Category Archives: Home Page Links

The Inaugural Ventura Women’s Conference: A Triumph of Empowerment, Connection, and Giving Back

Shannon Vasquez making opening remarks and introduction of Monica White, CEO of Food Share.

by Janie Tran

On the memorable day of October 21st, the first annual Ventura Women’s Conference lit a beacon of inspiration and success. In a world where women uplift each other, this event was a testament to the power of unity, camaraderie, and a shared commitment to giving back.

The day commenced with a delectable breakfast, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience. As attendees savored their meals, they were already forging connections with like-minded women who shared a common purpose – to empower and be empowered. The best part? The proceeds from the breakfast went to benefit Food Share, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger in the community.

The heart of the conference beat with motivational activities that stirred the spirits of all present. The energy in the room was palpable as women embraced challenges, celebrated their achievements, and discovered new horizons. It was a day of personal growth and transformation, and it was all in support of a great cause.

However, the true essence of the event lay in the connections made. In the world of business and personal development, networking is invaluable, and the Ventura Women’s Conference provided a platform for women to connect, exchange ideas, and find support from their peers, all while contributing to the noble cause of helping those in need through Food Share.

The crowning jewel of the day was the lineup of inspirational speakers who graced the stage, each sharing their unique journey and wisdom. At the center of it all was the keynote speaker, the remarkable Laura Diaz. Her words resonated with the audience, leaving an indelible mark on all who were fortunate enough to be present. And as a part of this remarkable event, Laura Diaz also emphasized the importance of making a positive impact on the local community.

The first annual Ventura Women’s Conference was more than a gathering; it was a celebration of the strength, resilience, and unity of women. It served as a reminder that when women support women and come together to benefit organizations like Food Share, incredible things happen. This inaugural event was a resounding success, igniting a spark that will continue to burn brightly in the hearts and minds of all who attended. The Ventura Women’s Conference is a testament to the power of community, the boundless potential of women, and the profound impact of giving back to those in need.

Join Us November 8 – Become A Member of CAPS

CAPS Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Ventura.

Are you interested in learning more about CAPS and becoming a member? Join us on Wednesday, November 8 from 4-8 pm for a special Orientation with the CAPS Crew open to anyone who is interested in becoming a CAPS member or just learning more about CAPS. No reservations needed.

The Information Orientation will last 30 – 40 minutes and includes how to become a CAPS Member, learn about programming and distribution information by Donald McConnell, CAPS Operations Manager. Meet the CAPS crew members who will train you in videography, studio production, video editing, radio & podcast production and register for classes. Plus, see all the CAPS gear that is available for members to use at no cost to create their own productions, including cameras, tripods, sound gear, editing computers and more.

CAPS Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Ventura. The CAPS Creative Community includes families, teenagers, young adults, mid-career professionals, educators, storytellers, retirees, and more. Plus, nonprofits, faith-based groups and community service organizations throughout Ventura County can become CAPS Members. Our member-produced programming includes community event coverage, local organizations, talk shows, music and dramatic performances and shows by, for and about local youth.

The CAPS mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. CAPS needs you, our community, neighbors, and friends, to help us continue to fulfill that mission by helping you uncover your creative talent and master the skills you need to create and launch your own media projects.

Over the past few weeks CAPS Crews have been busy – managing multiple city council and other meetings at City Hall, and produced a wide variety projects in collaboration with the County and the Museum of Ventura County including Voices of Ventura County, a special collection of previously unheard local oral histories from the MVC archives remastered by CAPS, Feast of Flop, a fun and engaging cooking show that combines the culinary world with the treasures of the Museum archives, and the video component of the major MVC presentation: Ventura County, The Place We Call Home, a photography exhibition that highlights the diversity of our communities.

CAPS ECTV Crew members were on the scene at the County 150th Celebration Extravaganza in Santa Paula getting on-the-street comments and interviews with festival goers. CAPS recently produced a major video presentation for the Ventura College Community Foundation that premiered at the Museum on Friday, October 20th.

The CAPS Media Center is located a 65 Day Road, between Loma Vista and Telegraph, on the east side of Ventura College directly across from Foothill High School. CAPS is Ventura’s public access media center, managing Channel 6 (public) and Channel 15 (government and education), plus KPPQ radio at 104.1 with all channels and station streaming. CAPS crew members provide expertise and service to the City of Ventura by covering City Council and other meetings at City Hall, as well as producing informational public service videos more.

Join us on Wednesday, November 8 between 4-8pm for Orientation sessions at 4, 5, 6 or 7pm. For those who dropped by the CAPS Open House in October, this is a good time to learn more. The November 8 sessions will offer everyone an opportunity to discover a world of limitless creative possibilities at CAPS.

