Category: Youth

For the second consecutive year, a student from the Oxnard Union High School District has been named Ventura County’s youth poet laureate

VENTURA COUNTY — Genesis Perez, who graduated from Channel Islands High School in June and now attends Cal State Northridge, is the county’s 2019/2020 youth poet laureate as named by the Ventura County Arts Council. Genesis will serve for one…

Delta High School Robotics Team recently captured the ‘Judges Award’

SANTA MARIA — The Delta High School Robotics Team recently captured the “Judges Award” during their first Vex EDR tournament. The honor recognized the Delta Dragon’s design, engineering notebook and team interview. The competition involved 32 teams from comprehensive high schools…

SMHS Alpine Club and Las Flores Ranch

SANTA MARIA — Seventeen SMHS students who enjoy the outdoors recently added to its access for others during a community service project at Los Flores Ranch, a recreational space in the Solomon Hills, south of Santa Maria and Orcutt. The Saint…

Museum of Ventura County — Woven Earth Opens Nov. 12th, Announcing Member Appreciation Day and more

Woven Earth Opens Tuesday, November 12th at the Museum of Ventura County! Displaying a wide range of hand-woven baskets from the Museum’s extensive collection, Woven Earth focuses on California’s native communities and the traditions involved in making these baskets. Basket…

Nominations for El Concilio’s Latino Leadership Award are due by Nov. 15

OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services is asking for nominations for the 31th Annual Latino Leadership Awards. Nominations must be received at El Concilio Family Services no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 15, 2019. Click here to submit a nomination. El Concilio…

Easterseals Child Development Center in Ventura Expands Services and Adds New Leadership

VENTURA — Easterseals Southern California’s (ESSC) Child Development Center in Ventura has completed its first phase of renovations. In addition, thanks to additional Early Head Start grant from The Department of Health and Human Services, the nonprofit disability services organization is…

SMHS FFA Milk Quality and Dairy Products Team placed 3rd in the Nation, while the Poultry Evaluation Team placed 8th

SANTA MARIA — Two Santa Maria High School FFA Judging Teams earned gold rankings at the National FFA Career Development Event Finals. The Milk Quality and Dairy Products Team placed 3rd in the Nation, while the Poultry Evaluation Team placed 8th.…

FSA’s Dorothy Jackson Family Resource Center Relocates

Enhanced Facilities Will Support Expanded Services for Lompoc Families LOMPOC — Family Service Agency (FSA) has relocated its Dorothy Jackson Family Resource Center (DJFRC) to 646 North H Street in Lompoc. The new location has larger facilities for its parent and…

United Way of Ventura County — Discover Your Superpowers on GivingTuesday

If you’ve never participated in GivingTuesday, this is your year to discover your superpowers and earn your cape. GivingTuesday is an international movement that harnesses the generosity of millions of people around the world to support the causes they believe…

Michelle Martinez Mercado Joins Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as Program Facilitator in Santa Paula

CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is pleased to welcome Michelle Martinez Mercado as a new program facilitator in Santa Paula. In her new role, Michelle will lead groups of elementary-aged girls in a balanced program of hands-on learning opportunities…

Michael Brockers with LA Rams Visits Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley

AGOURA HILLS — Hard Work Pays Off! – Michael Brockers, number 90 from the LA Rams, recently visited with approximately 50 members from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley’s Thousand Oaks club sites.  Brockers talked to the members…

Grants introduce middle schoolers to environmental science, and enable “Environmental CSI” at CSUCI

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has received two grants that will give undergraduate researchers a sophisticated analysis tool and Isbell Middle School students what could be their first close look at the coastline and Santa Rosa Island.  Professor of Environmental…

Guest commentary: The Acuna Arts Collective Team (AACT) Project in Downtown Oxnard

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The…

CSUCI Science Carnival postponed until 2020

CAMARILLO  — The annual CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Science Carnival scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 has been postponed until 2020 due to the fires and air quality.   “With the safety of our local community, students and volunteers in mind and those…

CSUCI, Ventura County schools, cancel cancels classes due to extreme wind and unpredictable air quality

CAMARILLO — CSUCI will continue to be closed on Thursday, Oct. 31 with classes and activities canceled due to the extreme winds and unpredictable air quality as a result of the Easy Fire occurring in Simi Valley. The campus is monitoring…

Coastline Equipment was at PVHS to speak to our Ag Mechanics classes about the opportunity to attend school and become a John Deere Technician

SANTA MARIA — John Deere “Green” recently offered Pioneer Valley High School Ag Mechanics students a chance to become an equipment repair technician and join the team. More than 120 Panthers heard a presentation from Coastline Equipment Branch Manager Carl Stolworthy…

Guest commentary: The City of Oxnard Rollout the 2019-2020 Art in Public Places request of Proposals (RFP)

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez / Guest contributor The…

Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Receives Major Gift of $285,000 from the Law Firm of Foley Bezek, Behle & Curtis, LLP

SANTA BARBARA — During its Annual Gold Ribbon Campaign in September that expands across the Tri-County Region, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation is able to raise significant funds for its programs that serve families who have a child who has been diagnosed…

Santa Maria FFA named 2019 Chapter of the Year

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria High School FFA program has been selected as the top 2019 Chapter of the Year for the Santa Barbara Section. The members received this honor at the annual Chapter Officer Leadership Retreat in Hollister, Ca.…

Righetti High School FFA ‘Kinderpatch’ opens Oct. 25

SANTA MARIA — The Righetti FFA “Kinderpatch” will be open for more than 700 elementary school students from throughout the county on Friday, October 25th. The event offers youngsters a chance to learn about plants, crops, animals and enjoy ag activities…

Santa Paula Art Museum — New Classes Just Added!

