OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services has announced that nominations are now open for 28th annual Latino Leadership Awards. We are asking for award nominations of individuals or businesses that have made an outstanding contribution in enhancing the educational experience of…
‘Tis the Season’ – Oxnard Gears up to Celebrate the Holidays!
OXNARD – Oxnard is gearing up to ring in the holidays with a series of festive events ranging from massive lights displays to holiday boat parades to tempting tamales! Oxnard kicks off the holiday season with the 66th Annual Christmas…
Bilingual report: Teatro de las Américas to present Gala Dinner Fundraiser on Nov. 15
OXNARD — Teatro de las Américas will present its Gala Dinner Fundraiser from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at The Tower Club, 300 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard. The event is designed to engage our local community and supporters to…
The Blackboard Gallery at Studio Channel Islands to present exhibit ‘Street/Urban’ by Charles Magallanes and sculpture work by William Solomon through 23
CAMARILLO — The new exhibition “Street/Urban” opening at the Blackboard Gallery at Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, is an exhibit showcasing Charles Magallanes, along with a sculptural piece by William Solomon. Each artist will bring his own creative flair to the…
Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Holiday Special Comes to Oxnard College, Dec. 7
Nationally Recognized Stage Show to Feature Broadway Star Bianca Marroquin, Last Comic Standing’s Francisco Ramos, Inspirational Comedian Ernie G and award-winning host Rick Najera OXNARD — In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Holiday Special will take…
El Concilio Family Services to hold Holiday Mixer on Dec. 7
OXNARD — El Concilio Family Services will hold a Holiday Mixer from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the River Ridge Golf Club, 2401 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard RSVP to yvonne@elconciliofs.org or by calling 805-487-9777, ext. 228.
Museum of Ventura County to present community outreach meeting on Nov. 10 at the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard
OXNARD — The next Community Outreach Meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Mexican Consulate, 3151 W. Fifth St., Suite E 100. “We have been getting valuable feedback from you, our Museum family, at our Community Outreach Meetings–thank…
Santa Paula Art Museum to present Gallery Talk: Sergio and Diane Hernandez on Nov. 10
SANTA PAULA — Join us on Thursday, November 10, at 3:00 p.m. for a gallery talk with featured artist Sergio Hernandez and his wife Diane. The pair will share the story of Con Safos magazine, one of the earliest Latino literary publications,…
The Collection at RiverPark gives a “Toast” to bartenders with new social media program
OXNARD — The Collection at RiverPark has introduced a new way to get to know the center’s talented line-up of bartenders along with their signature cocktails. “Toast” is a social media campaign that interviews a new bartender each month from…
UCSB’s Mario Garcia being honored in separate events for distinguished contributions to the history of Latino activists
By Jim Logan / UCSB Few scholars have done more to document the lives and activism of Mexican-Americans than Mario García. For more than four decades the professor of Chicano and Chicana studies and of history at UC Santa Barbara has given voice to the…
Braille Institute Santa Barbara Recognizes National White Cane Safety Day with White Cane Walk and Proclamations
SANTA BARBARA — On October 13, Braille Institute Santa Barbara recognized White Cane Safety Day with a special awareness and education effort. Community leaders and Braille Institute staff, students and volunteers marched in solidarity for the White Cane Walk along De La Vina…
SBCC Receives $5.3 Million Grant to Support “Removing Barriers to STEM Success”
SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara City College has received a $5.3 Million federal grant to support students pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM). The project, “Removing Barriers to STEM Success,” will provide resources for faculty wishing…
Family Service Agency announces $500K in funding for evidence-based Holistic Defense Program
SANTA BARBARA — Family Service Agency (FSA) has received a $498,524 grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation to conduct a pilot study of Adult Holistic Defense Case Management (AHDCM) in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Public Defender’s Office.…
Bilingual commentary: Walls, Gates and Velvet Ropes
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…
The White House recognizes CSU Channel Islands for community service
CAMARILLO — For the sixth year in a row, CSU Channel Islands (CI) has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll —and for the first time, CI was recognized “with distinction.” Being named to the Honor Roll is the…
Jensen Design & Survey Hires Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Top Talent
CENTRAL COAST — Engineering design firms with innovative projects are always on the hunt for the best talent coming from the top schools in the state. Jensen Design & Survey, Inc. (JDS), a full-service civil engineering, surveying, planning, and construction…
Travel: Taking the low, slow ride
