New research reveals the strong family ties of Latina teens, themes evident in Oscar-nominated films “Encanto” and “West Side Story.”
UCSB — The Current — ‘Art Reflects Life’ and more information
Category: Youth
VCCCD Names Mara Rodriguez 2022 Classified Employee of the Year
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.
CSUCI program that paves the way to college for farmworking families gets a boost
For children who are the first in their family to attend college, pursuing higher education is often a family decision. This can be especially true for farmworking families who may believe they don’t have the background or finances to support their student.
A CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) program designed to show farmworking families a pathway to college has just received a $50,000 boost from Reiter Affiliated Companies’ philanthropic arm.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura Farmworker Resource Program Launches Trilingual “Raíz Informativa” Video Podcast in Mixteco, Zapoteco, and Spanish
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.
VCCCD Updates Mask Requirement Protocols
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.”
The Foundation of VCCU gives $50,000 in grants to local nonprofits
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.”
March News from People’s Self-Help Housing
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!
Registration opens for 12th Annual SBCC Scheinfeld New Venture Challenge – Pitch your business idea and win awards
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.
UCSB — The Current — ‘Outstanding Women in Tech’ and more news
In connection with Women’s History Month, IT staff member Anne Weger gets special recognition from the UC Office of the President.
In March, the Museum of Ventura County has something for everyone
Family Fun Day:
Persian New Year Celebration
Saturday, March 19th from 12-2pm
@ the Museum of Ventura County
Free
Bring in the beginning of spring and the Persian New Year with family and friends at the Museum of Ventura County. This event is celebrated on the spring equinox by millions of people across the globe as a season of rebirth and good luck. This cultural event will be a fun afternoon for families and adults alike! Click here to learn more about this free event.
UCSB — The Current — ‘The Longest Drought’ and more news
A team of climate scientists led by Samantha Stevenson reconsiders the meaning and implications of drought in light of a changing world.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County: Mentors of the Year Announced
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC)?is honored to announce the agency’s Bigs of the Year for 2022, a recognition awarded to the volunteer mentors who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to their “Littles” (youth mentees) and who have gone above and beyond in their efforts for the agency as well as the greater community. This year’s awardees are Kevin Gamboa and Karyn Hagy; Karyn is also the Big of the Year for California Statewide, a recognition that nominates her as Big of the Year for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
“Our agency is proud of every Big and Little, and their unique mentoring journeys,” says Danica Selvaggio, Interim CEO of BBSVC. “This year, we’re grateful for the opportunity to recognize Karyn and Kevin for the many ways they dedicate themselves to youth mentorship and to BBSVC as an agency. We also want to recognize the dedication of their Littles, Marcie and Dorian – it’s a special thing to see when a match grows into a bond that will last forever.”
Bilingual report — County of Ventura March 14, 2022 Update – COVID-19
Happy Women’s History Month! “The teamwork that I contribute to the Fire Department family is meaningful and impactful to me as I am able to serve the people of Ventura County, including the community I grew up in. Women’s History Month is a good reminder that so many hard-working, and dedicated women have paved a path before me that I am honored to walk. I love investing my time into the county and community that has invested in me.” – Marisol Rodriguez, Captain of Engine 84, Ventura County Fire Department.
Conejo Community Outreach’s diaper bank surpasses 500,000 diapers distributed
Conejo Community Outreach (CCO), a local 100% volunteer-run nonprofit, has surpassed half a million diapers distributed to families in Ventura County through its community diaper bank. The diaper bank, which launched in March 2018, averaged 25,000 diapers per year prior to COVID-19. In March 2020, as the local economy shut down, requests for diaper support increased by more than 88%. Now, the diaper bank is averaging 225,000 diapers per year, regularly distributing more than 25,000 diapers per month to more than 300 local children.
