Category: Youth

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Thrive Together: Entrepreneurs Supporting Youth in Ventura County

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Join City Impact for their Thrive Together Fundraising Event to celebrate local entrepreneurs driving change and enjoy a powerful art show created by the young artists within the community. This event is more than a gathering. It’s a commitment to uplifting entrepreneurs, empowering youth and strengthening the community.

Your presence supports opportunities that spark innovation, fuel creativity and build a brighter future.

Location: Sterling Hills Golf Club, 901 Sterling Hills Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010
Date and time: Tuesday, November 18, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Pricing: $85

For more information, CLICK HERE

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Nyeland Promise honored as Champion for Social Justice

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NYELAND ACRES — Nyeland Promise, a grassroots nonprofit\ dedicated to uplifting the residents of Nyeland Acres through education, health, and community empowerment, has been named a Champion for Social Justice by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties. This recognition celebrates organizations that are breaking barriers, fostering equity, and creating lasting change through community-driven leadership.

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Communities across California call unscientific regulation of cancer-causing 1,3-D racist. Demand phaseout of fumigants and 1-mile buffer zones around schools

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OXNARD — A news conference will be held at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Plaza Park in Oxnard about the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s new 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) regulation and new data showing large increases in highly hazardous fumigant use near schools and daycares.

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Free eye exams, glasses for San Luis Obispo community members in need

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SAN LUIS OBISPO — More than 70 California Conservation Corpsmembers and San Luis Obispo residents received free eye exams and, if needed, free prescription glasses on Nov. 6-7 thanks to a partnership between VSP Eyes of Hope and the California Conservation Corps. Many of the prescription glasses were made the same day on board the mobile clinic, allowing patients to receive eye care and eyewear in the same visit.

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75th annual Santa Paula holiday parade honors hometown Veteran, youth sports coach Rey Frutos on Nov. 28

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SANTA PAULA — Santa Paula’s cherished holiday tradition returns as the 75th Annual Santa Paula Holiday Parade lights up Main Street on Friday, November 28, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM — one of the only nighttime parades in Ventura County with nearly 50 floats and vehicles lit up with holiday cheer. This year’s parade honors Grand Marshal Rey Frutos, known in the community for his lifelong dedication, mentorship, and positive impact on generations of Santa Paula youth. His leadership and commitment to service embody the true spirit of the holidays — giving back and lifting others.

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Join Hospice of Santa Barbara in celebrating 42nd annual Light Up a Life ceremonies, honoring loved ones this holiday season

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SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) is honored to invite the community to its 42nd Annual Light Up a Life ceremonies. This cherished holiday tradition returns to offer a warm, uniting space for the communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria to remember and honor the loved ones whose absence is felt during the holiday season. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.

While the holiday season is often associated with joy, it frequently stirs a complex mix of feelings. For individuals navigating this time while grieving a loss, the emotions can be especially raw. HSB understands that this period requires both remembrance and support, which is why we proudly host Light Up a Life annually to honor those who are deeply missed.

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Project Commencement of the Adaptive Reuse Affordable Housing Project at 3055 De La Vina Street

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SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) marked a major milestone with the commencement of its latest affordable housing development — an adaptive reuse project that will transform the former Quality Inn at 3055 De La Vina Street into permanent supportive housing.

The redevelopment exemplified HACSB’s creative approach to addressing Santa Barbara’s critical housing shortage by repurposing existing properties into high-quality, service-enriched affordable housing. Neighbors, local officials, community partners, and housing advocates gathered to celebrate this milestone achievement.

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From Kindergarten to College: Adelante celebrates 25 Years of bilingual achievement

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SANTA BARBARA — Adelante Charter School celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday, November 1, at The Hub Downtown, honoring the Founding Board of Directors and longtime arts supporter Jim Kearns for their enduring contributions to bilingual education in Santa Barbara. The milestone event brought together 150 guests, including families, alumni, educators, and community leaders, to celebrate 25 years of excellence in dual-language education.

The evening opened with a warm welcome from Adelante alumni Isaiah Zermeno and Isabella Lopez-Solis, both students at Santa Barbara Junior High who began their educational journey together at Adelante in kindergarten.

