Ventura County Community Foundation’s (VCCF) — Power of Purpose — May 2025

… In this time of nonstop headlines and uncertainty, I invite us not to lose sight of the good we are creating together. There are so many examples, including the meaningful and inspired leadership of the recent graduating class of the Ventura County Leadership Academy, where Cohort 30 raised more than $20,000 to help support neighbors who lost their homes in the Mountain Fire. I wish I could have bottled up their joy as they presented the check last week – it was such a beautiful thing to witness!

Bilingual report – Ventura County Public Works Agency recognizes 2025 Employees of The Year

VENTURA — Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) is proud to announce the recognition of its 2025 Employees of the Year. These exceptional individuals have demonstrated extraordinary leadership, dedication, and innovation in their roles, contributing to the Agency’s ongoing success. The awards were presented on Tuesday, May 20th, during the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Evan Martinez, honored with the Operations & Maintenance Employee of the Year award, has been with VCPWA for just over five years, playing a key role in maintaining and operating the water systems across the Agency’s four service districts. His major duties consist of helping the Operations and

Productions team deliver safe drinking water to residents and keeping the water system in excellent working condition.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College Foundation awards $605,000 at annual scholarship ceremony

SANTA MARIA — Over 800 students and donors gathered at the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on May 22 to celebrate the Allan Hancock College Foundation’s annual scholarship awards.

This year, the Foundation awarded 518 scholarships totaling $605,000 to 416 Hancock students. Generous members of the community also funded 18 new scholarships in 2025.

“Each year, we find new ways to strengthen our support for Hancock students, and tonight’s celebration is a powerful reflection of that growth,” said Jon Hooten, Ph.D., executive director of college advancement and the AHC Foundation. “We’re incredibly proud of every student recognized this evening for their hard work and achievements.”

Friendship Center Adult Day Care Center in Santa Barbara — ‘Match’ Their Day

Many of the seniors served through Friendship Center’s programs are at the intersection of aging, poverty, and dementia, with few additional resources for support.

Every day costs Friendship Center more than $200 per person, and most of the program’s members pay less than $100. Will you help us fill that gap?!

Below is a real-time snapshot of how many members we serve at each contribution level.

You can pick a tier and match what they can’t cover, day by day.

Transforming Lives: The Women’s Fund in Santa Barbara awards? a record $1.25 million to local nonprofits

SANTA BARBARA —The power of collective giving was on display on May 20th when the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara awarded an unprecedented $1.25 million in grants to 11 local nonprofits —showcasing the power of collective giving in the Santa Barbara community. This accomplishment was made possible through the generosity of 1,426 local women members who have combined their charitable contributions into a substantial grants pool.

AirWorks Solutions celebrates 15 years of family, integrity and growth

CAMARILLO — When Kevin and Stephanie Allen launched AirWorks Solutions from their hometown of Camarillo in 2010, they didn’t set out to build an empire. Then in their twenties, the high school sweethearts — he a hands-on technician, she a business-savvy law graduate — set out to build trust, one honest service call at a time. What they’ve built since has exceeded anything they imagined.

District 216 provides news updates, upcoming events

Topic: “Surviving Chronic Pain Through Psychedelic Therapy”

Description: A long and beautiful life opened by psychedelics led Paul to gurus, God, volunteering in India and Guatemala and so many other amazing planes. But NOTHING has opened him like being in chronic pain, and he swore when he got out that he would share his experience and help others. We will start the evening with an interactive element before the interview.

The Selma March, the future of National Parks and getting acquainted with AI all part of CSUCI’s Summer Taste of OLLI

CAMARILLO — It was the summer of 1965 and Ojai civil rights veteran Lanny Kaufer was standing behind an outdoor stage in Virginia where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was speaking. 

“They have something in India called “darshan,” which is the feeling you get when you are in the presence of a holy man,” Kaufer, 78, said. “I had that experience hearing him speak. He was truly one of the great orators of our time. Then he came down the platform and shook all of our hands, thanking us for what we were doing.”  

Kaufer will speak about the summer of his 18th year during CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI)’s Summer Taste of OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute), which features 25 single session, two-hour classes from June 9 through July 17.Registration  opens Tuesday, May 27 at 8:30 a.m.  

