Category: Youth

April 14 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater featuring Robert Battle, Artistic Director and Matthew Rushing, Associate Artistic Director on Wednesday, April 13th and Thursday, April 14th at 8:00 p.m. Pacific at the Granada Theatre. 

Celebrating over 60 years of unparalleled artistry, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater stands tall as an enduring cultural touchstone, reminding us of the power of dance to bring people together. The Ailey company has cultivated the best and brightest choreographers working today – gifted artists exploring themes of hope, sorrow, joy and resilience – and its dancers dazzle with their trademark technical brilliance and passionate energy. The groundbreaking company returns to Santa Barbara with new and classic works, including founder Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations.

April 13 — OC LIVE to host our Fourth Annual WEspeak!

This moving series gives the stage to OC students to speak their own truths through the stories of their lives. This year, we feature four dynamic OC graduating students Reina Gallardos, Carina Rios, Viviana Cardenas, and Melanie Jean Burke who all share their stories of resilience and fortitude in achieving their educational goals during this toughest year. These inspiring OC grads help us see how we can adopt the same hope and commitment in our lives! WEspeak is guided and directed by OC English Professor José Maldonado and OC ASL Professor Emily Zwaal.

April 18 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents the founder of Homeboy Industries Father Gregory Boyle on ‘The Power of Extravagant Tenderness’

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Founder of Homeboy Industries Father Gregory Boyle  The Power of Extravagant Tenderness on Monday, April 18th at 7:30 p.m. Pacific at Campbell Hall. This presentation is part of the 2021-2022 CREATING HOPE programming initiative and Justice For All series.

Father Gregory Boyle has transformed thousands of lives as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest and most successful gang intervention and rehabilitation program in the world.

April 23 — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — The VADA DRAW at MCASB

Please join us on Saturday, April 23 for the annual VADA DRAW fundraiser in support of Santa Barbara High School’s Visual Arts and Design Academy. The VADA DRAW will be a fun evening of art, music, and delicious food and drinks from Cape D’Or Wines, Ysidro Sake Spritz, and Apropos Catering. The exciting DRAW raffle features art donated by over 100 local and global artists, celebrities, and talented VADA students.

April 27 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Danish String Quartet The Doppelgänger Project, Part II

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Danish String Quartet The Doppelgänger Project, Part II on Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall.

This season, the Danish String Quartet introducesDoppelgänger, an ambitious four-year project supported by Arts & Lectures and a variety of international partners. The project pairs world premieres from four renowned composers with chamber music masterpieces by Schubert, including “Death and the Maiden” and the “Rosamunde” quartet. The quartet, featuring  violinists Frederik Øland and Rune Tonsgaard Sørenson, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin will perform a premiere with its doppelgänger – the Schubert quartet or quintet that inspired it.

April 30 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Musical America’s 2019 Artist of the Year Daniil Trifonov, piano, performing Debussy, Prokofiev, Brahms and more

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Musical America’s 2019 Artist of the Year, Daniil Trifonov, piano on Saturday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall. The performance is part of the CREATING HOPE programming initiative.

May 1 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present National Geographic Photographer and Filmmaker Ami Vitale ‘Wild Hope’

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents photographer and filmmaker, Ami Vitale, Wild Hope on Sunday, May 1st at 3:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall. 

Photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale’s award-winning work illuminates the unsung heroes and communities working to protect our wildlife and find harmony in our natural world. From the reintroduction of northern white rhinos and giant pandas to the wild, to Kenya’s first indigenous-owned and run elephant sanctuary, Vitale’s awe-inspiring images and adventures will enthrall audiences of all ages.

May 1 — Bilingual report — Oxnard College to Host Family Festival

Oxnard College will welcome families on campus for a day of festivities and fun at its inaugural Family Festival on May 1. This family-friendly event from noon – 3 p.m. is free and open to the community. It will take place in front of the college’s Performing Arts Building and will be hosted in tandem with the Oxnard College Foundation’s weekly Community Market. 

“We hope to grow this event into an annual tradition so that young children can begin thinking about college from an early age and so our community can learn about Oxnard College’s award-winning programs,” said Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College.

May 3 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Data Scientist and Bestselling Author Cathy O’Neil ‘The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation’

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Data Scientist and Bestselling Author Cathy O’Neil, The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:30 p.m. Pacific at Campbell Hall.