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Lumina Alliance’s Fatima Cervantes honored with statewide award for teen dating violence prevention

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Cervantes recognized for innovative, effective healthy relationship strategies among justice-impacted youth in San Luis Obispo 

GARDEN GROVE — The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership), a coalition representing over 1,000 survivors, advocates, organizations, and allied individuals, today honored Lumina Alliance’s Bilingual Client & Justice Systems Relations Advocate Fatima Cervantes with the Planting the Seeds Award. The award celebrates people who have engaged in intergenerational domestic violence prevention education, contributing to healthy relationships and communities. The Partnership recognized Cervantes for building strong relationships with justice-impacted youth in San Luis Obispo County, as well as providing innovative lessons for discussing healthy communication and setting boundaries.

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Bilingual report — Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo accepting applications for two bachelor’s degree programs at Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus

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SANTA MARIA — Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is now accepting applications for two bachelor’s degree programs offered on Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus. Applications for both programs — Business Administration and Sociology — are open through Dec. 1, with classes beginning in fall 2026. 

The degree pathways are part of a broader Cal Poly at Hancock initiative, announced earlier this year, which allows Central Coast students to earn a Cal Poly degree without commuting to San Luis Obispo. The programs bring Cal Poly faculty and coursework directly to Hancock’s Santa Maria campus, providing students with a flexible, affordable, and high-quality educational experience close to home. 

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Bilingual report — Donate gifts to Ventura’s Santa to a Senior program

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VENTURA — The City of Ventura invites residents to help spread holiday cheer by participating in the annual Santa to a Senior program. Beginning Thursday, November 13, through Wednesday, December 10, 2025, community members can donate gifts to help brighten the season for local seniors aged 60 and above who are connected to the Ventura Avenue Adult Center’s Senior Nutrition Program.

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SEEAG’s “Christmas On The Ranch” fundraiser offers fresh-cut Christmas trees from Northern California to support youth agriculture programs

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“We know it’s a financially difficult time for many families,” said Caitlin Paulus Case, SEEAG executive director. “While the costs of Christmas trees are going up everywhere, we wanted to offer trees at a lower price, so they are more affordable.”

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UCSB — The Current — “In ‘Digital Exhaustion,’ Paul Leonardi shares how to make technology work for you” and more news, events

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Leonardi’s new book focuses on how people use innovative tools to organize more effectively, increase efficiency and improve knowledge sharing within organizations.

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Bilingual report — Annual Mussel Quarantine Lifted for Ventura County; Advisory Remains in Place for Humboldt County and Northern Channel Islands

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VENTURA — The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the annual quarantine on mussels gathered by sport harvesters from California’s coastal waters ended on midnight on Friday, October 31, 2025, for the California coast, including Ventura County. Shellfish advisories remain in place for sport-harvested razor clams from Humboldt County and for sport-harvested mussels, clams, scallops, and oysters from the Northern Channel Islands.

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Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — NO-COST Webinar: Immigrant Rights in California Child Care Settings webinars on Nov. 4, 6 and 14

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Immigrant Rights in California Child Care Settings – for families with children in child care and child care providers working in various California child care programs:

This training will provide:

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Santa Paula Art Museum — Free Family Day: Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2

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Sunday, November 2, from 12 PM to 3 PM
Free for all ages

Guests of all ages are invited to celebrate Día de los Muertos at three locations in downtown Santa Paula on Sunday, November 2! Visit the Santa Paula Art Museum, Santa Paula Cemetery, and the Agriculture Museum and enjoy hands-on crafts, altar and art displays, face painting, and much more. Admission is free and all materials are provided. Hours and activities vary by location. Follow the link below for full details.

Free Family Day at the Santa Paula Art Museum is sponsored by Gold Coast Health Plan and The Smith-Hobson Foundation Fund.

MORE INFO?

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Graduate student Geraldine Montoya overcomes adversity to inspire others and earns CSU Trustees’ Award

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CAMARILLO — When Geraldine Montoya earns her master’s degree in School Counseling from California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), she will become the first in her family to earn a graduate degree — a milestone that represents years of perseverance and determination.

A first-generation immigrant from Colombia, Montoya faced significant challenges growing up, including homelessness and the loss of her father at a young age. Yet through resilience and an unwavering belief in education, she turned those obstacles into motivation to help others succeed.