Two exhibits bring the world of the lowrider alive at the New Mexico History Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 So here I am, walking through a pair of…
YMCA Heritage Club: Strengthening Youth, Families, and the Community for Generations to Come
CENTRAL COAST — The Channel Islands YMCA has served the Central Coast community since it was established in 1887 and currently operates six health and fitness facilities, a Youth and Family services branch, and more than 20 child care locations.…
20th Mexican Literary Colloquium, Nov. 11 through 13 at UCSB, takes its metaphorical cue from a missing 19th-century cannon
By Jim Logan / UCSB You might say there was something lost in translation when Santa Barbara named a street Canon Perdido. It should have been Cañon Perdido, after a cannon that disappeared on the beach in 1848. Without that…
‘El Camino de Santiago’ in Spain with SBCC Study Abroad in Spring 2017
SANTA BARBARA — From March 23 to April 3, 2017, coinciding with Santa Barbara City College’s Spring Break, the Study Abroad Office of Santa Barbara City College will be conducting a trip to the northern Spanish region of Galicia to participate in…
Law authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson to encourage young people to vote takes effect
SACRAMENTO – A law authored by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to encourage young people to vote by allowing voter pre-registration beginning at age 16 has just taken effect. In 2014, Jackson authored Senate Bill 113 and Governor Jerry Brown signed it…
Montecito Family YMCA: 7 Healthy Habits for Your Family to Help Solve Childhood Obesity
California now ranked No. 1 in percentage of children considered overweight or obese; Childhood obesity has more than tripled during the past 30 years MONTECITO – September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and while the dangers of childhood obesity are…
Mental Wellness Center Extends Family Advocate Hours for Community Members
SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center is pleased to announce it has extended the hours of its Family Advocate, offering everyone in the community access to information, support and resources related to mental health for a family member or…
Bilingual commentary: A Visit to Mom and Dad
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…
CenCal Health Launches Campaign to Educate Provider Community on Behavioral Health Services in SB, SLO Counties
CENTRAL COAST – CenCal Health, in partnership with the Central Coast Medical Association, The Holman Group, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness and San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department recently hosted three seminars in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and San…
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Awarded $11,000 to Support their Continued Leadership in Community Health Care
Foundation recognizes health center as vital member of California’s safety net SANTA BARBARA — Blue Shield of California Foundation has just awarded a grant of $11,000 in unrestricted funds to the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics in recognition of their critical role in…
Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run Raises More Than $210,000 to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke
CENTRAL COAST — More than 1 in 3 Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Santa Barbara resident and owner of Tri-County Produce, John Dixon is all too familiar with this devastating disease. He was born with heart disease and had…
Governor signs Jackson’s bills on Title IX rights, teaching healthy relationships skills in school
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure that students and schools are aware of their rights and responsibilities under Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in education. Senate…
Ventura County Public Works Agency gives lessons on Ventura County water use at CSUCI’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
VENTURA COUNTY — Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) can add college educators to its impressive body of work. The agency has been invited to lead an 8-week course for California State University, Channel Islands’ Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLL)…
Ventura County Heart & Stroke Walk/Run Raised Nearly $150,000 to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke
CENTRAL COAST — Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – killing about 2,200 Americans each day – one every 40 seconds. To combat these statistics, the American Heart Association (AHA) hosted…
Bilingual commentary: The Rose Bush
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…
United Way of Ventura County provides update on ‘Building Healthy Smiles’ initiative
Dear Friends, We have so much to share with you in this newsletter. Thanks to your generosity, our programs are expanding and serving more local residents throughout Ventura County. Please scroll down and take a moment to read more about…
Hispanic Heritage Month: One month is not enough
Too many issues and events to squeeze into one month of reflection and celebration By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Many folks wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month is divided between September and October. Yes, at least we get a month,…
‘California’s water crisis must be attacked now to guarantee water will be flowing from taps’