Mathematician and data scientist Cathy O’Neil explores the realities and dangers of social networking, the consequences of algorithm design, and defending human dignity in the context of predatory capitalism.

May 4 — Check out the student startups at New Venture Fair 2022!

Check out the student startups, and vote for your favorite ideas
In person on Cal Lutheran’s campus – May 4

Cal Lutheran’s New Venture Fair (NVF) is back in person! The NVF 2022 showcases 60 student-led startup projects, including those from Cal Lutheran’s undergraduate, graduate, and Executive MBA in Europe programs, in addition to high school teams from Oaks Christian School, Thousand Oaks High School, Bakersfield Christian High School, and primary school teams from Start-Up Kids and One Spark Academy.

The NVF is an expo-style event where each team furnishes its booth and demos its product. The community is invited to circulate the room, meet the teams, learn about their startup ideas, and vote for their favorites. Awards will be presented at the end of the evening.

May 5 — Santa Barbara Museum of Art to present Free Community Day at SBMA for Santa Barbara and Ventura County residents

Santa Barbara Museum of Art will present Free Community Day at SBMA for Santa Barbara and Ventura County residents at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara and Ventura County residents enjoy free admission to the Museum (including the special exhibitionThrough Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources). Enjoy art activities from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Family Resource Center. Proof of residence is required upon entry.

May 5 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Roots/Alt-rock Powerhouse, Amythyst Kiah 

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Roots/Alt-rock Powerhouse, Amythyst Kiah on Thursday, May 5th at 8:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall.

With an unforgettable voice that’s both unfettered and exquisitely controlled, singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah has been dubbed “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets” by Rolling Stone.

May 5 — 7th-12th Grade students from Ventura Unified School District will present their proposals to reduce their schools’ environmental footprint & receive awards

On Thursday May 5th, approximately forty 7th-12th-grade students from Ventura Unified School District (VUSD)will be presenting their environmental business proposals to a panel of judges. Students had the option of choosing a project from 4 categories: water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction at their school campuses, or to inform their communities about the benefits of removing the relic Matilija Dam from the Ventura River. The event will take place at the Museum of Ventura County, in downtown Ventura, from 4 -7 pm. The keynote speaker for the event is Chipper Bro, Entrepreneur, Environmental Advocate, and professional Surfer.

May 7 — Southeast Ventura County YMCA Free Hosts Annual Healthy Kids’ Day

Southeast Ventura County YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active during the summer. The YMCA’s Healthy Kids’ Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve health and well-being for kids and families, will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will feature crafts, face painting, inflatables, a poster contest, games, enrichment classes and a fun slime-the-Y-teacher activity. Healthy Kids’ Day will be held at the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village on Saturday, April 30 and at the Simi Valley Family YMCA on Saturday, May 7.

May 13 — Drum Beats & Decolonization: OPAC presents its first AAPI Heritage Celebration + a Residency with Master Taiko Drummer Kenny Endo and his Ensemble

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) is proud to partner with Pinaysphere, a Filipinx Arts Mentorship nonprofit, to present its first Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Celebration, Friday, May 13, 2022 from 5pm to 12am. The event is in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month which recognizes the contributions and influences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. OPAC’s event amplifies the narratives of our AAPI community by spotlighting local and international talent, entrepreneurs, healers, and grassroots leaders. Guests will enjoy a headlining performance by legendary master taiko drummer Kenny Endo and his Ensemble. 

May 14 — CLU Class of 2022 commencement

California Lutheran University will hold its 2022 Traditional Undergraduate Commencement at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 14. It will take place in William Rolland Stadium on the Thousand Oaks campus for the first time since 2019 because the pandemic necessitated a virtual ceremony in 2020 and an off-campus drive-in event in 2021.

May 14 — CLU Graduate, Professionals ceremony slated

California Lutheran University will hold its 2022 Graduate and Professionals Commencement at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 14. It will take place in William Rolland Stadium on the Thousand Oaks campus for the first time since 2019 because the pandemic necessitated a virtual ceremony in 2020 and an off-campus drive-in event in 2021.

