NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation evaluates how well an organization complies with standards in the following areas: organizational readiness; race / ethnicity, language, gender identity and sexual orientation; access and availability of language services; practitioner network cultural responsiveness; culturally and linguistically appropriate services programs; and reducing health care disparities.
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is proud to celebrate a powerful milestone for its Eureka! program participants, who recently returned from an inspiring week-long trip to Washington D.C. filled with learning, exploration, and advocacy.
The trip offered girls the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital, visit world-class museums, tour college campuses, and meet directly with local representatives to discuss the issues that matter most to them.
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures is building the next generation of cultural leadership with two key appointments in its Development team: Heather Silva has been named Managing Director of Developmentand Elise Erb has been promoted to Senior Director of Development.
Harvey Cusworth’s “Visions of Conejo Valley and the Malibu Coast”
Opens at the Santa Paula Art Museum
Saturday, September 13, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members
VENTURA — September is Pedestrian Safety Month in California, and the City of Ventura reminds drivers and walkers alike to take extra care when sharing streets. Whether you’re heading to school, work, or enjoying Ventura’s neighborhoods, walking should always be a safe and easy option.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, 7,148 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions across the United States in 2024. In California alone, pedestrian deaths account for over 24% of all traffic-related fatalities.
CAMARILLO — Rebozo Festival, Inc., is pleased to announce that awards of up to $30,000 will be granted to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County community. The application process will open September 4th and will close September 30th, 2025, at 5:00 pm.
VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites the community to travel back to the 1800s during Rancho Days at Olivas Adobe Historical Park on Sunday, September 14, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly celebration brings to life the rich history and heritage of Ventura’s early pioneers and indigenous peoples.
Guests can enjoy an afternoon of live music, dancing, storytelling, games, and hands-on activities that capture the spirit of Rancho San Miguel, the historic property that is now Olivas Adobe Historical Park.
LOS OLIVOS — As the nation celebrated Labor Day, farmworkers in Santa Barbara County remindED the public that the fight for workers’ rights and dignity is far from over. On Saturday, August 30, 2025, just ahead of Labor Day, farmworkers and community supporters marched through Los Olivos to demand living wages and safe working conditions in the region’s world-famous wine industry. On a busy weekend for tasting rooms in Santa Ynez Valley wine country, community members marched to remind the public of the labor behind the expensive bottles of wine they enjoy on their days off.
Just a reminder to our patrons that I personally preview each film to insure a great viewing experience each and every Monday screening.
?Our Film Series screens (usually) two films each month, on the first and third Mondays at 3:30pm and 6:30pm at Plaza Cinemas in downtown Oxnard.
We will continue our mission of providing the best of world cinema to the Oxnard and Ventura County community and supporting local filmmakers.
Thanks, George J. Sandoval, Executive Director
Check out the video below to preview the sounds coming to the Ventura Music Festival this October, then act quickly – Mozart & The Mind on October 12th is already SOLD OUT and other concerts are selling fast! Get your tickets today!
We trust you have enjoyed the Surf Bayan Summer brought to us by the Santa Barbara Magazine’s collaboration with DJ Javier with this collectible artist special issue. We’re grateful to the Santa Barbara Magazine team and congratulate them on their 50th anniversary summer issue.
If you haven’t read DJ Javier’s story it’s not too late! Click the button below for the digital version of the magazine and keep those freewheeling beachy summer art vibes on deck just a little bit longer.
We’ve just started installation for DJ Javier: San Milano Drive and look forward to welcoming you back to the museum this fall!
Food Truck lineup:
Otra Vis Barbecue
Coolichi Sushi y Mariscos
Takumi
Cheesecake Plugg Caffe
Juarez Tacos
J&K Catering
Happy Place
Coyote Elote
Little Tony’s Wood Fired Pizza
Pupusería La Llama
La Chaparrita
Tacos Santa Cruz
La Picosita
Jimbo’s Funnel Cakes
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meetings are available in Spanish. Watch live on our Spanish YouTube Channel, or Cable TV subscribers can access Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) in language settings.
LOMPOC — Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, marine life enthusiast, or just looking for something fun to do on your next visit, Lompoc’s museums have you covered. From immersive historical landmarks to hands-on learning experiences, Lompoc offers a rich lineup of museums and cultural spots worth exploring. Here’s your guide to the best museums in town—each one full of personality, local flavor, and unexpected artifacts and exhibits.
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Community members who are not already subscribed may sign up to receive our newsletter in English here and in Spanish here.
Harvey Cusworth’s “Visions of Conejo Valley and the Malibu Coast”
?
Saturday, September 13, from 4 PM to 6 PM
$5 SPAM Members • $10 Non-members
Experience the beauty of Ventura County through the eyes of award-winning Thousand Oaks artist Harvey Cusworth. Inspired by California’s distinctive natural light, Cusworth’s expressive oil paintings explore the dynamic between light, color, and form.
The Agriculture Museum thanks everyone who joined us for the 10th Annual Labor Day Tractor Fair. Together, we celebrated Santa Paula’s rich agricultural heritage with a day filled with family-friendly activities, lively music, fascinating presentations, and a true spirit of community.
