Category: Youth

United Way of Santa Barbara County Delivers Impactful Virtual Fun in the Sun Program in Light of COVID-19

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Thanks to the generosity of over 50 funding partners and service delivery partners, United Way of Santa Barbara County’s (UWSBC) Fun in the Sun program has the capacity to support up to 350 children and families this year through a virtual format in light of COVID-19. Seven virtual sites are serving students from Carpinteria Unified School District, Santa Barbara Unified School District (4 school sites instead of its usual 2 school sites), Goleta Union School District, and school districts throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. 

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Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Let’s Get Out of this Together

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America, and even our community, is very divided on how to respond to the strange times we are in. However, we must be united in concern about the futures of our children and grandchildren, preserving lives, and saving as many jobs and people from poverty.

How can we do all that?

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SMILE! Free Professional Headshots by Christian Ramirez at OPAC on Aug. 6

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The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is teaming up with Oxnard photographer and filmmaker Christian Ramirez of Mezz Studio to offer a day of free professional headshots for those on the jobseeking trail. The event is scheduled for Thursday, August 6 from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. 

A professional headshot plays an important role in creating a positive first impression and can be used in many ways: email accounts, email signatures, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, personal websites, portfolios, guest blogs, resumes, and more. Sixty percent of employers research job candidates via social media and OPAC wants to ensure that community members who have lost work due to COVID-19 are supported and equipped in their career search.

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Guest commentary — The Oxnard Civil “Gang” Injunction is Officially Dead; A Victory for the People and the Constitution

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In a new release by the VC Star is was reported on Tuesday, July 21, 2021 that the, “Oxnard Police Department Will Work With District Attorney’s Office to Vacate Civil Gang Injunctions”

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July News from Peoples’ Self-Help Housing — Building Together Book Now for Sale!

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Amidst COVID-19, PSHH’s educators have been working tirelessly to support students and families with the transition to distance learning. Educators have helped families obtain free internet access, secured chromebooks and laptops, taught internet navigation skills, facilitated meetings with school districts, delivered hundreds of free school meals, provided school supplies, and so much more!

During these months, we added 96 new students to our learning centers, raising our enrollment from 274 to 370 students – a 35% increase!

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Santa Maria Joint Union High School District adopts action plan for the safe reopening of schools

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The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education adopted an action plan for the safe reopening of schools during a special meeting Thursday night, clearing the way for distance learning instruction to begin August 17.

The decision gives the district flexibility and the use of three models: distance learning, hybrid (only part of the students on campuses at one time), and traditional (full-time in-person) depending on the changing conditions and risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is available at www.smjuhsd.k12.ca.us.

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National Science Foundation grant will enable CSUCI anthropologist to research more than 10,000 years of human history on the Channel Islands

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CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Professor of Anthropology Jennifer Perry, Ph.D., has been awarded $57,806 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to expand her research into those who lived on California’s Channel Islands for the last 10,000+ years.

“We’re looking at human-environment interactions through time, trying to understand how people lived on the Channel Islands,” Perry explained. “What we are looking at are archaeological sites along the channel that have evidence of human occupation over the past 10,000 years or more. From plants and animals and artifacts, we can look at change through time, such as changes in climate, and how people responded to that change.”

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County of Ventura COVID-19 update for July 22

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Here’s your County of Ventura COVID – 19 update:

94 new cases

6,049 total cases

1,524 new people tested

3,100 recovered cases

90 hospitalized

22 current ICU

2,886 active cases under quarantine

63 deaths (1 additional death – 84 year old female with comorbidity)

98,648 total people tested

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CSUCI graduate heads to Ireland as a Fulbright Scholar

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CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Applied Physics and Mathematics double major Carmen Stepek will be pursing her doctorate in neuro-physics on the Emerald Isle as a Fulbright scholar.

The Class of 2020 graduate will attend the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) under the Fulbright U.S. Student Program.

