Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Webinar Schedule

SANTA BARBARA SCORE: WHY YOUR WEBSITE SHOULD BE A TOP MARKETING PRIORITY

April 20 @ 10:00 am

It’s important that businesses make their website a priority and the foundation of their digital marketing in order to achieve optimal success. With only having a few seconds to engage website visitors, your visuals and content need to be spot on. Join SCORE to learn the latest website best practices and techniques for making your website a more effective sales tool. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Condado de Ventura — Actualización: COVID-19

¡Compartimos un agradecimiento especial a Esperanza Ramírez por su dedicación a servir a trabajadores agrícolas en nuestra comunidad! Esperanza siempre hace un esfuerzo adicional conectarse con nuestros vecinos que trabajan en los campos.

“Me siento muy afortunada de ser parte del Programa de Recursos para Trabajadores Agrícolas, donde puedo ayudar a las familias agrícolas que llaman a nuestra oficina en busca de recursos porque están pasando por momentos difíciles durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Mis padres son trabajadores agrícolas y ellos son mi inspiración cada día para sentirme orgullosa del trabajo que realizo al servir a la comunidad agrícola. Mi parte favorita de mi trabajo es estar en los ranchos y proporcionar recursos informativos para la comunidad agrícola en el maravilloso idioma Tu’un Savi (Mixteco).”

Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Responds to State Delaying Student Vaccine Mandate

Last Thursday, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that a statewide requirement for K-12 students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will be delayed at least until the 2023-24 school year. California had initially intended to require student vaccinations for the 2022-23 school year, but that was contingent on the FDA fully approving the vaccine for most students. Since it’s not known when the FDA will grant full approval, CDPH says health officials and schools will need more time for successful implementation of new vaccine requirements.

Bilingual report — Board of Supervisors launches survey for input on CEO recruitment

The County of Ventura Board of Supervisors seeks community feedback to ensure the recruitment for the next County Executive Officer is a success. The County Executive Officer (CEO) executes, leads, and coordinates the management and administrative policies and directives of the Board of Supervisors. 

CLU School of Management — PRiME Competition and New Venture Fair launching, other events

PRiME Competition
Vote for the People’s Choice Award
On-demand between April 20 – April 26

Our PRiME Competition showcases student projects that support the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Each project required a written paper, SDGs-executive summary, video presentation, and Powerpoint/poster presentation for judges’ review.

Access Patrol Services Provides Spanish-Speaking Security Guards

Access Patrol Services (APS), a security guard company serving California and Arizona, provides bilingual Spanish-speaking security guards to businesses, events, shopping centers, medical facilities, schools and government entities.

“Security guards need to be able to communicate effectively. In many cases, that means talking with individuals in English or Spanish,” says Fahim Abid, APS security director. “We’ve found that our bilingual guards convey a high level of trust and those speaking primarily Spanish who need assistance are more comfortable discussing their issues to guards in their native tongue.”

Register now for SBCC summer sessions

Santa Barbara City College is pleased to announce that registration for summer 2022 is now open to everyone in the community. Whether looking to earn a certificate, an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university — or enroll in the School of Extended Learning for life-enhancement classes, career-skills training, a high school diploma or GED — SBCC is ready to help you achieve your goals.

Two six-week sessions are offered, starting May 16 and June 27.

Broadway star Cristy Candler launches OF SOUND BODY in Santa Barbara, offering healing through yoga, sound and energy work

For more than a decade, Cristy Candler wowed audiences as a professional dancer, Broadway star and fitness model, seamlessly moving from lead roles in popular musicals to television appearances to photo shoots in major magazines.

Through it all, Candler stayed grounded physically, mentally, and spiritually by embracing another set of passions: yoga, sound healing and energy work. She practiced these modalities herself, studied with some of the best yoga masters in New York City, and taught yoga to the Broadway community, at yoga studios and at major companies.

Santa Barbara City College — Outstanding Administrator of the Year: Angelica Contreras and more news

Interim Director of Admissions & Records and Dual Enrollment Angelica Contreras received this year’s Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award for her commitment to students and her ability to lead with compassion, professionalism and courage. Known for fostering cooperation and collaborations, she ensures that everyone involved is included and heard. “Leadership is who she is, in all she does,” said one of her colleagues.

United Way of Ventura County launches Forward Home Program

United Way of Ventura County has officially launched its new Forward Home Program in partnership with the City of Oxnard, which assists City of Oxnard clients experiencing homelessness in successfully transitioning to stable housing. 

UWVC provides a variety of services via the Forward Home Program, including collaborating with case managers as well as assisting clients in gathering and obtaining necessary documents, receiving credit counseling, applying for housing voucher programs, accessing additional community resources, and more.

Bilingual Commentary — Their Indispensable Role of Libraries in Our Communities

Last week was National Library Week, “a time to celebrate our nation’s libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support,” according to the American Library Association website. 

Libraries are not the places we boomers knew as children. In the late 1950s, computers and the Internet were just a twinkle in technology’s eye. We may not all have walked to school uphill in neck-high snow, but we did work to get information.

Port of Hueneme — State Selects High-Tech Collaborative for Key Investment

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) recently announced grant award recipients?of the Inclusive Innovation Hub (iHub2) program. This one-time, $250,000 grant will run for a 15 month period and will help accelerate regionally focused strategies to spur innovation and diversification across industry sectors and geographies while attracting entrepreneurs from underserved business communities.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — FATHOMWERX Designated as Local Inclusive Innovation Hub

The California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) announced grant award recipients?of the Inclusive Innovation Hub (iHub2) program. This one-time, $250,000 grant will run for 15 months period and will help accelerate regionally focused strategies to spur innovation and diversification across industry sectors and geographies while attracting entrepreneurs from underserved business communities.

Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — Only 4 days remaining to see This Basic Asymmetry

There are only four days remaining to view This Basic Asymmetry featuring work by artists Patricia Ayres, Simone Forti, Miguel Angel Payano Jr., Paul Mpagi Sepuya, and Gabriela Ruiz. 

This Basic Asymmetry presents the work of five artists whose practices make available their personal processes of introspection, creating a space for the viewer to reflect on their own relationship to their bodies and how that informs one’s perception of others. Addressing the dissonance in our reckoning between self and other, the works exhibited here accommodate space for mutual exploration.

Admission is always FREE! Click here to read more >>>

OPAC’s Sight + Sound Film Festival Announces Call for Submissions

The Sight + Sound Film Festival is accepting film submissions now through June 12 for its second annual event to be held September 30 – October 2, 2022 at select venues in Historic Downtown Oxnard. The event is a joint effort between OPAC, the Film, Television, and Electronic Media program at Oxnard College and Downtown Oxnard.

Filmmakers of all levels may submit works in the following categories: Narrative Features and Shorts, Documentary Features and Shorts, Romantic Comedy, Dramatic, Thriller/Sci-Fi, Films produced in Oxnard/Ventura County and by local filmmakers, Student films, Music Videos, ASMR, and Animations.

“Our commitment is to collaboration, unity, diversity and giving voice to artists and issues around the world and to promote awareness and healing as we endeavor to present the best possible cinematic works, speakers and workshops by artists locally, regionally and even internationally” said Carolyn Merino Mullin, festival director. 

Sigrid Wright Awarded Congressional Woman of the Year

Congressmember Salud Carbajal has announced the winners of the fifth annual Congressional Women of the Year Award, including Community Environmental Council CEO Sigrid Wright. This prestigious award honors six exceptional women across the 24th Congressional District who have left a positive impact on their communities. 

“With the many daunting challenges of the growing climate crisis, Sigrid’s dedicated environmental leadership in Santa Barbara has guided the community in facing those changes,” Congressman Carbajal said. “I am honored to recognize her contributions to our community.”

Bilingual report — WEV seeking Bilingual Program Officer

WEV is seeking to hire a full-time Bilingual Program Officer to support our Emprendedores Spanish language business training, coaching and micro-grant program. ?This role can be based in the Ventura or Santa Barbara office, with hybrid work opportunities.  WEV (pronounced “weave”) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. We are a purposeful, mission-driven organization with a passionate and engaged staff based in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, whose primary focus is on supporting women-owned businesses and entrepreneurship.   For more information and to apply visit: www.wevonline.org/jobs/bilingual-program-officer/

SBCC students among 2022 Phi Theta Kappa All-California Award Winners

Santa Barbara City College extends congratulations to students Carie Millard, Nicole Pena, Olivia Reed and John Fletcher (not pictured) for being named 2022 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-California Award Winners. This year’s list of award recipients includes 114 students from across the California Community Colleges for the All-California Academic First, Second and Third Teams. To view the team selections and rankings, click here. 

PTK recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has a presence on almost 1,300 community college campuses in 11 nations. Building on the success of the national All-USA Team Program, PTK launched the All-State Academic Team Program. The purpose of this program is to provide recognition at the state level for these top community college students. 

Bilingual report — County of Ventura Update – COVID-19

It’s National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and we’re showing gratitude for dispatchers at the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County Fire Department! They are the calm voice on the other end of the line that provides critical support to the community, deputies, and first responders. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our community!

CSUCI student advocate for LGBTQ individuals is named a Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow

The CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) student who founded the national  Youth Pride Association (YPA) has been named a 2022-2023 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow.

Chemistry major Cameron Bartosiewicz, who founded the 501(c)3 to support and advocate for LGBTQ youth, is among 173 students from 38 states and Mexico to be named a Newman Fellow.

Bilingual report — MICOP — Farmworkers strike Acquistapace Harvesting Inc.

A farmworker strike for the agriculture company Aquistapace Harvesting Inc. took place April 11 in Santa Maria, California with the support of non-profit organizations, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project and CAUSE.
 
Workers at Aquistapace Harvesting Inc. are on strike to demand an increase in the payment of strawberry boxes as no increases have been seen in past years. With the increase in gasoline, housing and food. Collective workers are demanding the following in order to sustain themselves:
 
1. Increase in strawberry boxes to $3.50
2. Paid holidays / double when working
3. Working condition – Do not work during rains / pay double box price on rainy days

Regional Climate Collaboratives to Kick Off 5-Week Carbon Sequestration Webinar Series in Earth Week

The Central Coast Climate Collaborative (4C) and the Santa Barbara County Regional Climate Collaborative are co-hosting a five-part webinar series to educate participants about carbon sequestration and carbon offsets. The series kicks off April 19, and will conclude on May 18.

In order to achieve carbon neutrality, governments, businesses, and communities will need to consider carbon sequestration and offsets as part of the solutions toolkit. Because there are a lot of unknowns and misunderstandings surrounding carbon removal, largely due to the complex and developing nature of the industry. This series aims to introduce potential stakeholders to carbon sequestration and offset markets and to facilitate dialogue, foster connections and projects, and address barriers.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Free Webinar Schedule

VENTURA SCORE: GETTING STARTED WITH QUICKBOOKS ONLINE-HOW TO SET UP QUICKBOOKS FROM SCRATCH

April 12 @ 10:30 am

This live, interactive webinar session is designed to help you understand the features, functions and benefits of QuickBooks Online for small business owners as well as assist you in implementing accounting best practices to manage your business finance. This webinar will concentrate on steps to properly record payroll transactions that are administered by third party companies like ADP and Paychex. Juliana Ramirez from JR Bookkeeping will live answer your questions related to the subject matter including live demonstrations.