FIRST Robotics Makes Big Splash on the Docks at Port of Hueneme
Dubbed a varsity “Sport for the Mind,” the adrenaline-pumping Hueneme Port Regional and Ventura County Regional FIRST Robotics Competition was held at the Port of Hueneme. Over 100 high school students from Ventura County, Hawaii, Wyoming, Colorado, Mexico, Brazil, Lesotho, Colombia and Singapore showcased their hard work by designing and building original robots. The competition took place over two consecutive weekends from March 3-6 and March 9-12.
“The Port of Hueneme is proud to support our educational partners and bring together teams of talented students from our local high schools and around the world, to solve engineering design problems in an intense and competitive way,” said Mary Anne Rooney, President of the Oxnard Harbor District. “I look forward to this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition leading to many more years of a continued education partnership with the Port of Hueneme.”
2022 California Strawberry Festival Cancelled
The 2022 California Strawberry Festival, which had been set for May 14 and 15 at Strawberry Meadows of College Park in Oxnard, is officially cancelled due to the uncertainty caused by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are disappointed that we’ve had to again cancel the Festival,” says Dean Kato, Chairman of the California Strawberry Festival Board of Directors. “Tens of thousands of festivalgoers look forward to attending the celebration each year. Sponsors, exhibitors, performers, vendors, and hundreds of volunteers are instrumental to its success.
Santa Paula Art Museum — This Weekend: Two New Exhibits & Two New Classes
Saturday, March 12, 2022, from 4 PM to 6 PM
Free admission
Join Ventura artists (and couple) Lynn Hanson and John Robertson for the premiere of their concurrent exhibitions, Fieldnotes: Lynn Hanson and A Narrative: John Robertson. The side-by-side exhibits span thirty years of each artist’s work, including drawings, paintings, assemblages, and more. Admission to the event is free, and reservations are not required. Fieldnotes and A Narrative will be on view March 12 to July 10, 2022.
Southeast Ventura County YMCA National Day of Prayer Breakfast Seeks Sponsors
The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is seeking sponsors for its annual National Day of Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast is Thursday, May 5 at CLU’s Gilbert Sports Center in Thousand Oaks.
The prayer breakfast, one of the largest in Ventura County, will be from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and will include speakers, spiritual and community leaders providing invocations and prayers and live musical performances.
SBCC computer science team takes first place at Southern California programming competition
At the Southern California International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) held Feb. 25-26, Santa Barbara City College won the top honor for two-year colleges for the second year in a row.
The ICPC is a programming challenge for college students to solve real-world problems, fostering collaboration, creativity, innovation and the ability to perform under pressure.
Held in Riverside, California, 48 teams from 15 Southern California institutions competed to solve a set of 10 programming problems in five hours. The problem set was particularly difficult this year, with no team solving all of the problems.
Mental Wellness Center Partners with SeaVees to Support Mental Health Education for Local Youth
Mental Wellness Center (MWC) is partnering with SeaVees, the Santa Barbara-based shoe company, to support mental health education for local youth throughout Santa Barbara with a shoe that gives back to the community. Designed in collaboration with Carissa Potter Carlson of People I’ve Loved, this new collaboration is meant to bring awareness to the importance of mental health, with 10% of every pair sold being donated to MWC.
“The Mental Health Awareness Baja Slip On” is a limited-edition slip on sneaker that includes Carissa’s affirmation artwork on the outside upper and a secret message screen-printed in the inside footbed. The outsole uses a pop of colorful green, the color of the international symbol for mental health awareness.
Cal Lutheran exhibits popular rock posters
California Lutheran University is hosting an exhibit of eye-catching rock posters created by Zoltron, who started as a street artist and developed a worldwide fan base that includes rock stars and museum curators.
“Zoltron: The Art of Rock ‘n’ Roll” opened Feb. 14 in the William Rolland Art Center on the university’s Thousand Oaks campus and will continue through April 1.
Livingston Memorial to present Grief Support for Children and Young Teens
Many children and teens have experienced the death of a loved one during the pandemic. This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program recognizes the value children and teens receive from sharing their grief experience with their peers. Our groups provide support, connection and validation that they are not alone.