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All Ventura County Schools to Begin New Year with Only Distance Learning

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Following the release of new state guidelines announced (on July 17) by Governor Gavin Newsom, all Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the new school year using distance learning without bringing students back to their campuses. The new guidance comes a day after most Ventura County schools had already committed to beginning the year with distance learning in support of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

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SBCC — The Bridge — Drop in international and out-of-state students for Fall amid COVID-19 pandemic

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SBCC is bracing for a roughly 30 percent decline in non-California resident enrollment, especially students from outside the United States according to Superintendent/President Utpal Goswami. He offered his remarks during a virtual event titled “COVID Conversations” presented by the SBCC Foundation on July 16. In addition to enrollment trends, he discussed the college budget for the 2020-21 academic year. Read more…

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United Way of Ventura County — This is the last week for our Stuff the Bus school supply drive!

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We need 95 more backpacks to reach our goal!

Provide essential school supplies for local students experiencing homelessness or from disadvantaged families.

You can help pave the path to academic success for a child from a homeless or low-income family. Furthermore, your support not only provides essential school supplies – studies show that it also promotes learning, building self-esteem, and helps ensure that our youth stay in school.

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Santa Maria High School Agriculture Program 2020 California Outstanding Large Agriculture Education Program

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The Santa Maria High School Agriculture Department has been selected as the 2020 Outstanding Large Agricultural Education Program Award recipient. The honor was awarded at the California Agriculture Teachers Association’s (CATA) 101st Summer Conference, which was held virtually.

The SMHS Agriculture Program earned the recognition due to its excellent achievements in the following areas: classroom instruction, experimental learning, the FFA student organization and leadership development, community partnership, and the teachers’ professional development. In California, there are more than 330 agriculture education programs across the state.

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Islands Packers in Ventura Harbor Village Announces Summer Whale Watching Trips to The Channel Islands Now Through September

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With summer upon us, Island Packers is happy to announce that Summer Whale Watching excursions have been added to their existing scheduled trips to the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary.  Visitors to Ventura Harbor Village, Ventura’s top seaside attraction, can now board an Island Packers whale watching vessel (the boat departs  adjacent to Ventura Harbor Village) and travel from Ventura Harbor through the Southern California waters off Santa Barbara Channel, known for their marine mammal diversity, to see breathtaking mammals that cavort in waters off of the Channel Islands.  Summer whale watching is available through August 30, 2020.  Cost is: Adults (12-54 years) $68,  Seniors (55 years and older) $62, and Children (3-12 years) $55. 

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County of Ventura COVID-19 update for July 17

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Here is your COVID-19 update from the County of Ventura.

224 new cases

1,588 new people tested

5,192 total cases

2,726 recovered cases

95 hospitalizations

31 in the ICU

57 deaths (1 additional death – 77 year-old male)

89,336 total people tested

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SMJUHSD Board of Education to make Ethnic, Gender Studies requirement for graduation

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The SMJUHSD Board of Education on Tuesday night unanimously adopted a Resolution to make Ethnic and Gender Studies a requirement for graduation, starting with the class of 2025.

An Ethnic and Gender Studies Committee was formed several years ago to develop a plan and respective courses in this area.  Ethnic and Gender Studies class offerings, with a focus on social justice and multiculturalism, have grown in the past few years. There were eight courses and in multiple sections offered last year across all comprehensive high schools in the district.  The committee will now develop a five-year plan to continue to expand course offerings and ensure a successful implementation of the new requirement for all students.

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County of Ventura COVID-19 update for July 16 — COVID-19 drive through testing sites. No cost. No insurance needed. No appointment needed

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*Sites are for those that live or work in Ventura County.

 Ford Dealership, 128 S. Hallock Dr., Santa Paula, CA 93060 M-F, 10-7

Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Rd., Moorpark, CA 93021 M-F, 10-7

Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Rd., Ventura CA 93003, M-F, 10-7

Weekend testing: Friday to Tuesday at Oxnard College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard, CA 93033  10-7

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Receives Grant from Anthem Blue Cross

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) recently received a $2,500 grant from Anthem Blue Cross for their “Whatever It Takes to Build Healthy Futures” program and for the BGCGCV’s response to COVID-19.

“The funding has enabled us to keep four Club sites open during school closures, with the capacity to serve 300 youth,” stated Dr. Crystal N?one, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley.  “It has also allowed us to provide 100% of our working youth development staff with intensive social emotional learning (SEL) support and training which provides them with the needed tools to best support our youth,” she added.