This year’s fair honored farming’s past, present, and future, showcasing the innovation and dedication that continue to shape Ventura County’s agricultural legacy. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring our community together, promote sustainable farming practices, and inspire the next generation to explore rewarding careers in agriculture.
A special thank you to our community partners, vendors, volunteers and staff. We couldn’t have done it without you!
From organizing restoration projects to hosting educational podcasts, CEC Climate Stewards are sparking a wave of climate action across California’s Central Coast. If you’re ready to make a real difference in your community, the Climate Stewards certification program is your chance to start.
Register today and get ready to gain the knowledge, tools, confidence, and network to drive impactful change where it matters most.
CAMARILLO — El Concilio Family Services is thrilled to announce a transformational surprise gift of $75,000 from Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU). The generous donation was unveiled during VCCU’s ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Camarillo branch, creating a powerful moment of celebration and partnership.
“We are deeply grateful to Ventura County Credit Union for their extraordinary generosity and their belief in our mission,” said Yvonne R. Gutierrez, Executive Director of El Concilio Family Services. “With so many outstanding organizations doing important and inspiring work, it means so much that VCCU chose to invest in us. This gift will allow us to stretch our resources further, expand our services, and bring even more support and hope to the communities we serve.”
SANTA BARBARA — On Labor Day, Monday, September 1, at 11:00 a.m., community members will gather at De La Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara as part of a nationwide day of protest to honor working people and stand strong against billionaire exploitation and corporate domination.
Across the country, workers, students, parents, and neighbors are rising up to demand dignity, justice, and investment in people — not billionaire empires.
The Santa Barbara event will include protest songs, chants, stories from the community, and opportunities for students and others to share how economic injustice impacts their families and communities. Participants are encouraged to bring signs, water, and their voices. Limited seating and sign-making supplies will be available.
LOS OLIVOS — This Labor Day weekend, community members, in solidarity with farmworkers, will flood the streets of Los Olivos in a unified and powerful march to demand justice, dignity, and most of all, a living wage for farmworkers. Farmworkers are the backbone of Santa Barbara County’s wine industry, fueling Santa Barbara County’s economy once again not only through agricultural production but through lucrative wine tasting and tourism. Yet, they continue to face low wages, unsafe working conditions, and the constant threat of detention and deportation. Earlier this year, Santa Barbara County Supervisors voted to raise their own salaries, boldly maintaining that hard work deserves higher pay. We agree. The time is now. A living wage for farmworkers today.
OXNARD — The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to announce the opening of Anonymous Heroes / Héroes Anónimos, a special exhibition presented in partnership with the Santa Paula Art Museum and the Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard and curated by Rafael Perea de la Cabada. The exhibition will be on view at the Mexican Consulate, at 3151 W. 5th Street in Oxnard, from September 12 thru January 16, 2026.
Anonymous Heroes / Héroes Anónimos highlights 29 selections from the Santa Paula Art Museum’s permanent collection, paying tribute to the resilience, creativity, and essential contributions of our farmworkers. These “everyday heroes,” often unrecognized in history books, have shaped the cultural and economic fabric of Ventura County and beyond.
We know it’s hard right now. The federal government is harming our communities in so many ways. Housing costs are out of control, immigrant families are still under attack, and it can feel like no one in power is listening.
But this is exactly why we organize.
Organized immigrant tenants and workers are more important than ever. Unethical landlords and bosses can exploit the fear caused by ICE raids to pad their profits, hoping no one will speak out. But when we unite, we build trust, leadership, and courage – we win transformational change.
Especially in times like these, we have to celebrate our wins. This year across the Central Coast, tenants organizing with CAUSE have won historic victories!
VENTURA — The Ventura Police Department Traffic Unit will conduct a DUI checkpoint at an undisclosed location within the city limits on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
DUI checkpoint locations are chosen based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring residents from driving impaired.
During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
THOUSAND OAKS — California Lutheran University’s Fifty and Better (FAB) program is pleased to announce its fall course session, early fall lectures and early fall chair yoga, Qigong and Tai Chi for fall prevention classes.
Amid tensions in the United States and questions about our democracy, FAB has worked to provide educational opportunities that delve into topics related to authoritarianism and our democracy, as well as offer lighter educational fair to provide a chance to escape the daily news cycle.
The fall course series, beginning September 2nd, offers four-week courses on a wide range of topics.
We’re delighted to share “Torch Cafe”, an art award and edition produced by Ry Rocklen for the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. This ceramic object uses a photograph from the Metropolitan Museum of Art of an ancient “torch holder” that has been glazed to one side. Its back has become a carrier of a form from our modern times, a stack of disposable coffee cups. “Torch Cafe” is a synthesis of ancient and contemporary objects that plays with the tropes of trophies and awards. It’s is a vehicle for remembering, recognition, and celebration.
VENTURA COUNTY — The Museum of Ventura County is thrilled to present a series of engaging, educational, and family friendly events throughout September across our Ventura and Agriculture Museum (Santa Paula) locations. From a nostalgic agricultural celebration to deep dives into local history, our lineup fosters community connection and celebrates our region’s cultural heritage.