CSUCI’s 2022 commencement will be four ceremonies over two days
CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) graduates, friends and families will celebrate 2022 Commencement in-person.
Commencement will consist of four in-person ceremonies spread out over the weekend of May 21 and 22 to allow for social distancing. There will be a morning and an afternoon ceremony on both Saturday and Sunday, with different academic programs scheduled for specific times and dates.
President Richard Yao, Ph.D. said he is thrilled that his first commencement ceremony as the permanent president of CSUCI will be fully in-person.
“These students have worked hard for this moment, and we are delighted to be able to offer them, their friends, and families a full in-person experience,” Yao said. “The past three years have been filled with challenges that these students met with resilience and determination, and we could not be prouder of them. This also gives our faculty, who have been equally resourceful, a chance to celebrate this day along with the graduates. I am honored to be the president of such a dynamic campus community.”
SEEAG Reaches Over 15,000 Students And Community Members In 2021
SANTA PAULA — Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students and the community understand the farm origins of their food and the importance of local agriculture, spread its message to more than 15,000 students and community members in 2021.
“One of SEEAG’s goals is for the public to better appreciate our local farmers, ranchers and farmworkers who grow the food we eat,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “The food supply chain from farms to our tables is a journey we don’t often think about, but we should.”
SEEAG’s Farm Lab at Petty Ranch in Saticoy welcomed over 1,600 second graders, including low-income, Title 1 students, for a hands-on farm experience. “In addition to the wonderful experiential education benefits that Farm Lab gives students,” says Maranville, “it also gets kids outside off their devices and tech, which improves their mental health and wellbeing.”
Bilingual report — The War on Education
As I sit down to write this article, the Russian army is waging war on its neighbor, Ukraine. This is of enormous concern in Europe and around the world. But there is a different kind of war in our own midst that threatens to undermine the very foundations of our country’s success as a nation.
Until recently, education of our children and young adults was something that we valued – something in which we took pride and strove to provide for them. We thought it was important that our children were learning math and history and music. We used to admire young people who chose to go to our colleges and universities. Now we also recognize that higher education is not the only path to financial and personal success.
Kaiser Permanente launches Ukrainian relief giving campaign
Kaiser Permanente has launched an employee and physician giving campaign to help with the urgent Ukrainian refugee crisis for physicians and employees who wish to personally support organizations helping with the relief effort, providing refugees with food, shelter, warm clothing, medical care, and supplies. Employees and physicians can choose to support these efforts by donating to any of 3 organizations selected by Kaiser Permanente, and the nonprofit integrated health care organization will match individual donations dollar for dollar, up to a total of $200,000.
The program was announced March 1, and in less than 2 days employees and physicians donated more than $200,000 in relief funds, ensuring the organization will contribute at least $400,000 for Ukraine relief.
Museum of Ventura County — ‘Arte Para la Gente: The Collected Works of Margaret Garcia’ and more upcoming events
Arte Para la Gente:
The Collected Works of Margaret Garcia
Now – Spring 2022
at the Museum of Ventura County
Arte Para la Gente explores artist Margaret Garcia’s vast body of work that captures and encapsulates culture, family, and urban life. Over the past four decades, Margaret Garcia has been a leader in the L.A. Chicano Art Movement, championing women, community, and those individuals who are marginalized by society. Her most recent works, many shown here for the first time, were painted in Ventura County.
?Learn more here.
Sponsored by
Lazer Media
KXLM 102.9 • KLJR 96.7 • KOXR 102.1
and The Port of Hueneme
Social Justice Fund for Ventura County February 2022 Update
We are currently living in a time that will surely be written about in history books. There continues to be a lot of uncertainty about the future, what it will look like and who will shape it. Nevertheless, we must persist. With your support and donations, we will persist.
To bring some positive and hopeful news to you today, we are sharing the inspiring work of our 2021-2022 Fellows. Your donations have helped to make this work possible. Our Fellows are all demonstrating extraordinary leadership and ingenuity in carrying out their projects. We hope you find inspiration in their work and the impact they are having in the community.
