“Mark and I are proud and happy to underwrite the artistic director position”

The Ventura Music Festival is pleased to announce that a distinguished philanthropic couple has agreed to “name” the position long held by Nuvi Mehta. Henceforth the director and the position will be known as: “Nuvi Mehta, the Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Artistic Director of the Ventura Music Festival.”

According to Mrs. Goldenson, “Mark and I are proud and happy to underwrite the artistic director position of a Festival that has long brought the joy of world-class music to the community along with wonderful education programs. Through the years we’ve grown to know Nuvi and there could not be a more deserving person for us to support.”

Commenting on the gift, Executive Director Susan Scott said “the Goldensons’ generous gift comes at a particularly exciting time for us. Planning is underway not only for a 2018 Festival that matches or exceeds this year’s wonderful success, but we’ve also started planning for a special year-long, community-wide celebration of our 25^thanniversary in 2019. These next two years are a big deal, and Janet and Mark’s gift adds to the momentum beautifully.”

Founded in 1994, the Ventura Music Festival is one of Ventura County’s signature arts events, presenting a genre-spanning mix of world-class music in an annual July Festival, and an array of programs year-round, including a Student Jazz Competition in January and Rising Stars concert in May.

A powerful evening was held at the City Center’s domestic violence event.

It was an amazing night at The City Center’s 3rd Annual Domestic Violence event – “Teaming Up Against Domestic Violence” held in The River Community’s main auditorium.

The evening was filled with heartfelt music by Kris Simeon, Jermarie Dizon, Monse Casmiro, Charleen Morla and Unko Henry.

Words of support from dignitaries and local celebrities included Ventura City Councilmember Mike Tracy, Ventura County Assistant Sheriff William Ayub and KVTA radio celebrity Tom Spence.

There were powerful testimonies by domestic violence survivors and City Center residents Andrea Farfan, Trisha Willard, and Maria Lopez and Special Guest Erica King

Master of Ceremony’s Jim Duran and Jeanne Benitez thanked the event sponsors: Title Sponsor Oxnard Monday Club, Event Sponsors: Community Presbyterian Church, Jill Olivares Insurance, Aloha Steakhouse, Missy’s Cupcake Creations and The River Community Church

The City Center Mentor Coordinators Rick and Cheri Carney stated “Thank you to all of you that were able to attend the “Team Up Against Domestic Violence” event. It was a very powerful, moving evening with several of our residents speaking and sharing. It brought to light many of the horrors of domestic violence, but it also highlighted the courage, strength and hope that many of our residents possess. Just surviving and being able to move away from their abusers is a tremendous step in their recovery.”

The City Center Transitional Living
837 E. Thompson Blvd. 628-9035

Photo by Murray Robertson

More than 100 military veterans road from San Francisco to Los Angeles during the 2017 United Healthcare California Challenge, benefiting veterans and first responders with PTSD and other injuries. Veterans, community leaders, supporters cheered cyclists during the sixth-day ride features including a 72-mile route from Solvang to Ventura.

The California Challenge is a collaboration between UnitedHealthcare and Project Hero, a national nonprofit organization that helps veterans and first responders affected by injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury achieve rehabilitation, recovery and resilience in their daily lives.

After spending the night in Ventura on Saturday, Oct. 21 they continued their ride from Ventura to Los Angeles.

Ventura County Community College District Vice Chancellor of Educational Services Rick Post, VCCCD Chancellor Greg Gillespie, 26th District of California Congressmember Julia Brownley, and VCCCD Vice Chair Arturo Hernández at Student Veteran Expo.

Twenty-sixth District of California Congressmember Julia Brownley, member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, recently joined Ventura County Community College District Chancellor Greg Gillespie, VCCCD Board Vice Chair Arturo Hernández, and Ventura College President David Keebler for the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo held at Ventura College.

Veterans affected by PTSD have a harder time getting the benefits that they deserve. If you are looking for veteran disability benefits, you should find a recommended increase va disability lawyer West Virginia to help you in your pursuit

The event was hosted by Ventura College and the California Transition Assistance Program (CalTap), Veterans Services Division, CalVet.

For more information on the organizations that participated in the Ventura County Student Veteran Expo, please contact Ventura College Veterans Resource Center Program Advisor Bruce McFadden at 289-6060 or [email protected].

In an effort to improve the college-going rate among veterans and active duty military in Ventura County, the Ventura College Foundation is helping Ventura College students who are U.S. veteran and U.S. active duty military offset the cost of tuition through the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program. For the 2017/2018 academic year, the William and Helen Scarpino Veterans Promise Program will award approximately $1,200 to 16 veterans. Applications are accepted until Oct. 31.

Designed to eliminate economic barriers to higher education, the Promise grant encourages students to further their education and reach their academic goals.

In addition, the Veterans Resource Center at Ventura College offers a supportive environment and a welcoming campus culture for all veteran students.

For more information, contact Anne King at 289-6160 or [email protected], or visit www.venturacollege.edu/foundation.

Interface board members Terri McGray, Spencer Garrett, Tom Pecht and Kathy Hartley, and Interface Director of Fund Development and Marketing Catherine Kort are “Painting it Purple.”

Interface Children & Family Services’ volunteers armed with purple nail polish, are participating in dozens of scheduled and pop-up events in every major city of Ventura County and adjacent to support Domestic Violence Prevention Awareness Month – their most public event was at ArtWalk Ventura. On display was Project Hope Healing Art Exhibit – a travelling display of artwork created by domestic violence survivors, their children and Interface advocates to highlight their journey and healing process.

Interface’s west county regional advisory board co-led by Ojai’s Lavender Inn owner, Kathy Hartley, and Ventura County Credit Union CAO, Linda Rossi, are spearheading the effort with a highly energized small group of local professionals. The concept started last year and with little formal planning volunteers hosted 29 events reaching over 600 people.

In addition to ArtWalk Ventura, dozens of schools, businesses, non-profits and government leaders are participating including Foothill High School in Ventura, Kirby Auto Group at Ventura Auto Mall, St. Bonaventure High School, Ventura City Council and Ventura County Board of Supervisors .

With help from Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Woodland Hills, texting for help from 2-1-1 Ventura County, a program of Interface Children & Family Services, is available 24/7. Anyone can call 2-1-1, text 898211, or click 211ventura.org to be connected with information about all the health and human services available to them in Ventura County.

Founded in 1973, Interface works to prevent and heal the effects of child abuse, neglect and abandonment; domestic violence; family conflict and mental health issues. For more information please contact Interface Children & Family Services at 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd, Suite I, Camarillo or at 485.6114 or visit www.icfs.org.

Maggie Wells is a volunteer tutor for School on Wheels.

School on Wheels is a non-profit organization based in Southern California. Whose mission is to enhance the educational opportunities for homeless children living in shelters, motels, group foster homes, cars, or on the street. They do this by providing homeless children with one-on-one volunteer tutors, who work with them individually to improve their academic skills. The children and youth in their program are also provided with school supplies, reading materials, and are eligible for scholarship programs that allow them to participate in extracurricular activities they may not otherwise have access to. Each year they reach over 3,500 students across Southern California. This mission could not be achieved without volunteers like Maggie, who work tirelessly to encourage, educate, and motivate the children and youth in our communities.

Every day, School on Wheels serves children who are eager to learn and succeed, but who may not have had the same resources and support as their peers. Education not only helps break cycles of poverty, but success in school can mean increased confidence for children on an individual level. Margaret speaks to these effects: “A year ago, Savannah had no reading skills. Whenever she came across a word she did not understand, instead of sounding it out, she looked up at me timidly. It made my heart cry out to sound it out for her. She had no confidence and when frustrated, tried all the tricks in the book to derail her hour of tutoring. Little by little, as I gained her confidence and found ways to make our time together appealing, this started to change. Now, I realize the value of tutoring. “

“When I was in grade school, I was very behind in my reading. One day, a teacher embarrassed me in front of the class when I was asked to stand and read my own story and stumbled over words. My low confidence plummeted further. Fortunately, the next year I had a very kind teacher who took time with me and helped me to get back on track and on grade level. When I became a teacher, I vowed to be like the second teacher.”

School on Wheels is always looking for positive role models like Maggie to work with students experiencing homelessness. If you have an hour or more a week to spare and have a love of learning you can make a difference in the life of a kid today, visit www.schoolonwheels.org/volunteer/ to find out more and apply online.