Ventura County Air Pollution Control District — New website improves access to air quality info

VENTURA — The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District has launched a new website that makes it much easier for the public to access information and services and connect with district staff.

Rebuilt from the ground up to replace the district’s original 2006 website, the new digital hub at vcacpd.org also streamlines the process for staff to keep it updated.

Among the new features are colorful dials on the homepage that provide real-time air quality data from the district’s monitoring stations in El Rio, Ojai, Piru, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks.

Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) — Hundreds Join March Against Deportations, Honoring Indigenous Resistance

OXNARD  — On Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 11:00 AM, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), in collaboration with CAUSE and SEIU 2015, hosted a powerful May Day march against deportations, bringing together hundreds of community members in a strong show of unity and collective action.

The May Day March reflected MICOP’s ongoing mission of supporting, empowering, and organizing the Indigenous migrant communities across California’s Central Coast. Participants marched through the streets of Oxnard in honor of International Workers’ Day, raising their voices to call for an end to deportations, family separation, and unjust immigration policies that impact our communities.

“Our communities are not just surviving systems that were never built for us—we’re preserving languages, raising families, and keeping traditions alive in the face of constant threat,” said Ofelia Flores, Community Organizer at MICOP. “This march is a reminder that Indigenous migrant communities are not invisible. We deserve to be protected, celebrated, and heard—not just on May Day, but every day.”

Momentum Growing for Early Childhood Education in Santa Paula

SANTA PAULA — With the leadership of over 125 partners and input from hundreds of community members, the Isabella Project is excited to announce the location of a new early care hub, adjacent to undeveloped land on the Briggs Elementary School property in Santa Paula.

The mission of the Isabella Project is to ensure all children in Ventura County, starting in Santa Paula, have access to high-quality, full-time early care and education that meets their families’ needs. In Santa Paula, there are more than 2,000 children under age 5, but only 881 formal early learning spaces. The early care hub will create approximately 200 more spaces for early childhood education, serving children ages 0 to 5, and will include a variety of wrap-around services to better serve young children, families and childcare professionals.

California Lutheran University names John A. Nunes, Ph.D. as new president

THOUSAND OAKS — The Board of Regents of California Lutheran University announced today the appointment of John A. Nunes, Ph.D., as the university’s ninth president. Nunes has served as the university’s interim president since June 1, 2024, and assumes his new role June 1. He is a former president of Concordia College New York.

“Dr. Nunes has demonstrated his commitment to Cal Lutheran’s mission and our students every single day since his appointment as interim president, and the board is excited to have him join us on a longer-term basis,” said Board of Regents Chair Ann Boynton, Class of 1983. “This is a challenging time for higher education, and the need for committed leadership has never been greater.”

Bilingual report — City of Santa Paula to host State of the City event

SANTA PAULA — The City of Santa Paula welcomes all Santa Paula residents, business owners, partners and supporters, to attend the annual State of the City event on June 5th. The event will take place at the Ventura County Agriculture Museum, located at 926 Railroad Ave., Santa Paula, CA 93060.

This year’s event, themed “Feel the Progress,” offers a chance for residents, community leaders, and stakeholders to hear about the City’s recent accomplishments, ongoing efforts, and what lies ahead. Join us to explore Santa Paula’s current priorities and community focused initiatives shaping our future.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) announces appointment of five new board members

CENTRAL COAST — Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), a leading local organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of women, is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors. These individuals bring diverse expertise, leadership experience and a deep commitment to gender, racial and economic equity, further strengthening WEV’s ability to transform lives and build a resilient community, one small business at a time.

Local Medi-Cal health plan earns accreditation from National Committee for Quality Assurance

SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health, the Medi-Cal managed care plan for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, announced that it has received accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its Medi-Cal (Medicaid HMO) program on the Central Coast. By successfully demonstrating its commitment to high-quality healthcare, operational efficiency and member experience, CenCal Health earned accreditation for its quality of managed care operations.

Allan Hancock College celebrates 2025 Transfer Students

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College celebrated 2025 graduates who will continue their education at four-year universities at its annual University Transfer Celebration on May 16 at the college’s Santa Maria campus.  

