October 2023

To read this newsletter in Spanish, please click here.

Dear Emmanuel,

We are thrilled to bring you the latest updates from Community Action of Ventura County. As some of you may know, our Executive Director, Susy Lopez-Garcia, has been on maternity leave, and we eagerly welcomed her return this month. We're excited to have her back at the helm as we continue our mission of delivering essential services and forging new collaborations to address community needs, as you'll discover in this newsletter.

In the spirit of our commitment to promoting health and wellness within our community, we are thrilled to share the highlights of our recent collaboration with Every Woman Counts.

In August, we collaborated with Every Woman Counts to host a Women's Health workshop at our satellite office in Santa Paula. This workshop was dedicated to the critical topic of breast and cervical cancer prevention.

According to the American Medical Women's Association, a staggering 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with an estimated 4,000 women tragically losing their lives to this disease. The good news is that regular Pap tests have the power to save lives. Moreover, a vaccine approved in 2006 protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a virus linked to cervical cancer.

About Every Woman Counts

The Every Woman Counts Program is dedicated to providing free clinical breast exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, and Pap tests to low income, uninsured, and underinsured women in California. Their mission aligns perfectly with our values of inclusivity and equitable access to healthcare.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming workshops and events as we continue our journey toward promoting a healthier and more informed community.

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 our Board members about who they are. Our spotlight for October is Raquel Torres, who will be representing the Low-Income sector.

We first communicated with Raquel at an outreach event, where she expressed interest in our organization and toured our site. She was so impressed at all our programs that we began the conversation of adding her to our board.

Raquel has spent 11 years working with Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation which has been making dreams come true, one home at a time, since 1981. The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation is proud to be the largest developer of affordable homes in Ventura County. Cabrillo’s success is the result of decades of passion, dedication, and vision. With a mission of providing comprehensive housing services and community economic development activities, Cabrillo facilitates self-sufficiency for individuals and families who are most lacking in opportunity. At Cabrillo, home is more than a place to live-it is the cornerstone of the community’s economic, environmental, and social well-being. 

This past August, our very own HEAP team got recharged, revitalized, and revamped!! Eight of our team members & three of our HEAP team members had the pleasure of joining fellow CAVC leadership at the National Community Action Partnership Conference in Atlanta Georgia in late August. 

The conference provided our HEAP team with a wealth of information that they look forward to implementing here at home in efforts to expend the dollars allocated to Ventura County to benefit VC residents. With LIHWAP In mind, we are thankful to have received an extension on the LIHWAP program until March 2024. This means that we have three more months to expend our LIHWAP funds. We’d also like to take this time to remind our community that if you receive CalFresh benefits AND/OR have received a HEAP benefit in the last 365 days, you are considered categorically eligible to receive a LIHWAP benefit. The LIHWAP program is a one-time assistance, meaning if you have received LIHWAP assistance already, unfortunately you will not be eligible for assistance. We are proud to serve the community we are a part of, and we are excited to continue to assist our community in establishing pathways out of poverty.

To find out if YOU are eligible to receive a HEAP or LIHWAP application give us a call at (805)436-4021.

Are you looking to enhance the comfort and safety of your home while saving on utility bills? Look no further! CAVC’s Weatherization team (featured below) is here to help you weatherize your home and improve its overall energy performance. 

What is Weatherization anyway? 

Weatherization is the process of making your home more energy-efficient by sealing gaps and making necessary repairs to reduce energy waste. It involves several improvements that can help you save on heating, cooling, and water heating costs. Our team of experts can perform a range of services to improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort. 

The BEST part is that applicants who qualify for weatherization automatically qualify for utility bill assistance and vice versa. This means you can make your home more energy-efficient and comfortable at no cost to you! 

If you have any questions or would like to apply, please call (805)436-4035. 

Our very own Fanni Azueta, Energy Services Manager, has been chosen to participate in a nationwide campaign that highlights what it's like to work in weatherization across the country. This amazing opportunity not only showcases her dedication and expertise, but also highlights the growing diversity in the field of weatherization.

In a nationwide campaign initiated by IREC, NCAP, NASCSP, and WAP E&I, project partners develop a national career exploration platform to raise awareness regarding WAP job opportunities and career pathways, aiming to draw attention to the importance of weatherization in creating sustainable and energy-efficient homes. 

Additionally, Fanni’s selection highlights the growing diversity in the weatherization field. Traditionally, this sector has been male-dominated, however in recent years we have seen a welcome shift towards a more inclusive and representative workforce. Fanni's presence in the campaign demonstrates the industry's commitment to encouraging a diverse and talented pool of professionals. 



Fanni will be featured in interviews and promotional materials that will be widely distributed across various media platforms. Her insights and experiences will be shared to inspire others to choose weatherization as a career path, and showcase the industry's commitment to inclusivity.  

This month, we'd like to give a special shoutout to Johanson Technology! The Camarillo-based RF/Microwave chip manufacturing company's 2^nd annual drive for CAVC with its company-wide personal hygiene drive. In early September, Johanson Technology employees graciously donated clothing and personal hygiene items which our Homeless Services staff members have provided to those who come to us for help. 

We are extremely thankful for Johanson Technology and their support of our mission to build pathways out of poverty across Ventura County! 

We are always in need of personal hygiene and clothing items for our Homeless Services program. If you want to donate, please call us at 805-436-4000.

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.