Santa Paula Art Museum Jeanette Cole Art Center & Cole Creativity Center We had such a great time hosting a wonderful crowd at our first-ever Wine and Watercolors event on Saturday night. During the two-hour event, adult guests were able…

Oxnard School District recognized by state PBIS Coalition

OXNARD — The Oxnard School District is committed to ensuring the social-emotional well-being of every student that attends our schools. Over past five years, OSD has been committed to implementing a robust Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program so that staff…

Bilingual report: Ventura County Fire Department hosts 2nd Annual Girls’ Fire Camp. Registration now open

Ventura County Fire Department hosts 2nd Annual Girls’ Fire Camp Registration Now Open CAMARILLO — This week, registration opens for theVentura County Fire Department’s second annual, Girls’ Fire Camp, hosted on Saturday, November 23 – Sunday, November 24, 2019, from…

Santa Barbara City College — The Bridge – October 2019

Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter OCTOBER, 2019 Superintendent/President finalists selected The SBCC community is invited to attend public forums on Oct. 24 for the two finalists for the position of Superintendent/President: Utpal K. Goswami, current President of Metropolitan Community College in…

Congratulations to AMAE’s 1st Annual Ventura County Student Speech Competition Winners!!

OXNARD — The Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE), Oxnard Chapter, held it’s 1st Annual Ventura County Student Speech Competition on Oct. 11th at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Students in grades 6-8 from Ventura County School Districts were invited to…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Receives $25,000 KidCents Regional Grant from Rite Aid Foundation …Grant will Help Advance Healthy Lifestyle Program

AGOURA — Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) has been awarded a $25,000 KidCents Regional Grant to support their Healthy Lifestyle program, “Whatever it Takes to Build Healthy Futures.” BGCGCV will increase youth capacity to pursue healthy lifestyle…

Santa Paula Art Museum — Week in Review

Santa Paula Art Museum Jeanette Cole Art Center & Cole Creativity Center Last Sunday’s Halloween-themed Free Family Day was a blast with 170 guests dropping in to make mixed media masks and clay mini monsters! Our new display of colorful…

Bilingual commentary: Is Organic Food Really Healthy? Part II

Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes local guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. David Magallanes By David…

BGCOP Announces Honorees for 30th Annual Donald K. Facciano Kids Auction & Gala and Seeks Sponsorships, Auction Items

VENTURA COUNTY — As the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme celebrates its 65th Anniversary this year, Club leaders are seeking the help of individuals and businesses to donate items for auction and sponsors for the…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Receive Van from Bridgestone Retail Operations

AGOURA — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) was recently awarded a $41,000 grant by Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) for the purchase of a new van to serve its members.  The “Driving Great Futures” grant will…

Get to Know Ventura County’s School Districts

  Fall 2019 Stanley C. Mantooth, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools 20 School Districts – Each as Unique as Ventura County Ventura County is home to twenty different school districts, each one as diverse as the students they serve. The…

CSUCI’s MVS School of Business & Economics receives grant to launch peer mentor program

CAMARILLO — The Martin V. & Martha K. Smith Foundation has awarded CSU Channel Islands’ (CSUCI) Martin V. Smith (MVS) School of Business & Economics a $34,000 grant to launch a pilot peer mentorship program for business students. The new MVS…

CSUCI Student earns prestigious Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Political Science Matthew Mendez, Ph.D., was so impressed with Political Science major Izamar Narvaez’s first research paper, he assumed she had done this sort of assignment before. She had not. Her parents…

CSUCI launches Peace Corps Prep Program

CAMARILLO — For many, joining the Peace Corps conjures up romantic notions of traveling the world and helping to improve the lives of those less fortunate. But being admitted into the highly-regarded institution is actually an extremely rigorous process, with…

Fall 2020 CSUCI applications open thru Nov. 30

CAMARILLO — If you are a high school senior or upper division transfer student who would like to enter CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) beginning in fall of 2020, you have from Oct. 1 until Nov. 30 to submit your application. CSUCI…

Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE), Oxnard Chapter to sponsor inaugural Ventura County Student Speeh Competition

OXNARD — The Association of Mexican American Educators (AMAE), Oxnard Chapter, is proud to sponsor the First Annual Ventura County Student Speech Competition. Students in grades 6-8 from Ventura County School Districts have been invited to participate.  A student participant…

Dr. Cesar Morales Honored with National Educational Award

VENTURA COUNTY — Dr. Cesar Morales, Associate Superintendent of Student Services at the Ventura County Office of Education, is one of just 17 educators nationwide to receive the 2019 Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Educational Administration…