The 59th annual ceremony will honor 79 students in the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals program, 428 earning master’s degrees and 32 receiving doctorates. A separate ceremony will be held later in the day for traditional undergraduate students receiving bachelor’s degrees.

May 14 — Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara’s teen Arts Collective | Exhibition Opening Reception, more news

Join us at MCASB on Saturday, May 14 from 3-5 PM to celebrate the opening of the Teen Arts Collective exhibition Footprints!

MCASB is proud to present Footprints, a group exhibition by the 2022 Teen Arts Collective (TAC) cohort, on view at the Museum from May 14-29, 2022. As the global ecological footprint continues to grow at an alarming rate, these six young artists have united to explore environmental issues that not only affect them personally but also speak to the current state of affairs in their local and global communities. Addressing topics such as sustainability and the human impacts of climate change, Footprintsprovides a glimpse into each artist’s individual journeys of environmental awareness and accountability. TAC comprises six students from Santa Barbara, spanning several different schools and grade levels.

Teen Arts Collective is a hands-on program that makes the contemporary art world acces

Through May 21 — Bilingual Report — Ventura County Public Works Agency to host one of Ventura’s Largest Annual Educational Event

The Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is celebrating the resilience of its staff with its annual educational event for National Public Works Week (NPWW) 2022. Based on the hugely successful virtual Public Works Week in 2021 when over 1,500 Ventura County students took part, this year’s event promises to be even better. On Monday, May 16th, 2022, students, faculty, and the public can access a robust curriculum featuring new video demonstrations, educational materials, and interactive projects via the VCPWA website.

May 21 — Teachers, Parents Train in Youth Mental Health First Aid; Address Increased Incidents of Students in Distress

Since the pandemic started, experts have warned of a mental health crisis facing American children. That is now playing out at schools across the nation—and in Santa Barbara County—in the form of increased childhood depression, anxiety, panic attacks, eating disorders, fights and thoughts of suicide.

“The pandemic has dramatically increased depression and anxiety in youth,” said Megan McClintock, Director of School Based Counseling Services for Family Service Agency (FSA). “Our organization is certainly seeing more referrals for treatment as well as an increase in severity.”

Through May 22 — People’s Self Help Housing’ s Camino Scholars Virtual Silent Auction

Help our students blossom by participating in our virtual silent auction! Bidding will be open now through Sunday, May 22 at 5 PM, where you can choose from an exciting selection of local goods, services and experiences. All proceeds will support Camino Scholars, the education program of People’s Self-Help Housing. Don’t miss out!

June 4 — Bilingual report — Free, Family-Friendly Oxnard Insect Festival Returns

The second ever Oxnard Insect Festival returns on Saturday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Plaza Park (500 South C St., Oxnard).

Community members are invited to see, touch, buy and even taste a variety of creepy crawlers at this free event hosted by the City of Oxnard. All youth attendees are encouraged to pick up an Insect Festival passport upon arrival and get it stamped at each booth. The first 200 youth that visit eight booths will receive a free special insect activity kit to take home!

June 11 -12 — Ventura County Animal Services — Fee-Waived Rabbit Adoptions THIS WEEKEND!

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Applications MUST be received by June 12th to qualify for the promotion. To submit an application, visit www.vcas.us/BunnyBrigade. Email VCASBunnyBrigade@gmail.com for questions and to schedule an appointment.

All rabbits adopted from VCAS are indoor only and must be a LOVED member of the family. Rabbits leave VCAS spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Each adoption comes with a FREE bag of hay, grass mat and complimentary vet visit. All other items can be purchased at our on-site Bunny Boutique!

June 19 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to Celebrate Father’s Day with ‘Classics by the Sea’ Event

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will be a hub of activity and fun on Father’s Day, June 19, 2022, as it celebrates the day with “Classics by the Sea.” This family-friendly event will feature a wonderful display of woodies and classic cars of all vintages, many one-of-a-kind, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The Museum will also be hosting its unique annual maritime treasure sale including used books, ship models and art. The event will feature live music and food (for purchase) will also be available.

Through June 26 — 66th Annual Conejo Valley Days Kicks Off

THOUSAND OAKS — The 66th Annual Conejo Valley Days (CVD) will feature 10 days of carnival rides, food, live entertainment and line dancing. Through June 26 (dark June 20) at Conejo Creek Park South (23 Freeway/Janss Rd. exit) in Thousand Oaks. 