Museum of Ventura County — How Does Your Museum Engage You?
We at MVC care deeply about creating bold and relevant programs to share our county’s diverse artistry and history in-person and online. Preserving, expanding, and making accessible our Research Library and Collections. We find what we share with you, our community, and our visitors very meaningful.
But we need your help. Our visitors come to us with different needs and values, and we want to understand them so we can best serve you. From how museums (like ours!) can support your wellbeing in these tumultuous times to how we address challenges our society is facing, we need to hear your thoughts.
To learn more about how we can do this, we are participating in a national survey of museum-goers, sponsored by the American Alliance of Museums. This survey will provide us with data from our visitors as well as nationwide results for context, helping us be more effective in the coming months and in the communities we serve.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Awarded $50,000 Grant to Support Healthy Living Curriculum
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria on March 3 announced it received a $50,000 grant from Cottage Hospital Foundation to provide buffering services to local girls and support growth in the organization’s ‘STRONG’ program, which combines physical activity, nutrition, and a healthy living curriculum to engage the mind, body and soul.
The awarded funds will enable Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to focus on three critical areas to support overall health for the girls it serves, including:
UCSB — The Current — ‘Determined to Rebound’ and more news
Director Delila Moseley brings a diverse slate of choreographers to UCSB Dance Theater’s first live shows in two years.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura March 2, 2022 update
COVID-19 Update
Since Monday, there have been 108 new COVID-19 cases reported and 9,152 new tests completed. There are 44 people hospitalized and 9 in the ICU.
There have been 9 new deaths of community members between the ages of 36-94. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the 1,434 community members who have passed away throughout the pandemic. The R-effective for Ventura County is 0.65, meaning that the spread of COVID is likely decreasing.
Updated state masking guidance: In California, starting March 1, masks are no longer required for unvaccinated individuals, but strongly recommended for all individuals in most indoor settings. After March 11, in schools and child care facilities, masks will not be required but will be strongly recommended. Masks will still be required for everyone in high transmission settings like public transit, emergency shelters, health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters and long-term care facilities. For more information visit: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/02/28/governors-newsom-brown-and-inslee-announce-updated-health-guidance/
Santa Paula Art Museum — This Month: Fieldnotes, Gorgeous Gourds & More
Premiere Party: Fieldnotes: Lynn Hanson & A Narrative: John Robertson
Saturday, March 12, 2022, from 4 PM to 6 PM
Free admission
Join Ventura artists (and couple) Lynn Hanson and John Robertson for the March 12 premiere of their concurrent exhibitions, Fieldnotes: Lynn Hanson and A Narrative: John Robertson. The side-by-side exhibits span thirty years of each artist’s work, including drawings, paintings, assemblages, and more. Admission to the event is free, and reservations are not required. Fieldnotes and A Narrative will be on view March 12 to July 10, 2022.
California Lutheran University’s Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary starts programs for change agents
California Lutheran University’s Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) is offering new programs to prepare religious leaders and laypeople to work for social and environmental change with online options.
PLTS will launch a master’s degree program in spirituality and social change in September to address the need for educational programs for Lutheran deacons while also serving those interested in ministering in other roles and Christian faiths.
UCSB ‘The Current’ — ‘Theater for Social Change’
El Teatro de la Esperanza, founded and active at UCSB in the 1970’s, promoted justice through storytelling; a 50th anniversary conference will celebrate its legacy.
Masks Mandate for Ventura County Students Ends after March 11
Students at public and private K-12 schools in Ventura County and throughout California will no longer be required to wear masks after March 11, regardless of their vaccination status. Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration made the announcement today, saying COVID-19 conditions have sufficiently improved to warrant the change.
The state’s decision to lift the mask mandate for students is in line with guidelines issued Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC says schools should only mandate masks when COVID cases and hospitalizations are high in the counties where they are located. Ventura County’s rates are in the medium category according to the CDC’s website.