LAS VEGAS — “California’s water crisis must be attacked now to guarantee water will be flowing from taps,” veteran water expert Mohammed Hasan told the Tri-State seminar in Las Vegas this Tuesday. Addressing water professionals from California, Nevada and Arizona, Hasan discussed…
El Carrillo Affordable Housing Development Celebrates 10 Years of Housing the Homeless
SANTA BARBARA — The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) celebrated the 10th Anniversary of El Carrillo, the first development of its kind in Santa Barbara to offer permanent, affordable housing with supportive services for homeless individuals.…
Community Philanthropy Teams Up to Fund New Vehicle for Youth and Family Services YMCA
SANTA BARBARA – Noah’s Anchorage, a program of Youth and Family Services YMCA, was the grateful recipient of a new vehicle to aid in the necessary daily transportation of youth in the program. The vehicle purchase was funded by donations from the…
Annual Safety Awards Day Recognized by Gold Coast Transit District
OXNARD — On October 5th Gold Coast Transit District celebrated its Annual Safety Awards Day. Each year, GCTD recognizes those drivers who have achieved a track record of safe driving as well as members of the “Million Mile Club” who have…
Bilingual commentary: The Specter of Demonization
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By David Magallanes / Guest contributor David Magallanes…
CSU Channel Islands now accepting applications for Fall 2017
OXNARD — CSU Channel Islands (CI) is currently accepting admissions for the fall of 2017. Enrollment staff members advise high school seniors and transfer students to apply early at www.csumentor.edu “The college application process can be stressful for students,” said CI Assistant Vice…
Foster VC Kids, Ventura County Office of Education Collaborate on Innovative Support Systems for Foster Youth
Parent Teacher Forum to be held Oct. 11 VENTURA COUNTY — School stability is extraordinarily difficult for youth that experience life in foster care. Less than 50% of foster youth graduate from high school and only 3% go on to…
Lloyd Properties donates 860 acres to local land trust
VENTURA — The Lloyd Ranch has been a part of the Ventura community for over a century, providing stewardship of a large section of the Ventura hillsides since the early 1900’s and contributing to Ventura’s economic vitality for decades. On Sept.…
You Can’t Buy Love – But You Can Adopt It!
Santa Barbara Humane Society Celebrates Adopt-a-Dog Month with “Name Your Price” Adoption Promotion SANTA BARBARA — October is national Adopt-a-Dog Month, a public awareness campaign to bring attention to the millions of homeless dogs living at animal shelters throughout the…
LULAC Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by Urging Latinos to Register to Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when our nation reflects on the contributions Hispanics have made to our history and culture. For the third year, LULAC joins the Hispanic Heritage Month of Action campaign in an effort to encourage the…
Rebozo Festival announces 2017 grant application now open
CAMARILLO — Rebozo Festival, Inc. is pleased to announce that awards of up to $20,000 will be granted to qualified non-profit organizations that focus on the cultural, social and/or educational needs of the Ventura County community. The application process will close…
The Collection at RiverPark’s Pink Perks support Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October
October promotion gives guests power to shop for a cause by benefiting non-profits! OXNARD — There will be extra “perks” to shopping and dining at The Collection at RiverPark in October as the sprawling shopping center brings back its Pink…
Ventura College Puts Chicano Art on Display through Nov. 17
Featured artists from the private collection of VC professor SANTA PAULA — Ventura College presents a Chicano Art Exhibit, “The Imagery of Chicano: a Perspective of Chicanismo in Contemporary Art” through Nov. 17 at the Ventura College Santa Paula site, 957…
Snap a “Selfie” for Hunger Action Month
VENTURA COUNTY — September is Hunger Action Month, and FOOD Share is asking everyone to share the message that 1 in 6 Ventura County residents is still food insecure. That’s 136,000 of our children, families, and seniors who lack, at…
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! presents Yolotecuani in Free Community Workshop in Music and Dance of Guerrero, Mexico on Oct. 20
Thursday / Jueves, OCT 20, 7:00 PM Casa de la Guerra, 15 E. De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA FREE workshop / Entrada gratuita Free community workshop in music and dance of Guerrero, Mexico with Yolotecuani. Students and observers…
Spanish-language presentation on farmworkers labor rights to be held Oct. 20 in Oxnard
VENTURA COUNTY — The California Rural Legal Assistance invites farmworker community members to join us for the following Spanish presentations on labor rights in Santa Paula and Oxnard. Santa Paula Date: October 11, 2016 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Police StoreFront, 431 N.…
Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Series Returns to Oxnard College Performing Arts Center for Fourth Season on Oct. 12
2016-2017 Season Kicks Off October 12 with Hollywood & Politics featuring Award-winning Actor Emilio Rivera, Columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. & Radio HostWendy Carrillo OXNARD — In collaboration with the Ventura County Community College District and Oxnard College, Rick Najera’s Latino Thought Makers Live Series will return…