April 13 — CSUCI, Oxnard College present free dance concert by Ballet Nepantla

Dancers conveying the stories and identities of Mexican Americans through a combination of ballet and folklorico will present a free public performance in Oxnard and a master class for CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) and Oxnard College students. 

Ballet Nepantla will perform “Valentina” on Thursday, April 13, at 6 p.m. in the Oxnard College Performing Arts Building (PAB). The master class for Dance Studies majors at CSUCI and Oxnard College students will be held the morning of April 13 at the University in Camarillo. 

“Too often, art produced and performed by people of color is invisible, and the opportunity to offer this folklorico ballet performance to the community pushes back against that trend,” said CSUCI Vice Provost Jessica Lavariega Monforti. 

April 14 — CSUCI and Santa Barbara Zoo launch educational partnership and campus conservation center

California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) and the Santa Barbara Zoo are pleased to announce a partnership that will enrich academic opportunities for students and enhance wildlife conservation, research, and outreach throughout the region.

On Friday, April 14, at 10 a.m., at the Santa Barbara Zoo, CSUCI President Richard Yao and Zoo President and CEO Richard Block will sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing the relationship. The agreement paves the way for future collaboration and outlines plans for a zoo-owned and managed conservation center on the CSUCI campus.

“By partnering with a world-class zoo right here in our backyard, we are strengthening our commitment to be a ‘conservation campus’ on the Central Coast,” said Yao. “We are excited about the opportunities for our students to work side by side with Zoo personnel and CSUCI faculty to protect and reestablish threatened species in our region and to develop vital skills in conservation education and management. It is our hope that students and faculty from all disciplines and programs of study will have a chance to benefit from and contribute to our partnership with the Zoo. It will present rich opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations.”

April 14, 15, 16 — Bilingual report — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! Presents Three Free Performances of Tres Souls

SANTA BARBARA — ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! (Viva) is back with its next free community event. Relive the vintage sounds of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema with three free performances by the musical trio, Tres Souls. Viva is a collaboration…

April 15, 16 — VCFD to Help Develop ‘Girls with Grit’ Fire Camp

CAMARILLO — Thirty girls will learn what it’s like to be a firefighter during the Ventura County Fire Department’s Girls Fire Camp April 15 and 16.

Reporters and photographers are invited to cover the event at the fire department’s Regional Training Center adjacent to the Camarillo Airport. Camp runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The camp is led and taught by female firefighters from VCFD and fire departments across the West Coast. The youth empowerment program is designed to showcase firefighting, and help them become “Girls with Grit” whether they pursue a firefighting career or not.

April 16 — SAVE THE DATE — Earth Day EcoFest in Ventura

Ventura Charter School is pleased to once again present Earth Day EcoFest, a celebration of our planet for the community of Ventura. After a three-year hiatus, this family-friendly FREE event welcomes the community to enjoy live performances, exhibitions, food trucks, an electric vehicle expo, and more. Earth Day EcoFest will take place on Sunday April 16th, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ventura Charter School campus, 2060 Cameron St., Ventura.

Through April 20 — Livingston Memorial presenting Teen Grief Support Group Session

 Many teens have experienced the death of a loved one. This is a difficult time for anyone grieving a loss. Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement Program is providing a free support group for teens through April 20th on Thursdays 6 – 7 pm. For reservations contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited.

April 21 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents So Percussion with Caroline Shaw at Campbell Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents S? Percussion with Caroline Shaw on Friday, April 21 at 8 p.m. at Campbell Hall. Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw joins S? Percussion as vocalist for ten songs she co-composed with the quartet members. Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part explores soil cultivation as a metaphor for creativity and collaboration. Shaw’s remarkable ear for melody and harmony and S?’s playful sense of rhythmic invention come together in this strikingly original music. Taking inspiration from James Joyce, ABBA, American roots music, plainchant, Christian hymns and stories from the Old Testament, S? Percussion and Caroline Shaw dissolve the boundaries between classical and pop. In the first half of the program, S? Percussion will perform works in its repertoire from a trio of young composers including ensemble member Eric Cha-Beach, Angélica Negrón and Nathalie Joachim.

April 22 — UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

Lady Gaga. Wagner. Talking Heads. No repertoire is safe from the artistry and insanity of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. With punk rock sensibilities and restrained British humor, this eight-piece band of expert strummers and singers has charmed audiences the world over. Devilishly irreverent and shockingly eclectic, the orchestra is a bona fide U.K. national treasure, inspiring an international love affair with its humble four-string namesake. 