THOUSAND OAKS — The Oaks is bringing families and community members together this September with a lineup of exciting events. From culinary celebrations and family-friendly entertainment to school support initiatives, The Oaks continues its commitment to creating experiences that enrich the broader Conejo Valley community.
Proposition 1 aims to expand access to behavioral health care (mental health and substance use) and housing support, especially for individuals facing complex challenges such as housing instability and serious behavioral health conditions. As the State of California updates how behavioral health funding is prioritized, community voices will play a vital role in shaping local programs and services.
CENTRAL COAST — People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) has been awarded $34,049,563 from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) through its Disaster Recovery Multifamily Housing Accelerator Program (DR-ACCEL). These funds will be used to bring more housing to the city of Atascadero with PSHH’s Del Rio Ridge project.
DR-ACCEL bridges the gap in financing for projects ready to begin construction, but that are halted during periods of disaster. In this case, the impacts of the severe winter storms in December 2022 through April 2023 resulted in unmet recovery needs from the floods, in areas already suffering from a critical shortage of affordable housing. Del Rio Ridge was one of the developments to have paused during this time.
We recently learned of the passing of Jeanette Duncan, who, for nearly four decades, was the very heartbeat of our organization.
Joining not too long after our founding in 1970 by a few volunteer community members and on the heels of the Fair Housing Act, Jeanette began her time as our first Executive Director with People’s Self-Help Housing, supporting individuals and families to build their own houses and achieve their dream of home ownership. Coming alongside those spirited volunteers as their shovels broke ground on those first houses, she subsequently recruited a core of professionals whose dedication would see the work of People’s expanding to serve thousands spread across the tri-counties of the Central Coast.
On Tuesday, August 26th, 2025, Supervisor Vianey Lopez will ask the Board of Supervisors to establish various programs to assist immigration-related proceedings at a cost of $6.3 million of taxpayer funds. The Supervisor is asking taxpayers to pay for an Immigration Legal Defense Fund for a team of lawyers in the Public Defender’s Immigrant Defense Unit and provide financial support for a “Migrant Education Program”.
The Ventura County Taxpayers Association opposes the proposed measures as misguided, fiscally irresponsible, and potentially exposing the County to significant legal and financial risks.
Dear Ventura County Community Foundation Family,
There’s a beautiful word from Southern Africa—Ubuntu—that captures the heart of what we are doing together through the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund. Ubuntu means “I am because we are.” It reminds us that our lives are deeply connected, our humanity bound together. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said:
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.”
Over the past three weeks, that spirit of Ubuntu has come alive in Ventura County. More than 100 households have already contributed over $136,000 (including $20,000 in pledges). Each gift is a powerful reminder that when one family struggles, the whole community feels it—and when one family is lifted up, we all rise.
President Trump and Republicans in Congress are advancing an onslaught of anti-woman, anti-reproductive freedom policies that dismantle women’s health care and strip away women’s rights. These policies that defund Planned Parenthood are effectively nothing less than a backdoor abortion ban and are part of a long-term agenda to shut down health centers, cut off access to birth control and cancer screenings, and ban abortion nationwide. If successful, these efforts will only worsen the abortion access crisis created by the Dobbs decision and state bans, making it harder for women everywhere to get the care they need, when they need it.
THOUSAND OAKS — The 2025-2026 school year begins at California Lutheran University on Aug. 25 with over 1,000 incoming undergraduate and graduate students.
To better serve students and their families by connecting some of the most critical campus offices that support student enrollment and graduation needs, the university has established a new Student Central.This convenient location brings together Academic and Registrar Services, Student Accounts and Financial Aid, all under one roof where students can register for classes and check financial aid and account balances.
From blissful beach days to boba breaks, here’s everything you’ll want on your late summer list at Ventura Harbor Village. See what’s waiting by the water before the season slips away…
“Our Family Medicine Residency stands out nationally because we train residents in the full scope of family medicine, including primary care, women’s health, emergency medicine, hospital care, surgery, trauma, and community outreach,” said Dr. Jacob David, Program Director. “We’ve launched innovative programs like palliative care and addiction medicine to fill critical gaps in local services, attracting mission-driven physicians committed to serving underserved communities.”
Join us for the Agriculture Museum’s 10th Annual Labor Day Tractor Fair on September 1st, immediately following the Santa Paula Parade. This beloved community event celebrates Santa Paula’s rich agricultural heritage with family-friendly activities, live music by the Van Allen Twins, captivating presentations and tours, and a deep appreciation for our local farming culture.
The fair offers a fresh perspective on bridging farming’s past, present, and future through engaging exhibits and interactive activities. It aims to unite our community, promote sustainable farming practices, and inspire the next generation to explore rewarding careers in agriculture.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, October 11, 2025; 11am – 2pm
Thanking 2024 Fellows! | Welcoming 2025 Fellows!
Studio Channel Islands – Camarillo
Details to follow.
Tickets are already selling fast, and many concerts are expected to sell out! Don’t miss the last concerts of Ventura Music Festival’s 30 for 30 – a celebration of the music and community we’ve shared with Ventura since our debut festival in 1995! Take a look at the October lineup below and order your tickets today.