Halloween-themed festival event helping autism community

by Patricia Schallert

On October 26th, ABS Kids put on a Halloween-themed festival event in Ventura. Clinical Operations Director Scott Revlin shared what is important for Ventura’s autism community and their families, including community integrations and local events like the Halloween festival.

Nicole Power Clinical Director  and Scott Revlin Clinical Operations Director shared their thoughts.

“It is important for ABS Kids to interact in with the autism community, including partnering frequently with the Autism Society of Ventura County.”  The ABS Kids mission is “to empower children with autism spectrum disorders and their families to reach their full potential through diagnosis and individualized ABA therapy.”  The ABS Kids vision is “to make high-quality ABA therapy accessible to all children and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders across the nation.” The goal being about “helping kids and maximizing their potential.”

The fall festival event had trick or treating, a bounce house, arts and crafts, and lots of costumes so the children they serve could have their own special, sensory-friendly Halloween-themed event.

ABS Kids has behavioral therapists, analysts and staff who can keep the children happy, motivated, and engaged. The staff members are “magical,” and “we owe our success to them, technicians and clinicians who work with the children and their families,” Revlin said.

The staff provides a comfortable environment for the child to practice pivotal life skills that can pave the way to long-term independence and success. An ABS Kids’ Board Certified Behavior Analyst helps determine if home-based therapy or therapy centers are best for the child.

ABA therapy centers are purpose-built facilities that provide unique learning and development opportunities for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These centers support intensive therapy in a safe and structured environment overseen by professional Behavior Analysts. Center-based therapy also offers opportunities for the child to meet others, participate in group learning activities, and develop social skills under close supervision.

Through decades of research, ABA therapy has been proven “to enhance communication, enable independent living, and develop age-appropriate social skills while reducing maladaptive behaviors.” It is also the only therapy deemed medically necessary for ASD.

ABS Kids’ dedication to serving this community is exemplified through their recent recognition of the Children’s Service Provider of the Year as part of the 2023 Autism Society Ventura County (ASVC) Awesome in Autism Awards.

Information on ABS Kids can be found at abskids.com

World-Renowned Voyaging Canoe Hōkūleʻa heads to Southern California

The last time Hokulea sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago.

Legendary Hawaiian canoe Hōkūleʻa, revered for reviving the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation, is currently docked in the picturesque coastal city of Monterey, California. The traditional double-hulled canoe has been sailing from Southeast Alaska down the Pacific Coast since June, 2023, when the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) launched the Moananuiākea Voyage and began its four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. Hōkūleʻa is set to make several stops in Southern California as part of this historic journey including Ventura, Marina Del Rey, Newport, Dana Point, and San Diego..

The last time Hokulea sailed down the coast of California was 28 years ago in 1995. From October 17-24 it will dock at the Ventura Yacht Club where it can be viewed.

The Moananuiākea Voyage will cover an estimated 43,000 nautical miles, 36 countries and archipelagoes, nearly 100 indigenous territories and more than 300 ports. Led by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS), the Voyage is a global educational campaign that will amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling. The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million “planetary navigators” by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating earth towards a healthy, thriving future.

She is more than a voyaging canoe—she represents the common desire shared by the people of Hawaii, the Pacific, and the World to protect our most cherished values and places from disappearing. https://hokulea.com/voyaging-canoes/

CAPS Open House Is A Big Hit – Become A Member

Are you interested in becoming a CAPS Member?

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the CAPS Open House on October 5. Every CAPS Staff and Board Member enjoyed meeting our guests and showing off the CAPS resources with the hands-on demonstrations on videography, studio, radio and podcast production, live streaming, video editing and more.

Are you interested in becoming a CAPS Member or learning more about CAPS? Join us on Wednesday, November 8 from 4-8 pm for one of the Information Orientation sessions which includes membership sign-ups, programming and distribution information by Donald McConnell, the CAPS Operations Manager. There will be specific workshops with time to schedule future training classes with each department- videography, video editing, radio & podcast production and beginning production. Plus, guests will see all the CAPS gear that is available to members to use at no cost, including video cameras, tripods, sound gear, editing computers and more.

The informative Q&A sessions, scheduled at 4, 5, 6 and 7pm, are open to anyone to become a member or just learn more about CAPS. No reservations are needed, and everyone is invited to join us.
CAPS Membership is available for anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Ventura. The CAPS Creative Community includes families, teenagers, young adults, mid-career professionals, educators, storytellers, retirees, and more. Plus, nonprofits, faith-based groups and community service organizations throughout Ventura County can become CAPS Members.