Today, Montoya maintains a 4.0 GPA in CSUCI’s School Counseling program while also serving as Coordinator for the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP). In that role, she leads more than 50 Cash4College workshops each year to help students and families access financial aid and pursue higher education.

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Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund matching opportunity announced

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CAMARILLO — Momentum is building with the announcement of a new matching opportunity for the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund, a community-wide effort to support local families and small businesses experiencing sudden hardship and disruption. Through the generosity of the Brokaw Family Fund, donations up to a total of $50,000 will be matched, doubling impact for this vital humanitarian effort that offers a coordinated and trusted way for residents to step up and support one another.

“The Brokaw Family Fund normally focuses on bettering the lives of farm workers but now all our immigrant neighbors are threatened,” said Ellen Brokaw. “Non-profits are overwhelmed with requests from families for life-sustaining help. We hope this challenge will inspire others to contribute whatever they can to help all our neighbors in need.”

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Port of Hueneme Dock Talk October 2025

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The Port of Hueneme was proud to support the Farmworker Health and Wellness Fair at Oxnard College on October 10th, connecting our local farmworker community with essential health resources, wellness services, and support programs.

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PODS® teams up with Cumulus Radio and Ventura County Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary for 2025 Radiothon & 10,000 Toy Drive

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VENTURA — This November, PODS® Local Moving and Storage is proud to partner with Cumulus Media and Ventura County Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary?(VCMC) as a Sponsor for the 2025 Cumulus Radiothon & Toy Drive, supporting the only dedicated pediatric hospital unit in Ventura County. 

Running from November 5–30, this heartwarming campaign collects new, unwrapped toys for pediatric patients and their families receiving care at both Ventura and Santa Paula hospital campuses. With nearly 10,000 toys distributed by VCMC each year, the toy drive is a crucial effort to bring joy and comfort to children during what can be a difficult time. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off Monday – Friday, 8am to 4pm to the Cumulus Media studios at 1376 Walter St. Ventura.

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Santa Barbara City College partners with Mentavi Health to deliver rapid, clinically validated ADHD evaluations for students

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SANTA BARBARA and GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is adopting Mentavi Health’s Diagnostic Evaluation to provide timely, rigorous ADHD assessments for students seeking academic accommodations. The partnership enables SBCC to reach accommodation decisions faster, when appropriate, and helps students stay on course during the term’s most demanding weeks.

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Artwork by a Medea Creek middle schooler selected to appear in 2026 Metropolitan Water District Calendar

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OAK PARK — Artwork by 13-year-old Micah Aliling, currently an 8th grader at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park, was selected by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to appear in its printed 2026 calendar and digital library.

MWD delivers 1.5 billion gallons of water daily to 19 million people in Southern California. Earlier this year, it invited students across its six-county service area, including those in the Triunfo Water & Sanitation District (TWSD), to submit water conservation-themed artwork for its “Being Water Wise Is…”  Student Art Calendar Contest. This marks the fourth consecutive year that a student from Oak Park has had their artwork featured in the calendar.

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Moorpark and Ventura Colleges named among Top 200 U.S. Community Colleges eligible for 2027 Aspen Prize

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National recognition follows consecutive honors in 2021, 2023, and 2025 Cycles CAMARILLO — Two of Ventura County’s leading institutions, Moorpark College and Ventura College, have once again earned national recognition for their commitment to student success — named among the…

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Ventura County Student Logo Design Contest winners announced

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VENTURA COUNTY — The Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) is pleased to announce the following winners of logo design contests for the 2026 Academic Decathlon, Science Fair, Battle of the Books, Batalla de los Libros, Mock Trial, and Civic Action Project. The artwork will be prominently displayed on promotional and informational materials for these high-profile competitions and will be featured on commemorative pins for each event. The winning logos were selected from 120 entries by a committee of VCOE staff members.

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Three New Members Join The Ventura College Foundation Board, Including Acting Ventura College President

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VENTURA — Three new board members joined the Ventura College Foundation board of directors, including Dr. Luca E. Lewis, acting president of Ventura College. Lewis was previously vice president of Student Affairs at Ventura College. He brings over 22 years of experience in community college education.