YMCA Spring Break Camps For Simi and Conejo Valley Students
The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is hosting camps during spring break for students in the Simi and Conejo valleys. The Simi Valley Family YMCA camp is March 28 through April 1 and the Yarrow Family YMCA camp (serving Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village and Agoura Hills students), is April 18 through April 22. Camp is scheduled to coincide with local school district spring breaks.
Simi Valley camps will be at Atherwood Elementary School (2350 E. Greensward St., Simi Valley) and White Oak Elementary School (2201 Alscot Ave., Simi Valley). Spring break camp in the Conejo Valley will be at Willow Elementary School (29026 Laro Dr., Agoura Hills).
United Way of Ventura County — Uniting Together
Thanks to your continued generosity, your United Way has been able to navigate through these incredibly challenging times and, together, we’ve been able to continue serving those in need.
Because of your generosity, our homelessness initiative has exceeded expectations since its launch two years ago—permanently housing more than 150 individuals including families, seniors, and veterans. Earlier this month we held our second homelessness symposium, facilitating the important and necessary conversations needed to create housing solutions for our county’s unhoused community members.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura Feb. 23, 2022 update
Since Friday Feb. 18th, there have been 741 new COVID-19 cases reported and 18,487 new tests completed. There are 65 people hospitalized and 15 in the ICU.
There have been 10 new deaths – ages ranging from 64-89. We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of the community members who have passed away throughout the pandemic. Wellness Everyday offers grief and loss support and resources.
The R-effective for Ventura County is 0.55, meaning that the spread of COVID is likely decreasing.
Community Environmental Council Announces Earth Day 2022 at the Arlington Theatre on Saturday, April 23
For the first time since 2019, Community Environmental Council (CEC) is hosting Santa Barbara Earth Day in person. The one-day event, in and around the Arlington Theatre, features a wide array of activities to generate the inspiration and motivation needed for building community support to tackle climate challenges.
Small Business Development Centers open at SBCC’s Schott and Wake Campuses
In partnership with the regional Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce the opening of two satellite Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) where – at no cost – professional consultants work one-on-one with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them start-up, grow and navigate today’s complex business environment. The Centers are located at the Schott Campus (310 W. Padre St.) and at the Wake Campus (300 N. Turnpike Rd.).
February News from People’s Self-Help Housing
From the broken ‘forty acres and a mule’ promise to the tragedies of the subprime crisis, Black Americans have found themselves both the unintended and fully intended victims of over one hundred years of racially motivated ordinances, practices and policies.
As a nation we have much to mourn as we have systematically prevented, and inhibited communities of color from fully participating in the American Dream. During this Black History Month, I invite you to re-exam for yourself how discriminatory lending, nefarious use of eminent domain, and the displacement of communities of color, have prevented the wealth building opportunities routinely afforded the white middle and upper classes.
UCSB — The Current — The Forever Scholar
Local Thousand Oaks non profit celebrates International Women’s Day 3/8 in Uganda with women the serve
Honoring the achievements of women worldwide on International Women’s Day is a special cause for celebration to The Greater Contribution, a Thousand Oaks non-profit founded in 2006 by women who wanted to make a greater contribution to the world by helping those most in need.
For the past 16 years, the organization’s grassroots fundraising has empowered thousands of women in remote villages of Uganda, Africa, with micro loans so that they can start their own businesses and lift their families out of poverty. Coming from a place of dignity and respect, the two-year program includes literacy and business skills training, along with mentoring and peer counseling to create a life-changing impact.