April 22 — Bilingual report — This Earth Day, RESCUECON puts at-risk animals front and center at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center

OXNARD — For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC) welcomes back RESCUECON, a one day event bringing creativity and community together to celebrate and facilitate animal rescue and adoption. The event is free and open to the public and will be held on Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 10 am to 3 pm at the Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center. More information can be found at: theopac.org/rescuecon

RESCUECON is a convention like no other, where the human-animal bond takes center stage. Through animal adoptions and the arts, hands-on workshops, a kid’s area, talks by really amazing people, an artisan marketplace, and so much more, attendees will learn, play, explore, and, above all, refresh their relationship with animals… and each other.

April 22 — Studio Channel Islands presents Gypsy Interlude — Concert in the Gallery

Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) Presents long-time friends Armen Guzelimian and Gilles Apap are performing together for the first time ever at Studio Channel Islands.

Armen Guzelimian is celebrated for his versatility as a top-notch collaborative artist, a brilliant soloist and first-rate chamber musician not only in Southern California, but all over the world. He has received national and international critical acclaim for his appearances in many of the major concert halls in the U.S.A and Europe.

As a chamber musician, Mr. Guzelimian’s has appeared with the Rossetti String Quartet, the Los Angeles String Quartet, Camerata Pacifica, the Dilijan Chamber Music Series, Chamber Music in Historic Sites, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Aspen Festival. He made his Disney Hall debut in March of 2014 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Society and returned to the delight of audiences in November 2016.

April 22 — People’s Self-Help Housing announces 2023 Builder Games – Get your tickets early and save!

This Spring, support People’s Self-Help Housing at their signature fundraiser – The Builder Games!

Cheer on teams building playhouses, as they race against the clock and face fun challenges. See who becomes this year’s ‘Builder Games Champion’, while enjoying gourmet food, fine wine, craft beer, and live music.

April 22, 23 — CSUCI University Chorus and four high school choirs will sing in Choral Spectacular 2023

Five choruses totaling more than 100 singers will perform together April 22 and 23 in CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Choral Spectacular 2023.

The CSU Channel Islands University Chorus will be joined by the Pleasant Valley School District Chorus, Santa Paula High School Cardinal Concert Choir, Ventura High School Chorale and Rancho Campana High School Concert Choir as they sing a variety of musical pieces in several languages. The performance will also feature the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra (CHICO).

April 22 — SEEAG To Host Earth Day Plantopia U Pick Transplant Fundraiser At Farm Lab in Saticoy

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) will host its first annual Plantopia U Pick Transplant Fundraiser to celebrate Earth Day. The event, held on Earth Day, April 22, will raise funds to support SEEAG’s agricultural education programs where students learn about the farm origins of their food, water resources, soil health, entomology and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

April 23 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents ARTEMIS at Campbell Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents ARTEMIS on Sunday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at Campbell Hall. ARTEMIS is an international ensemble of modern jazz masters named for the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt. Founded in 2017 under the banner of International Women’s Day, it made a memorable splash at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival, followed by a debut recording on Blue Note in 2020. Each member is a composer and bandleader in their own right, and the collective’s repertoire draws from new compositions written expressly for them, to classics by Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk and Wayne Shorter.

April 23 — UCSB Arts & Lectures  presents Artemis at UCSB Campbell Hall

ARTEMIS is an international ensemble of modern jazz masters named for the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt. Founded in 2017 under the banner of International Women’s Day, it made a memorable splash at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival, followed by a debut recording on Blue Note in 2020. Each member is a composer and bandleader in their own right, and the collective’s repertoire draws from new compositions written expressly for them, to classics by Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk and Wayne Shorter.

April 25 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents 24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón at Campbell Hall

UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Ada Limón on Tuesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Campbell Hall. For Ada Limón, poetry is elemental, necessary and deeply human. Known for “clear storytelling, vivid visuals, and a final turn that snaps you like a twig” (Guernica Magazine), Limón is the author of six books of poetry. The Carrying won the National Book Critics Circle Award. Bright Dead Thingswas nominated for the National Book Award. Her newest book of poetry, The Hurting Kind, was named one of The New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2022. The first woman of Mexican ancestry to be named U.S. poet laureate, Limón views identity – and poetry – as an avenue to greater possibilities.

April 26 — Free LightGabler Webinar: ‘What Have You Done for Me Lately?–Evaluating Employee Performance’

Employment law firm LightGabler is presenting a free employment law webinar, “What Have You Done for Me Lately?–Evaluating Employee Performance.” The webinar is Wednesday, April 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Preparing employee performance evaluations is a task often dreaded by managers and human resource professionals alike. And yet, documenting performance is critical for employee productivity, workplace morale, effective supervisor-subordinate communication and legal protection. Like all employment documentation, poorly-prepared evaluations can be more dangerous than no evaluations at all.

