comprised of Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD), Calleguas Municipal Water District (Calleguas), and Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD) – continues to plead with customers to take this situation seriously and immediately increase water conservation actions in response to depleted water supplies.
VENTURA COUNTY SCORE: OVERVIEW OF WORKING WITH THE COUNTY OF VENTURA AS A VENDOR
March 23 @ 10:30 am
Do you have a product or service that you’d like to sell to government buyers? The Office of Procurement Services of the County of Ventura will deliver a presentation on how to work with the County as a vendor. Topics to be covered include what a prospective vendor needs to know to do business with the County, information about vendor tools, and some background information on County’s Procurement Services department and contacts.
The County of Ventura’s Farmworker Resource Program has launched an interactive video podcast called “Raíz Informativa,” which airs in Mixteco, Zapoteco, and Spanish to deepen and expand connections with the Ventura County farmworker community. Raíz Informativa, which translates to “Informative Root,” is a monthly hour-long video program streamed live to Facebook that shares information, supportive services, and resources related to the agricultural industry and topics relevant to farmworker interests and needs. It is the first video podcast of its kind hosted by a government agency designed to reach farmworkers.
The Other Strawberry Festival virtual event is a place for conversations about the impact of pesticide use and racial injustice in conventional strawberry growing, bringing together community to create change for a more just and healthy food system for people and the planet.
After reviewing revised guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and county public health orders, Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) is adjusting its COVID-19 indoor face mask protocols. Effective April 11, wearing masks indoors at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges and the District Administrative Center will no longer be mandatory. However, VCCCD will highly recommend using masks indoors at all VCCCD locations for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
“Over the past two years, the District has followed the data and adhered to the recommendations, guidelines and orders of our public health experts for the safety of our campuses and the community,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “We will continue to follow recommendations from health experts in order to help maintain lower COVID-19 rates.”
Are you an artist, arts business or arts nonprofit operating in Ventura County who earned $50,000 or less (primary means of income) in 2019 and were significantly impacted by COVID-19? If so, you are encouraged to apply for a $2,500 business assistance grant. Grants will be awarded until the grant funding has been exhausted, so don’t delay!
The Foundation of VCCU, a philanthropic nonprofit organization established by Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU), has provided $50,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofit organizations. The grant money will support these organizations’ efforts to make a positive difference in the Ventura County community.
The Foundation of VCCU gave $5,000 to each of the 10 nonprofits. The grant recipients included Turning Point Foundation, DRAGG, Brain Injury Center, Casa Pacifica, Women’s Economic Ventures, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Westminster Free Clinic, House Farm Workers, Bike Ventura and Parkinson’s Foundation.
“We are honored to support the incredible work these nonprofits are doing in our local community,” said The Foundation’s board president, Alma Medina. “Their efforts are changing countless lives, and we know that this grant money will help them continue to make a meaningful impact here in Ventura County.”
Phase 1 of a rehabilitation at our Isla Vista Apartments is complete! Construction consisted of accessibility upgrades, seismic retrofitting, and full replacement of the plumbing, roof, and interior finishes. We are excited to welcome the first group of residents back to their newly renovated homes!
We are thrilled to share with you our 2021 Ventura County Animal Services Annual Report. As you can see, we had very successful and busy year as we navigated a challenging landscape. We hope this snapshot provides a glimpse into our daily life-saving activities during the 2021 calendar year. There were many other events which did not make into this publication, so we encourage you to join us on social media to learn how else we are making a difference in the lives of animals in need.
The Santa Barbara City College Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has announced its call for entries for the 12th Annual Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge (NVC) business plan and pitch competition. The event is open to SBCC students and all college and high school students in Santa Barbara County.
“This is the Scheinfeld Center’s 12th year hosting the competition to promote student entrepreneurship and career development and we’re thrilled to provide students the ongoing opportunity to interact, network, and further sharpen their entrepreneurial skills through business plan writing and pitching,” states Julie Samson, Director of the Scheinfeld Center.
In connection with Women’s History Month, IT staff member Anne Weger gets special recognition from the UC Office of the President.
After a Board of Supervisors closed session on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, the County Executive Officer was placed on immediate administrative leave. An investigation had been conducted related to an employee’s complaint alleging inappropriate conduct by the County Executive Officer. The investigation report was prepared by an independent, impartial attorney investigator retained by County Counsel. Though a recent article by a media outlet noted they received the report and it was a draft, the article failed to state that the report was a confidential document protected by attorney work product and attorney client privileges under the law. The media outlet was not authorized to receive the report. The article mentioned there would be another closed session meeting about the issue. However, the County Executive Officer resigned two days later, precluding the Board of Supervisors from taking any further action regarding his employment.