Port of Hueneme and City of Port Hueneme Put Community Benefit Partnership in Full Gear Supporting Local Reel Guppy Outdoors Youth Program
The partnership between the Port of Hueneme and the City of Port Hueneme goes into full gear supporting the local non-profit Reel Guppy Outdoors youth program. Reel Guppy Outdoors runs its youth programs off Port Hueneme Pier and is now able to expand to Channel Islands Fisherman’s Wharf as the result of funding from the Port-City Community Benefit Fund (CBF) and other local sponsors. Activities of the local non-profit include, fishing, whale watching and outdoor field trips providing an alternative for youth to get out on the water. Engaging in outdoor fishing can provide an individual with positive benefits such as breathing fresh air, engaging in active problem solving, socialization, and even achieving a sense of excitement when a fish tugs on the fishing line, making this an ideal fit for funding out of the CBF.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura — Feb. 18, 2022 COVID-19 Update
Spotlight on the Ventura County Medical Center
Today we are celebrating Felicity who is 4 years off treatment! We are so grateful to Dr. Francisco Bracho, Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist and his team at the Ventura County Medical Center who treat young people like Felicity. We have such exceptional doctors and medical professionals touching the lives of children and families in our community every day. The Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at VCMC is the only cancer treatment facility for children and adolescents in VC. Before this center opened, children in Ventura County had to travel to LA to receive specialized care.
Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. Congratulates 7 Students Awarded with Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund Scholarships
The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (Cabrillo EDC) recognized 7 graduating high school seniors and college students for their academic achievements and pursuits with Rodney Fernandez Leadership Fund (RFLF) Scholarships.
2021 proved to be a challenging year for continuing college students and graduating high school seniors transitioning to college. A recent survey conducted by EdWeek Research Center showed “students from low-income families were more likely than those from higher-income households to suffer disruptions in their college plans or to have had family members infected with COVID-19″.
Bilingual commentary — A Letter to My 5-Year-Old Self
David, this is your older self writing a letter to you from nearly 70 years in the future. I have a perspective that people acquire only after having lived through several decades, watching their own children and grandchildren navigate the rivers that are their lives.
At your five years of age, you are living in relatively prosperous times. The world is ten years down the road from the end of World War II, and people are still rejoicing as they build back their lives in a booming economy. The adults around you are creating their families, and that Baby Boom bulge will travel down time like a rodent travels down the gullet of a python. Take full advantage of the opportunities that are going to be laid at your feet. As you become older, you will see that the young people won’t have what your generation takes for granted.
Calling all citizen scientists to the CSUCI BioBlitz!
Download iNaturalist on your smartphone, grab your sneakers and come on down to CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) on Saturday, Feb. 19 to join in the annual BioBlitz.
CSUCI students of all majors and members of the community are invited to wander around campus anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. this Saturday and take photos of any plants, flowers, fungi, insects, birds, or trees that catch your eye. The iNaturalist app will identify what you’ve just seen and upload it to their global citizen science database of plants, flowers, fungi, trees, insects and animals found on and around the CSUCI campus – and the world.
No scientific background is required, just a smartphone, the app and a healthy sense of curiosity about the world around you.
Wildling Museum announces second annual Earth Day poetry competition open to county adults and youth, Climate Change: Our Impact, in collaboration with CEC
The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is pleased to announce its second annual Earth Day poetry competition with this year’s theme, Climate Change: Our Impact. Santa Barbara County writers of all ages are invited to use poetry to interpret the effects of climate change and our role in a variety of ways, with separate judging categories for youth (ages 17 and younger) and adult writing submissions. The competition is intended to honor Earth Day while highlighting the importance of standing up to protect the planet’s dwindling natural resources and working against the threats of climate change. The deadline to submit work for consideration is Monday, March 21, 2022 at 5 p.m.
Oak Park High School Wins 2022 Ventura County Mock Trial
The Ventura County Office of Education is pleased to announce that Oak Park High School’s Team A is the winner of the 2022 Ventura County Mock Trial competition. Westlake High School’s Team A came in second, and Newbury Park High School’s Team A took third place. The winning teams were announced during a live virtual awards ceremony this evening following the final rounds of competition. For the second consecutive year, Mock Trial was held virtually due to the pandemic. Tonight’s final rounds were streamed live so friends, family and the public could watch the participants argue their cases.