The CAPS mission is to create an engaged and informed community through participation in electronic media. CAPS needs you to help us continue to fulfill that mission by helping you unleash your creative talent and learn the skills to create and launch your own media projects.
Concurrently the CAPS creative team has been working on various projects to celebrate Ventura County’s 150 Anniversary. Go to VenturaCounty150.com and to VenturaMuseum.org to view and listen to them all. Additional projects include the Ventura County Fire Safe Council, the Ventura College Foundation 40th Celebration video and more.

The CAPS Media Center is located a 65 Day Road, between Loma Vista and Telegraph, on the east side of Ventura College directly across from Foothill High School.

CAPS is Ventura’s public access media center, managing Channel 6 (public) and Channel 15 (government and education), plus KPPQ radio at 104.1 with all channels and station streaming. CAPS crew members provide expertise and service to the City of Ventura by covering City Council and other meetings at City Hall, as well as producing informational public service videos more.

Join us on Wednesday, November 8 between 4-8pm for the Information Orientation sessions at 4, 5, 6 or 7pm. Discover a world of limitless creative possibilities at CAPS. You may be surprised and enjoy the people you’ll meet and what you’ll discover inside the CAPS Media Center.

Sailathon supports Caregivers: Volunteers Assisting The Elderly.

Sailathon celebrated the joy of sailing.

The picturesque waters of Ventura played host to the 22nd Annual Sailathon on Sunday, October 15, a remarkable event that showcased not only the beauty of the sea but also the generosity of the community. Thirty-three registered boats gracefully sailed these waters, all in support of a noble cause – Caregivers: Volunteers Assisting The Elderly.

The Ventura Yacht Club made quite a splash by clinching the renowned Ugly Fish Award with an impressive nine registered boats. They were closely followed by the Ventura Sailing Club, which had eight boats in the competition. Meanwhile, the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club contributed six boats to the cause, and the Channel Island Yacht Club entered three boats, demonstrating the collective commitment of these organizations to the mission.

The Sailathon, a thrilling two-hour event, culminated in a heartwarming reception hosted by the Channel Islands Yacht Club. Here, volunteers showed their culinary skills by preparing delightful chili and chowder for the annual competition. In a savory showdown, Doug Miller was crowned the champion of the chowder category, while the title of chili maestro went to Ken Gearhart, a new Caregiver volunteer.

Caregivers: Volunteers Assisting The Elderly has been a beacon of hope for seniors in Ventura County since its inception in 1984. Developed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet with a grant from the Interfaith Council on Aging and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this community-based model has met the growing needs of the elderly in the United States. In Ventura County, where one of the largest aging populations resides, CAREGIVERS serves hundreds of seniors, offering crucial support and companionship. This vital service has been sustained by the generosity of individuals, foundations, corporations, and municipalities, enabling CAREGIVERS to continue its essential mission.

The 22nd Annual Sailathon not only celebrated the joy of sailing but also underscored the enduring spirit of giving and community support. As the boats sailed away into the horizon, they carried with them the hopes and dreams of a better, more caring world for our elderly citizens.

For more information about Caregivers: Volunteers Assisting The Elderly and how you can contribute to their mission, please visit https://www.vccaregivers.org

Ventura Police host “Coffee with a Cop” at Simone’s Coffee and Tea.

Chief Shindler and some of the many cops who dropped by to share coffee with citizens. Photos by Richard Lieberman

by Richard Lieberman

A Ventura police officer engages with a citizen.

Ventura police held a Coffee with a Cop event on Wednesday October 4, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Community members were invited to meet with Ventura Police officers and professional staff to share a coffee and get to know local Ventura officers in a calm social environment. It is common for Ventura residents to perceive officers as unapproachable and detached in high stress situations. Having coffee with a cop strives to break down the barriers between officers and the public. The Coffee with a Cop program affords attendees a relaxed one-on-one interaction with Ventura police chief and the officers who patrol Ventura neighborhoods, businesses, and industrial areas of the city.

“We do this a couple of times a month we pick a different coffee shop in town we try to get to the east end the west end and the middle of the town” Chief Darin Schindler said. The event gave citizens an opportunity to ask questions, discuss concerns or just have a chat with a cop.” We have been holding these events for at least five years now and we intend to keep this outreach program indefinitely”, added Schindler.

Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler engaged with attendees discussing police goals.