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Framework for Reopening Ventura County Schools is Released

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The Ventura County Office of Education on July 10 released a document intended to help local public schools prepare for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The Framework for Reopening Ventura County Schools was prepared by the Ventura County Office of Education in consultation with Ventura County Public Health and the county’s school districts and charter schools.

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CSUCI awarded Bee Campus USA designation for the second time in a row

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While most of the campus operates in cyberspace, the roughly 24 colonies at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s bee yard are thriving, thanks in part to two 2019 graduates who suit up and show up to care for the bees.

CSUCI’s pollinator-friendly campus, bee education, outreach and student involvement along with a number of other factors have earned CSUCI a Bee Campus USA designation for a second year in a row. CSUCI is one of 103 Bee Campus USAs across the nation.

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Gold Coast Health Plan Awards More than $20,000 in Sponsorships to Ventura County Organizations, including LUCHA and Poder Popular de Santa Paula

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Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has provided $20,500 in sponsorships to seven community organizations that are helping county residents during the pandemic.

“We saw the immense need caused by the pandemic and we wanted to do our part to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Margaret Tatar, GCHP’s interim chief executive officer. “We are grateful to our community partners for working tirelessly to meet the needs of Ventura County residents and help them get through this crisis.”

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July 2020 – Meal Distribution Julio 2020 – Distribución de Comidas

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Breakfast and lunch meals provided for Children 18 & Under Desayuno y almuerzo para Niños 18 & Menores  

WHEN / CUANDO July 6/6 de julio – July 31/31 de julio Meals for Tuesday will be given on Monday and meals for Thursday and Friday will be given on Wednesday. Las comidas para el martes se darán los lunes y las comidas para el jueves y viernes se darán los miércoles.

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Free Online Adult And Child Fitness Classes Through Southeast Ventura County YMCA

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With many structured physical activities still shutdown because of the pandemic, the Southeast Ventura County YMCA is hosting daily online fitness classes for all ages. The classes are offered at no cost to the community. No advance reservations and no YMCA membership are required.

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VCCCD Board of Trustees is Committed to Student Success for Black and African American Students

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The Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees is committed to diversity and inclusion as key priorities in the organization’s values. At its June 23 meeting, the Board adopted a Resolution Affirming a Commitment to Student Success for Black and African American Students. Action items to remove systemic barriers for Black and African American students were addressed at the Board’s Planning Session on June 27.

The Board is dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion for Black and African American students in which they feel safe, respected and valued. Students will continue to be invited to share their unique perspective, talents and backgrounds.

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Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Charitable Foundation Contributes to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV)

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The Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks Charitable Foundation recently donated $2,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV).  The donation will be used to help fund the many programs offered by the BGCGCV for local youth.

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Register now for SBCC Fall semester

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Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce that registration for Fall is now open to everyone in the community, whether to earn an associate degree, transfer to a four-year university or enjoy life enrichment classes through the School of Extended Learning.

Based on recent guidance provided by the state, county and Centers for Disease Control, a substantial majority of courses will be conducted online. A limited number of credit courses will be offered in a face-to-face or hybrid format, maintaining appropriate health and safety protocols. The list of face-to-face credit courses is available at www.sbcc.edu/classes.

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OC Live — The Show Must Go ON (LINE)!

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We are excited to announce the launch of OC LIVE ONLINE, a web-based initiative that will bring arts and education programing direct to your computer or tablet or phone. Coming in August, OC LIVE ONLINE will include streaming presentations with leading figures in education and the arts, musical performances, virtual gallery tours, inspirational student voices, and a special series of homegrown encounters with our very own OC faculty. 

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Bilingual commentary — Health Privilege

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Most days I scroll through my Facebook timeline to see how my family and friends are doing.  I feel a variety of emotions, love, happiness, sadness, anger and compassion as I review their lives and their commentary.  Sometimes I contribute some understanding to a topic.  I often learn something about life from someone else’s viewpoint or history.

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CSUCI rallies behind 2020 graduates with Adopt-A-Grad campaign and virtual career fair

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When Class of 2020 students enrolled at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) as freshman, the Thomas Fire burned through two counties at the end of their first semester,  followed by the Woolsey Fire, the Hill Fire and the Borderline shooting in 2018.