Kastl Amusements will operate15 rides plus midway games for all ages at CVD as well as offer traditional fair and specialty foods. CVD will also feature live entertainment with more than 10 bands scheduled including the Colette Lovejoy Band, Mirage (Fleetwood Mac cover band), Three Rivers Band, Rebel Heart, Psychedelic Summer (Woodstock era tribute band) and Rick Schule’s John Denver sing-along. A full list of bands and performance times is posted at www.conejovalleydays.us/home/band-schedule.

July 1 — Museum of Ventura County to present ‘Story Time at the Museum: Read Beyond the Beaten Path’

The Museum of Ventura County will present “Story Time at the Museum: Read Beyond the Beaten Path” from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 1 at 100 E. Main St., Ventura.

Your Museum with the county library have bilingual Story Time every first Friday of the month at 3pm. That way kids will have time to come right after school. Join us for stories, then play and learn in the Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Children’s Garden, a fabulous and FREE outing for ALL!

July 4 — Star Spangled 4th of July Concert in SB Courthouse, Sunken Garden Presented by Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation with Santa Barbara’s beloved Prime Time Band

oin Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation for a festive concert with Santa Barbara’s beloved Prime Time Band on 4th of July at 5:00 PM at Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens (1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101).  

Enjoy pops tunes, family favorites and patriotic classics, plus special guest performers.  Come early to claim your spot on the grass; bring your picnic, beach chairs and blankets for this free, time-honored Santa Barbara tradition.

The Prime Time Band is a vibrant group of more than sixty amateur musicians—all mature adults whose primary mission is providing free concerts for the greater Santa Barbara community.

Through July 10 — Artists Lynn Hanson and John Robertson Couple up for Concurrent Exhibits at Santa Paula Art Museum

As husband and wife, Ventura artists John Robertson and Lynn Hanson are accustomed to sharing a studio and working alongside one another. Soon the two will share a major exhibition space with concurrent exhibitions at the Santa Paula Art Museum. “Fieldnotes: Lynn Hanson” and “A Narrative: John Robertson” will premiere Saturday, March 12, 2022, with an opening reception from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the reception is free for everyone. Some of the artworks will be for sale. “Fieldnotes” and “A Narrative” will be on view March 12, 2022, to July 10, 2022.

Hanson and Robertson are a generous and down-to-earth pair who share a deep-rooted love for art and nature.

July 15 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Dirty Dancing

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Dirty Dancing, on Friday, July 15th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.

Set in the summer of 1963, an innocent teen vacationing with her upper-middle-class parents at an upscale resort in the Catskills gets a jolt of culture shock when she crushes on the hotel’s slick, handsome dance instructor. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the film’s stirring soundtrack yielded the Oscar-winning Best Song “(I’ve Had the) Time of My Life.” (Emile Ardolino, 1987, PG-13, 97 min.)

July 16 — Mental Wellness Center to Host the 26th Annual Mental Health Arts Festival Saturday in De La Guerra Plaza

After a two-year hiatus of holding in-person festivities, the Mental Wellness Center (MWC) is bringing its Mental Health Arts Festival back to De La Guerra Plaza. As in the past, the festival will showcase the artwork of local artists in mediums including painting, drawing, jewelry, poetry, sculpture and arts and crafts. But what’s really special about the festival doesn’t end with the artwork.

“It’s an opportunity for artists to display their work and showcase their talent the community in a way that is positive, productive and meaningful for them,” explained Darcy Keep, MWC Board Members and Administrative Director of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at Cottage Health. 

Through July 17 — CLU Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival marks 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years after the first Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival was held, and following a two-year pandemic-caused hiatus, the event kicks off its joyous return to California Lutheran University’s Kingsmen Park with performances of one of the Bard’s most popular comedies.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company will perform “As You Like It” at 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through July 17 on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Warren C. Bowles, who has decades of experience in Shakespearean and contemporary theater throughout the country, presents the play as the festival’s first Black director. He has spent many years working with Mixed Blood Theatre Company in Minneapolis as a director, actor, playwright, stage manager and fight choreographer. Mixed Blood uses theater to disrupt injustices, advance equity, build community and inspire people to create ripple effects of social change.