An attendee Kevin Drescher “I knew the officers were going to be here I am actually on the Ventura Community Police Foundation Board, so I knew about it, and I am huge supporter of the police department and I think it is a great way for the community to come out and meet the great staff at the police department.”

The owner of Simone’s Coffee and Tea Simone stated we were happy to do this, we just love our police department. Our patrons were very excited to participate in the event, we would for certain be willing to do this again,” she said.

“In an increasingly complex world, building connections with our community takes an unprecedented importance,” said Chief Shindler “Our goal is always to cultivate familiarity among residents and local businesses, increase trust in our officers, and share essential crime prevention and safety information,” he added.

Customers waiting to talk to a police officer.

Some residents were surprised coming in for their morning coffee and being surrounded by Ventura police officers. Most appreciated the opportunity to speak with officers on so casual a basis.

Almost no police resources were used at this event. Attending police officers were already on duty and encouraged to just drop by and have a cup of coffee before returning to their regular patrols.

Fun for all ages, with fabulous food and drinks

Beachside Bash held at San Buenaventura State Beach Park. Photos by Yana Khiyod

The three Rotary clubs of Ventura presented the End of Summer Beachside Bash on September 23, at San Buenaventura State Beach Park.

A national ribeye steak cookoff, car show, live bands and food trucks were at San Buenaventura State Beach Park. The event marks the end of summer and was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Ventura, Ventura East, and Ventura South.

Fun for all ages, with fabulous food and drinks, a car show and a steak cook off, plus celebrity chef demonstrations and live music. All proceeds from this event will go to local charities.

Last year collectively the Rotary Clubs gave $770,056 to service-oriented organizations.

The cookoff was sponsored by the Steak Cookoff Association, in Ventura for the first time. Ventura bands Nautical Thrust and The Bomb will entertain with yacht rock, Latin soul, and funk. Grill demonstrations by award-winning BBQ chefs Kyle Matuszewski and Phil “the Grill’ Johnson. Visitors enjoyed a variety of offerings from food trucks, beer and wine, and shopped at local vendors.

“On behalf of Ventura’s three Rotary clubs, I am thrilled to invite our community to join us for a day of joy, connection, and giving back at Ventura’s First Annual End of Summer Beachside Bash” said Neal Lassila, President of the Rotary Club of Ventura.

 

Young crime victims attended Camp Hope

49 children at Camp Hope summer retreat.

To provide hope and foster resilience in childhood victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and physical and sexual abuse, the Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) hosted 49 children at its annual Camp Hope summer retreat.

Since 2015, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and VCFJC have hosted an annual five-day-long summer camp in partnership with Camp Hope America, the first evidence-based camping and mentoring program in the nation for children exposed to trauma. Camp Hope’s goal is to give healing, hope and childhood experiences back to children and teens who have been impacted by violence.

For the last two years, Camp Hope has been held at Camp Daley, a Salvation Army property outside Calabasas. Camp Hope activities included hiking, ziplining, rock wall climbing, recreational pool time, art, mindfulness, yoga classes and a dunk tank. The campers are supported by college-age counselors at a ratio of 3:1 to ensure campers have the safety and guidance they need. Staff from the district attorney’s office, doctors and donors volunteer, as well.

The VCFJC launched Camp Hope after the Ventura County district attorney’s office noticed the generational impacts of violence as members of the same families were appearing as both defendants and victims year after year. Camp Hope was intended to be a proactive, rather than reactive, response to childhood trauma, as well as a crime prevention tool.

“Hope is a powerful tool in overcoming childhood trauma. One of the things we teach on a daily basis is that you should believe in your dreams, believe in others and believe in yourself,” said Mike Jump, chief deputy district attorney and executive director of the Ventura County Family Justice Center. “Your past does not define your future. You are in control. We talk about that around the campfire.”

This year’s camp was paid for with funds raised by the Ventura County Family Justice Center Foundation’s inaugural Hope Gala on July 28. The gala raised $140,000, which exceeded expectations for the event.

The VCFJC has identified 600 children who qualify for the camp, but enrollment is limited based on funds. Depending on the generosity of donors, the VCFJC hopes that next year’s camp will include a second session to accommodate an additional cohort of 50 campers.

The Ventura County Family Justice Center is continuing to expand its footprint in order to assist more children and their families after experiencing violence. The county is currently moving forward with plans to convert a 32,000-square-foot-building in Oxnard into a secondary VCFJC location. Christine Mitchell, the project manager for the much-anticipated East County family justice center, which is in the early planning stages, stepped into her new role the day of the Hope Gala.

To support the Foundation by sponsoring the Gala visit here: vcfjcfoundation.org.