April 27 — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) to present free Social Media In-Person Workshop

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC), City of Santa Paula and Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to bring you a NO-COST in-person workshop on social media planning, unique marketing strategies and boosting sales through advertising. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn valuable business skills!

April 27 @ 6:30 PM

Address: Glenn Tavern Inn,134 N Mill St, Santa Paula, CA 93060

April 27 — UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Isabella Rossellini in Conversation with Pico Iyer at The New Vic

A storied model and movie star, Isabella Rossellini represents a startling example of self reinvention. Born into European film royalty as the daughter of director Roberto Rossellini and actor Ingrid Bergman, her own performances are some of the definitive images in film. After a successful career in acting and modeling, she earned a master’s degree in animal behavior and now creates unique and humorous works of performance art based on her research. Known for her philanthropic efforts in animal conservation among other areas, Rossellini runs an organic farm in Bellport, New York. As former muse and partner to artists like David Lynch, Martin Scorsese and Gary Oldman, Rossellini has stories to share and ideas of her own about the trials and tribulations of a life lived almost entirely in the public eye. 

April 28 — West Ventura County Business Alliance to present address by CSU Channel Islands President Richard Yao

The West Ventura County Business Alliance, the chamber of commerce serving Camarillo and Oxnard, will host the State of the University address by President Richard Yao, Ph.D., of California State University Channel Islands on Friday, April 28.

Each year the president addresses the business community at the CSUCI Connection Luncheon with updates from the University, one of the major economic engines in the region. Yao will discuss highlights from the University’s 20th Anniversary last year as well as major plans, projects and initiatives for the next decade.

April 28, 29, 30 — Ventura College to present ‘These Shining Lives’ by Melanie Marnich at the Ventura College Theatre

It’s the roaring 20s and gender norms have started to shift. Four young women celebrate their new-found freedoms as employees of the Radium Dial Company, decorating watches and clockfaces with a new invention, glow-in-the-dark paint. As decades pass and a toxic truth begins to emerge, the women struggle to hold the company accountable for stealing their health by valuing profit over safety. Based on the true story of the Radium Girls, Melanie Marnich’s “These Shining Lives” illuminates the spirits of these ordinary women whose courageous battle for social justice continues to resonate in the laws that protect today’s worker.

April 29 — Santa Barbara Maritime Museum & Anchor Rose Restaurant to present book signing with author Will Sofrin

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and the Anchor Rose Restauran will present a book signing with author Will Sofrin of the memoir “All Hands on Deck: A Modern-Day High Seas Adventure to the Far Side of the World” from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara.

The event will include an outdoor screening of the feature film Master and Commander.

April 29 — Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) presenting free workshop ‘Working for a Better Future: The Power of Family Child Care Providers’

Join us in recognition of Ventura County’s family child care providers with a day filled with professional learning, networking and celebration! This free event will feature a keynote presentation from Miriam Beloglovsky, author of Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children and workshops on:

April 29-30 — Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Back in Full Force – Highlights Announced

The Community Environmental Council and its long-time festival partner, CarpEvents, are thrilled to bring the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival  back to Alameda Park on Saturday, April 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Tens of thousands of community members are anticipated to attend to connect with climate-forward businesses and organizations, engage in climate-focused educational activities, hear from dozens of speakers on a variety of environmental topics, savor locally sourced, climate-friendly food and beverage, and enjoy live music. 

April 29 — Oxnard Performing Arts Center to celebrate 55 Years with Casino Night Fundraiser

The Oxnard Performing Arts & Convention Center celebrates its 55th anniversary this Spring! The Center’s nonprofit arm, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center Corporation (OPAC), is kickstarting the festivities with a Casino Night on Saturday, April 29 to raise funds for its community programs which provide 5,000 low-income students with free access to art and music education.

Through April 30 — Channel Islands Maritime Museum to Present Annual Oxnard Union High School District Student Art Show

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM) will be presenting its latest exhibition, The Oxnard Union High School District Student Art Show, in its Brenda and Gary Farr Gallery through April 30.

Art is a strong, unifying element within the community and students will be showcasing their talents in a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums.

“We are proud to host a show where students can share their creative expressions and lived experiences,” said CIMM’s Collections and Exhibitions Manager Olivia Williamson. “We invite you to come and witness the next generation of great artists.”