Rebozo Festival 2020 Grant Application Now Open

$20,000 available in grant funding VENTURA COUNTY — Rebozo Festival, Inc., is pleased to announce that awards of up to $20,000 will be granted to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Hold Successful ‘2019 Stand up for Kids Gala Dinner & Auction’

AGOURA — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) held a successful “Stand up for Kids Gala Dinner & Auction”, the major fundraiser of the year held on September 14 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.…

Southeast Ventura County YMCA Raises Over $500,000; Honors David Murdock at 3rd Annual Reach For the Stars Gala

VENTURA COUNTY — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA’s 3rd Annual “Reach For The Stars” Gala raised $500,000 to support YMCA programs while honoring David Murdock as the 2019 Joel and Frances McCrea Award recipient. The event, held September 21 at…

CSUCI Chemistry and Psychology double major receives CSU Trustees’ Award

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Chemistry and Psychology double major Tanay Pattani has been awarded the prestigious CSU Trustee’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. Pattani and his family migrated to the United States from India when he was 13 years old.…

SMHS student Isaac Ochoa one of 34,000 students nationwide who received a letter of commendation for their exceptional academic promise from the National Merit Scholarship Program

SANTA MARIA — Santa Maria High School student Isaac Ochoa is one of 34,000 students nationwide who received a letter of commendation for their exceptional academic promise from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended students placed among the top 50,000…

Museum of Ventura County — Interactive “Kaleidoscope Kandeo” Installation, “California Cool” Now Open and more!

Kaleidoscope Kandeo by Deniz Nicole makes it’s post-Burning Man debut at the Museum of Ventura County on Saturday, September 28. This hands-on, interactive installation is on display for only 10 days—so come to the Museum and play! Deniz Nicole’s artistic sensibility…

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley Join with Farmers Insurance® to Makeover the Dr. Richard Grossman Boys & Girls Club in Thousand Oaks

THOUSAND OAKS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) welcomed volunteers from Farmers Insurance® to participate in a club beautification project at the Dr. Richard Grossman Club in Thousand Oaks. The project, including a supporting grant from…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC) announces new executive board members

VENTURA COUNTY — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County (BBSVC), a one-to-one youth mentoring organization, announces the appointment of two new officers to its Board of Dihttps://bbsvc.org/rectors. The new appointments are President Eric Mandell, VP, Senior Commercial Lender at…

The Bridge – SBCC’s Community Newsletter

Santa Barbara City College’s Community Newsletter September 2019 SBCC’s 2019-2020 School Year Begins! Students interested in joining instructor Blake Barron’s Biology Club filled the Bio Lab during the first week of classes.  Fall semester off to rousing start SBCC’s Main,…

Jared Goff Announces Plan to Donate $1,000 per Touchdown to Support California Strong in partnership with Genesis of Glendale

VENTURA COUNTY — Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff, in partnership with Genesis of Glendale, will provide a $1,000 donation for each touchdown thrown during the 2019 season to support California Strong. California Strong launched in response to the devastating…

United Way of Ventura County — A Day of Caring (Sept. 28) & a Lifetime of Inspiration

Click here for the entire e-newsletter President’s Message  Dear Friends, Next week, on Saturday, September 28, we celebrate our 30th Annual Day of Caring. Volunteers from across the community  will spend a selfless Saturday morning helping others. It’s one of my…

United Way of Santa Barbara’s Day of Caring Volunteers Make a Difference

SANTA BARBARA — Whether it was gardening, painting or maintenance, nearly 1,000 volunteers made the South Coast shine brighter during United Way of Santa Barbara County’s (UWSBC) 28th Annual Day of Caring on Saturday. Teams, friends, families and individual volunteers…

New Ventura College Foundation Website Makes It Easier For Student To Navigate Scholarships/Financial Assistance Options

VENTURA — The Ventura College Foundation has unveiled its new website designed to make it easier for students to engage with the foundation and explore scholarship opportunities, tuition relief and textbook lending options. It also provides a simple process for…

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) offer Fifth Grade Transportation throughout Conejo Valley

THOUSAND OAKS — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) is taking reservations for reliable after school van transportation to five local Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Conejo Valley Unified School District and Las Virgenes Unified School…

Grants from U.S. Dept of Education and NSF help CSUCI students master Math and Science courses

CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Assistant Professor of Mathematics Cynthia Flores, Ph.D., is proud to have been a PUMPkin, and thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, she can now welcome other PUMPkins. PUMP is short for “Undergraduate…

Excelencia in Education names two CSUCI initiatives as Examples of Excelencia Programs to Watch

CAMARILLO — After becoming the only university in California to receive the 2019 Seal of Excelencia from Washington D.C.-based Excelencia in Education, CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) has also had two of its initiatives named as “Examples of Excelencia Programs to Watch.”…

CSUCI Rises in U.S. News Rankings

CAMARILLO — US News & World Report has once again named CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) among the best undergraduate universities in the western United States. In the U.S. News annual Best Colleges report, CSUCI was 18th among Top Public Schools in…