Through July 21 — Emerging Artist Collective ‘Straight outta the Kiln’ exhibit

34th Parallel is proud to present: Straight Outta the Kiln, a ceramic work exhibition. This is the collective’s introduction to the community and is intended to bring a new take and a breath of fresh air to art making and the local art scene.

Over 20 ceramic works by emerging artists Roxanne Casas, Carolina Danu, Connor Kelley, José Galván Martínez, Chris Taylor and Ericka Waskewics will be featured.

Various cities within Ventura County sit around the 34th parallel north, and its from these cities that the Artists of the 34th Parallel Collective are based out of.

July 29 — SBCC to host Re-Enrollment Day

“Back to school” season will be here soon and Santa Barbara City College wants to help students get back to school no matter what their reasons have been for stopping.

On Friday, July 29, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., SBCC will host Re-Enrollment Day on the East Campus Student Services building patio, where returning students will receive one-on-one assistance for enrolling in the Fall 2022 semester. Staff from various student services departments will be on hand to provide information and guidance, including enrollment services, financial aid, academic counseling, the transcript evaluation office, the SBCC Promise program, the University Transfer Center and others.

Aug. 4 — MICOP celebrates Night in Oaxaca 2022

On Thursday, August 4th, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) will hold its eleventh annual Night in Oaxaca. Night in Oaxaca is a celebration of the indigenous migrant community of California’s Central Coast and MICOP’s largest and most-sought after fundraiser. After two years of virtual programming, we are proud to bring our supporters a hybrid experience, in-person at Olivas Adobe in Ventura and online.

This year we are gathering around the theme of “Fortaleciendo Nuestras Raíces” or “Strengthening our Roots.” Reflecting on the pandemic and our recent growth, Night in Oaxaca will celebrate our indigenous community’s resiliency and rooted connection to our organization. The evening welcomes a diverse crowd of supporters and leaders from across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. All proceeds fund MICOP’s work of supporting, organizing and empowering indigenous migrant communities of the Central Coast.

Aug. 5-7 — Director presents ‘Macbeth’ in new light

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival is closing its 2022 season with one of the most performed tragedies in theater history, but under the guiding hand of a veteran director seeing the play in a new way.

“I grew up with productions of `Macbeth’ that felt like the tale of a coldhearted murderer who reaps what he sows,” said director Brett Elliott. “This production will present the Scottish king and his lady differently. I see him as a decent man who talks himself into doing the unthinkable. Once he crosses that line, he regrets it instantly, but of course, it’s already too late.”

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Company, the professional theater company of California Lutheran University, will present “Macbeth” at 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7 in Kingsmen Park on the Thousand Oaks campus.

Aug. 12 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Moonrise Kingdom

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Moonrise Kingdom, on Friday, August 12th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m. 

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing offshore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. The all-star cast features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand among others, and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl. (Wes Anderson, 2012, PG-13, 94 min.)

Aug. 13 — Nyeland Promise hosting a Bike Rodeo

The Nyeland Acres Bike Rodeo will take place this Saturday, August 13 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nyeland Acres Community Center, giving children of all ages an opportunity to learn proper hand signalling and traffic safety skills to reduce riding accidents involving youth. At the event, the Oxnard Bike Hub will set up a series of stations which will provided participants an opportunity to learn correct riding skills and techniques. One of the stations includes a mechanical inspection for participants’ bikes and equipment. Children will receive free helmets, bikes, safety reflectors and other educational materials. Many residents are expected to attend the Bike Rodeo.

As part of the Bike Rodeo, children will be able to test their newly learned skills by going for a bike ride around Nyeland Acres escorted by Ventura County Sheriff and Oxnard Police Department. A Gold Coast Transit Bus will follow the bikers full of parents and community leaders. The bikers will make a quick stop at the big Santa on Ventura Blvd.

Aug. 13 — Santa Paula Art Museum presents Painting Demo, Figure Drawings, Art Auction and More

Meet artist Kay Zetlmaier inside the Museum and watch as she demonstrates her abstract, oil painting process, including her use of cold wax medium. The demonstration coincides with Zetlmaier’s current solo exhibition, Geomorphic: The Living Earth, on view now through September 11, 2022, at SPAM. Reservations are not required.