And when they went to graduate, a pandemic sent them home, sank the economy and turned their commencement victory lap into a virtual event. Now, they are trying to start their professional careers in a struggling economy.

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Registration is now open for South Coast Writing Project’s ‘Young Writers Camp Online’ July 20-31

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Registration is now open for South Coast Writing Project’s ‘Young Writers Camp Online’ July 20-31 on Zoom.

The Camps run at various dates and times through July; see individual descriptions below

SCWP is an education non-profit out of UCSB that’s been holding youth writing camps since 1993. This year we are taking our camps online and making them donation-only to support during COVID.

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BGCOP to Open Clubhouse for Essential Workers’ Families on June 29

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme is preparing to open its Fifth Street Clubhouse on June 29 to a limited number of youth. It is accepting applications from essential workers’ families, with priority to existing members, for a summer camp, Club CEO Erin Antrim announced on June 30. Other sites of the BGCOP are expected to open at a later date.

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CSUCI launches CARES Summer Grant Program to help students stay on track during the pandemic

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The COVID-19 pandemic radically changed life and learning circumstances for the entire CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus, but it also meant an expanded role for the University as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

To that end, University leaders recently launched the “CARES Summer Grant Program,” which will provide funds for tuition for eligible students interested in taking summer classes. The funds come from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was enacted by the U.S. Department of Education to aid institutions of higher learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Social Justice Fund for Ventura County celebrates advances in Social Justice

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The past few weeks have brought news of a student-led rally for Black Lives Matter in Simi Valley plus two significant Supreme Court rulings, all of which promote equity and justice. At the Social Justice Fund, we celebrate these moments as a reminder that progress toward justice is possible and requires our participation.

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Letter to the Editor — In Solidarity

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The month of June 2020 will end in historical landmark victories for our LBGTQ+ and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) communities. The Association of Mexican American Educators, Inc., Oxnard Chapter, applauds our Supreme Court Justices for supporting these communities and future generations.

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Carnegie Art Cornerstones — Honoring our Past, Embracing our Future

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Carnegie Arts Cornerstones had been a major financial contributor to the planning and support of the now defunct Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, CA.

So while there is no longer a physical museum to support, the spirit of our mission lives on, and our future is bright. We still believe our mission to promote creativity, learning, and growth in the careers of artists, and to inspire passion and appreciation for the visual arts is still vital to the communities around Oxnard and throughout Southern California.

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Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Plans 30 New Affordable Units on Cota Street For Those Experiencing Homelessness

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A May 14, 2020 article in the Los Angeles Times reports that “With the coronavirus-induced shock to the economy crippling businesses of all sizes and leaving millions of Americans out of work, homelessness in the United States could grow as much as 45% in a year.” The data trend, which comes from research conducted by Dr. Brendan O’Flaherty, a professor of economics at Columbia University, is mirrored in our community. According to the most recent Point-in-Time count completed in January 2020, the study found 1,897 homeless residents countywide, with 914 (48%) living in the City of Santa Barbara. The chronically homeless in the county rose from 423 to 614, a 45% increase. While the nation continues to grapple with adequately addressing this issue, the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is moving forward with plans to build new housing specifically to address the needs of homeless individuals.

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) Announce Newest Member to the Board of Governors

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The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley (BGCGCV) is pleased to announce a new member to its Board of Governors, Steve Mosko.

Mosko is Chief Executive Officer of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group (VREG), one of the world’s leading global entertainment content companies.  VREG produces content across film, television and digital platforms. 

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Simi Valley And Yarrow YMCAs To Reopen July 1

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The Simi Valley Family YMCA and Yarrow Family YMCA (in Westlake Village) will reopen Wednesday July 1. The Conejo Valley YMCA remains closed pending implementation of additional social distancing measures. Conejo Y members can use the Simi Valley and Yarrow facilities.

“We understand how important our Y is to the health and wellness of our community,” says Ronnie Stone, President/CEO of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA, which oversees the three local Y branches. “We hope to see our members back at the Y as soon as they feel comfortable.”

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SBCC Office of Communications wins top awards for public relations and marketing

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When the Community College Public Relations Organization (CCPRO) held its annual awards ceremony on June 10 – a virtual watch party via Zoom this year – Santa Barbara City College walked away with three first place awards, two second place awards and one third place award.

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