Hosted each year by Hancock’s University Transfer Center, the event was an opportunity for Hancock’s transfer students to celebrate their achievements with their friends and family as they prepared for a new chapter in their educational journeys. More than 300 transfer graduates and their families were honored at this year’s celebration.  

Participating students, many wearing apparel from their respective universities, received a commemorative transfer medallion, took photos with their soon-to-be university peers, and listened to messages of support from Hancock staff and their fellow transfer students.

Bilingual report — Allan Hancock College hosts fire and EMS Graduations in Lompoc

LOMPOC — Allan Hancock College celebrated a new crop of first responders on May 16 as a combined 68 cadets graduated from the college’s fire and emergency medical services (EMS) academies.? 

The graduates were honored during two ceremonies at the college’s Public Safety Training Complex (PSTC) in Lompoc.?? 

“This graduating class embodies the future of public safety,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “They’ve undergone rigorous training and are ready to step into their roles as first responders, serving and protecting our communities.” 

Bilingual report — Ventura County Animal Services — Free dog adoptions for dogs in our care for 100+ days

Over 50 amazing dogs have been in our care for more than 100 days! To help them find loving homes, we’re offering a fee-waived adoption promotion for these long-stay pets.

Please note: All adoption procedures still apply despite promotions.

Adoption Hours: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Tuesday – Sunday
Locations:  Camarillo & Simi Valley Animal Shelters
View Available Animals: www.vcas.us/pets
Learn About the Adoption Process: www.vcas.us/adopt

Bilingual report — Three community champions named at 2025 Hancock Honors recipients

SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College announced the recipients of the 2025 Hancock Honors, presented by CoastHills Credit Union. This annual celebration recognizes individuals and organizations making a lasting impact on the college and the communities it serves.

This year’s honorees are the late community banker and philanthropist Jim Glines, retired Hancock faculty member and veteran Dr. Henry Davis, and the Santa Yne Valley Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to enriching lives throughout the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos Valleys.

Bilingual report — Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art’s ‘Arte de Pueblo’ frop off date is May 22. Calling All Artists!

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art has announced the wildly popular and critically acclaimed exhibition “Arte de Pueblo” returns for another year! with an opening Party & Reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at 653 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara.

The Juror-free All-Are-Welcome Group Show is currently seeking artists.

Bilingual commentary — MBA Graduates and the New Workplace

Listening to NPR the other day, I heard a young woman lament that she had just received her MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree but could not find work. This is an unfortunate contrast with more prosperous times in our country when MBAs were popular because they were a golden ticket to meaningful, highly remunerative employment.

So why are these young, ambitious graduates, likely already saddled with enormous student debt, finding it so challenging to find jobs that match their level of education?

The job market is undergoing a slow but certain seismic shift.

Bilingual report — Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — Happy World Trade Month!

The Economic Development Collaborative would like to recognize World Trade Month. This month celebrates how international trade unlocks new business opportunities, creates jobs and helps strengthen the United States and global economy.

The EDC is proud to support our community by providing professional technical assistance through our Small Business Development Center. Our NO-COST advising areas include:

• Start-up guidance
• Marketing and Branding
• International Trade
• E-commerce and Social Media
• Manufacturing Assistance
• Legal Compliance
• Strategic Planning
• QuickBooks and Accounting
• And MORE!

Friendship Center in Santa Barbara — The Friendly Finch: Spring Special!

While spring is in full bloom and our days are buzzing with activity at Friendship Center, I’m writing with a sincere request: we need your help.

This week marks the launch of our Spring Appeal, and we’re working toward raising $50,000 to support the rapidly growing needs of our senior members living with dementia—and the family caregivers who rely on us to provide safe, engaging, and expert care.

If you’ve been following our journey, you’ve seen how quickly we’re growing. Since the start of 2025 we have:

County of Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors meeting of May 20 to discuss Emergency Shelters Zoning Ordinance Amendments, Prohousing Designation, Public Safety Realignment Plan, Grand Jury Epidemic Response

Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meetings are available in Spanish. Watch live on our Spanish YouTube Channel, or Cable TV subscribers can access Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) in language settings.