A total of 30 teams from 22 high schools throughout Ventura County participated in this year’s competition, which began on February 8. Here is how the top eight teams placed:
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network — Winter Newsletter
Winter is fleeting, as it often is in California and throughout our coastal county. Santa Barbara County’s unique micro-climates allow for so much to be produced here this time of year while other parts of the country struggle to get the bare necessities to take root: winter crops such as celery root, beets, hard squash, bok choy, collards, cilantro, and citrus abound. As lobster season comes to a close, fishermen are reeling in halibut, seabass, and dozens of varieties of cod and rockfish. Soon ranchers will bring lamb to the market, a sign that spring is just around the corner.
As we welcome spring, we look forward to gathering with food system actors like you to listen, learn, and share resources.
Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Beloved Bear Program Offers Comforting Remembrance During a Time of Grief
Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB)’s Beloved Bear Program offers a soft comforting remembrance during a time of grief by making a stuffed bear or pillow out of a passed loved one’s favorite article of clothing. Each item is handcrafted by HSB volunteers and provides families with a tangible keepsake infused with memories, texture, and even the familiar comforting scent of their loved one.
The Beloved Bear Program launched in 2010 and helps to offer a sense of security during grieving. It can also act as a transitional object in the healing process; many families do not know what to do with the deceased person’s clothing — they want the smell of the clothes or the memory of the clothes. The bear provides a way for memories to continue and serves as a joyful memory of a loved one because it is something “new” and appropriate for both kids and adults.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 16, 2022
As of today Feb. 16, Ventura County’s indoor mask mandate is lifted. Masks are required indoors for people who are unvaccinated per the state order and are strongly recommended for all. Updated signage is available at https://www.venturacountyrecovers.org/outreach-toolkit/. Details at https://www.vcnewschannel.com/news/511-vc-indoor-mask-order-lifted-feb-16
Ventura County Civic Alliance — Livable Communities Newsletter – Feb. 15, 2022
Ventura County’s Tale of Two Cities:
There is a saying in the medical field that states: Give me your zip code and I will tell you how healthy you are. A zip code may also predict financial health and safety. The challenge is to understand what the data is telling us and what we can do with it to make an impact.
Museum of Ventura County — Freeze! February Events Incoming!
Ivor Davis:
Up Close and Personal with Harry Benson
February 24th from 6-8pm
@ the Museum of Ventura County & Zoom
Harry Benson has been featured in LIFE, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and more. He’s had 40 solo exhibits, including at The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. He’s photographed every US President from Eisenhower to Biden. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; was next to Senator Robert Kennedy when he was assassinated; and photographed the Berlin Wall going up and down.
State to Consider Lifting School Mask Mandate in Two Weeks
Starting this Wednesday, vaccinated Californians will no longer be required to wear masks in public places, but the mask mandate will remain in effect for K-12 schools for at least two more weeks. Today, the state set February 28 as the date to consider lifting the mask requirement at schools. Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, made the announcement today, saying that additional time is needed to evaluate the latest data about the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. César Morales Honored for Outstanding Leadership
Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Marcus Foster Memorial Award for Administrator Excellence by Region 13 of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). The award recognizes Dr. Morales’s work on behalf of Ventura County students and educators during a time of incredible challenges and changes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 update for Feb. 14
Happy Valentine’s Day from the team at the Clerk/Recorder’s Office! A sweet photo from the wedding room today. This all-star team processes marriage licenses and other vital records year round. 3,550+ marriage licenses last year. Big day for them, many appointments scheduled today! We are grateful for this special team!
Santa Paula Art Museum — Happy Valentine’s Day to you, and happy anniversary to us!
February 14 always feels extra special at the Santa Paula Art Museum. Today marks the Museum’s twelfth anniversary! For our staff and board, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate our donors, members, featured artists, and volunteers. They are the heart of this Museum.
Thank you for twelve years of care and support of SPAM’s mission. Here are some highlights of what our supporters have enabled the Museum to achieve in that time: