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Bringing the community into our corner |
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Greetings!
There is hope on Ventura County's horizon. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to slow, and signs of going "back to normal" - including workers going back into offices and the end of required mask mandates - are everywhere. As difficult as the past 24 months have been, the light at the end of this tunnel continue to shines a little brighter.
However, the recovery from COVID-19 is slow and uneven across communities. Inflation has made life even more difficult for families and individuals - especially our seniors who live on fixed incomes that cannot stretch as far as they once did. As you'll learn in this newsletter and in the months to come, we're taking special care to look after seniors who live in homes that need repairs and who need assistance getting the goods and services they need to live with dignity.
We're also looking to you and our Ventura County community members who can volunteer with us at our weekly Community Market. More and more families count on us as a source of fresh produce and groceries, and we are bringing in more equipment to meet the demand. But we need your help. You can learn how you can give precious resources - your time and skills - to our communities where they are most needed.
We also commemorate Women's History Month in March as well as recognize Cesar Chavez Day on March 31. Cesar Chavez's legacy of advocacy for farm workers is particularly impactful in Ventura County with our history of agricultural production. We also see the struggle women face daily to earn equal footing in many ways to their male counterparts, especially in the work force. March is a time both of proud commemoration and recognition of the work that lies ahead of us.
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I wish you and your loved ones continued good health and safety.
Susy Lopez-Garcia
Executive Director
Community Action of Ventura County
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Food Program Volunteers: We Need You! |
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Our Community Market food program has become a vital resource for families and individuals suffering from food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Every Thursday morning, we distribute boxes of fresh groceries and produce to over 300 community members. Even as the pandemic slows, the demand for the Community Market continues to grow.
Recently, we brought in more equipment to keep up with the demand. We continue to meet the needs of our community members, but we need your help! We need help with stuffing boxes, packing boxes into cars, entering data, and interacting with folks in line to ensure their questions are answered.
Fill out the form today to sign up and make a difference in the lives of families and community members across Ventura County. Helping hands make the burden lighter, and with you, we can make an even bigger impact in combatting food insecurity in Ventura County.
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Staff Spotlight: Sylvia Reyes |
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This month, we are highlighting Sylvia Reyes, our Program Coordinator who was recently selected as a member of the Oxnard Leadership Program, which is run by the West Ventura County Business Alliance. This highly competitive program connects participants with key decision makers and experts on vital issues that shape the future of the City of Oxnard and its surrounding region over its 10 month duration.
We caught up with Sylvia to learn more about her and what she's looking forward to most about the Oxnard Leadership Program:
CAVC: How long have you worked for CAVC?
SR: I have been with CAVC for 5 years. My first day was on February 1, 2017, a.k.a. one of the best days of my life!
CAVC: What do you enjoy about the work you do with CAVC?
SR: I enjoy being able to help the community. I especially enjoy knowing that my department and I are a tremendous help when we pay a household's utility bill or bills that saves them money they can use for other expenses.
CAVC: What are you most excited about participating in the Oxnard Leadership Program?
SR: I am most excited about being able to share what I learn with my colleagues. I will also develop even better leadership skills to continue to assist my community and those who come to our organization for assistance.
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In CAVC's Corner: Caring for Seniors |
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This month, CAVC begins a new " In CAVC's Corner" series, covering the issues and communities CAVC works with everyday. This month, we're focusing on senior citizens, particularly those who struggle to stay in their homes, and how CAVC cares for them.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been deadly for senior citizens. Of the over 1,400 COVID-19 deaths in Ventura County as of March 1, 1,096 were aged 65 and older. Senior citizens are already vulnerable compared to most younger Ventura County community members, and the problem has taken on a new dimension in recent weeks. As inflation rises, the fixed income many senior citizens live on has stayed flat, and many seniors cannot buy the essential goods and groceries.
CAVC has seen the struggles up close. Staff members have conducted house visits to seniors who call for services and cannot come to CAVC offices on their own. Some seniors cannot leave the house without assistance, and some have reported experiencing food insecurity. Others live in homes that need crucial repairs they cannot do by themselves.
As Ventura County continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, CAVC is ensuring our most vulnerable community members are cared for in the recovery efforts. Contact us today if you know a senior who is struggling to get the help they need in the face of rampant inflation.
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CAVC Board Member Spotlight:
Introducing Gabe Teran
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The CAVC Board of Directors advances our mission across Ventura County as a collective of like-minded individuals across private and public sectors who are committed to strengthening pathways out of poverty in all of our communities.
In our Board Member Spotlight series, we ask Board members about who they are and why they support CAVC. Our Spotlight for March is introducing you to our newest Board member, and Oxnard City Council Member, Gabe Teran.
Gabe has worked in the fields of prevention, education, and health advocacy since 2003. Most of his career has been dedicated to working with Ventura County youth and building their capacity and resilience, especially those living in challenged communities.
For the first seven years of his career, he worked in substance use disorder treatment services, specializing in treatment of adolescents, and provided individual, group, and family counseling services.
Since 2008, he has worked in the Comprehensive Health and Prevention Programs department with the Ventura County Office of Education, overseeing youth development and leadership programming. Through this role, he has developed programming and trained several thousand young people and adult educators from across Ventura County and the state of California in the areas of substance use prevention and positive health promotion.
Outside of his professional career, Gabe is a nearly life-long resident of the City of Oxnard and is currently serving as a City Councilmember for Oxnard Council District 2. Prior to his election to office, he was extensively involved in city happenings – having previously served as a Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commissioner, and having been elected to three terms as a Neighborhood Council Chair for his neighborhood. Through his civic engagement, he has sought to work with community members and city officials to make positive, equitable community change for all Oxnard residents.
Gabe holds a Master of Science degree in Management and Leadership, a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, and Associate’s in Addictive Disorders, and two credentials for alcohol and other drug counseling in the state of California. We are thrilled to welcome Gabe to the CAVC Board of Directors and we look forward to the impact he will make with CAVC!
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CAVC and Cesar Chavez Day |
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March 31 is Cesar Chavez Day, and we take time to commemorate this special day at CAVC. Cesar Chavez's legacy in Ventura County is a rich one. He first came to Oxnard in 1958, staying for two years after coming with the Community Service Organization. He continued to convene house meetings and organize as his family grew and his wife, Helen, worked in the fields. Cesar then started a Citizenship class at Bonitas School in La Colonia. (That school is now called Cesar Chavez Elementary!)*
Cesar's tireless work empowered farm workers to speak up for themselves and their rights. His organizing in Ventura County led to the eventual birth of the United Farm Workers in 1965 and has supported agricultural workers for nearly 60 years since.
We are proud of the impact Cesar Chavez has left in our county and honor his work in our mission today.
*Information credited to Dr. Frank Barajas & his presentation: "Cesar Chavez's Early Connection to Ventura County," given March 27, 2007, at CSUCI.
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Our Vision:
We envision a community successfully lifting people out of poverty.
Our Mission:
Helping our community establish pathways out of poverty through advocacy, partnerships and services that promote dignity
and self- sufficiency.
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