“By fostering innovation, operational excellence, and teaching and learning excellence, I strive to create an environment with my colleagues where Ventura College can advance its mission, empower students, and strengthen our diverse communities in which we serve,” says Lewis.

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Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) free event and webinar schedule

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IN-PERSON EVENT: AI UNLOCKED: SHAPING THE FUTURE

November 7 @ 12:30 pm

Join the Scheinfeld Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Economic Development Collaborative to learn about how Santa Barbara County businesses are expanding the AI frontier, creating both challenges and opportunities for the workforce. At AI Unlocked: Shaping the Future, business leaders, students, faculty and employees will come together to explore how AI is transforming local industries—and the future-ready skills everyone will need to succeed. Through real-world insights, you’ll learn how businesses are adapting, what employers are looking for, and how to navigate your own path to AI literacy. Whether you’re running a business, preparing for your career or teaching and supporting students, this conversation will give you the tools and perspective to keep pace in an AI-driven world. Address: SBCC West Campus, Fe Bland Forum (BC Building Forum), 721 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

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805UndocuFund — New public art markers to honor sites of ICE Kidnappings in Thousand Oaks

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THOUSAND OAKS — In a powerful act of remembrance and resistance, a series of art markers was installed in Thousand Oaks to commemorate locations where individuals were taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The installation honors the lives disrupted by these actions and the resilience of the local immigrant community, 805UndocuFund reported in a media release.

The event was held on Hampshire Road between Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Royal Oaks Drive. Community members, artists, and advocates gathered to recognize the significance of the moment and the collective effort behind the project.

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Bay Area Xicanx artist Melanie Cervantes brings ‘Protect Your Spirit’ exhibit to CSUCI through Dec. 12

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CAMARILLO — Cal State Channel Islands (CSUCI) will host Bay Area Xicanx artist and cultural worker Melanie Cervantes for a solo exhibition, “Protect Your Spirit: Visual Lexicons of Resistance,” from Oct. 23 through Dec. 12 in the second-floor gallery of the John Spoor Broome Library.

An opening reception open to the public will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, at 5 p.m. at the Broome Library. Cervantes will also provide an artist talk for CSUCI students on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at noon, at the Broome Library.

Cervantes’ work offers a powerful visual language of resistance against social injustice and systemic oppression. Her art explores stories of struggle, resilience and triumph within marginalized communities and invites reflection on the role of art in social movements.

“There is both an ephemeral and a timeless nature to Cervantes’ art,” said CSUCI art historian Theresa Avila. “In this era of increased repression and surveillance, the type of art that Cervantes creates is needed now more than ever.”

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Santa Paula Art Museum — Inbox Art Exhibit: ‘Celebrating Nature: Paintings by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore’ on view through Nov. 9, more upcoming events

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Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains and Seashore was founded in the early 1990s to support and promote the hard-fought conservation of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, established in 1978. The SMMNRA encompasses over 156,000 acres that stretch east to west from Griffith Park in Los Angeles County to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. With 46 miles of scenic coastline, over 500 miles of trails, and a vast array of native flora, fauna, and culturally significant sites, the SMMNRA is the largest urban national recreation are in the world, bordering the second-largest city in the United States.

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SBCC School of Extended Learning — Rediscover your creative spark

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SANTA BARBARA — This fall, SBCC School of Extended Learning invites older adults to discover or rediscover their creative potential. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced artist looking to refine your skills, the Older Adults Program offers expert instruction in a welcoming environment, with free art classes designed specifically for adults age 55 and over.

Two of the program’s exceptional eight-week courses are launching the week of October 20, with spots still available:

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California Student Aid Commission launches the 2026-27 Statewide Financial Aid Cycle at Ventura College

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VENTURA — The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), in partnership with Ventura College and the Ventura College Foundation, kicked off the 2026-27 Statewide Financial Aid Application Cycle at a press conference held on Oct. 1.  This event held at Ventura College highlighted the critical role financial aid plays in allowing access and equity for students pursuing higher education across California.

“We chose to launch the 2026-27 financial aid cycle in Ventura because there is something special here,” said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director of the California Student Aid Commission. “From being able to support a student to pursue their college dreams, to understanding that financial aid is critical to help students stay enrolled, Ventura has the opportunity to continue its growth in completed financial aid applications while supporting students through their higher education journey.”

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