September 2022

To read this newsletter in Spanish, please click here.

These recent few weeks have been difficult across Ventura County. We at CAVC continue to mourn the tragic death of Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, who was killed on August 12th after being struck by a vehicle. Carmen was a champion of CAVC and the communities we serve. Her loss leaves a deep scar in both our hometown of Oxnard and in Ventura County. 

The excessive heat across Ventura County has also been a challenge many struggle to overcome. Those living in homes without air conditioning - or those who have no place to call home - are especially at risk. We encourage you to keep up to date on cooling centers where residents can take refuge from the extreme heat by visiting vcemergency.com.

Nevertheless, our work to support Ventura County continues. We're still raising money to renovate our Homeless Services showers before the end of the month; please visit our website to make your gift today and support those without reliable access to showers.

In this newsletter, you'll also read about our outreach at the Hueneme Beach Festival and to the Oxnard Sleep-In last month. You'll also read about how grateful we are for Johanson Technology choosing CAVC as a recipient for its company-wide personal hygiene drive. We are appreciative of all the support we receive!

We're also thrilled to invite you to take a campus tour and learn more about our programs and how you can get involved with our mission of building pathways out of poverty across Ventura County.

I wish you and your loved ones continued good health and safety.



Susy Lopez-Garcia

Executive Director

Community Action of Ventura County

Ventura County lost one of its fiercest champions for equity, inclusion, and human rights last month, when Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez was killed on August 12th after being struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk in Oxnard. Supervisor Ramirez was 73.

Supervisor Ramirez was the first ever Latina to be elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors when she was elected to represent District 5 in 2020. She served on the Oxnard City Council for ten years prior to her seat on the Board of Supervisors. Her role on the Oxnard City Council meant that she came to know CAVC very well. However; she was a close ally to CAVC aside from her city council and supervisory roles. We remember her driving her large legal aid R.V around town ensuring services were always accessible to all down to the last lunch date she had with CAVC’s new executive director in 2021 to provide us with guidance and connecting us to valuable partners.

Supervisor Ramirez established herself as a true champion for all people in Oxnard and Ventura County. She frequently advocated for policies that would increase access to housing in our region, and she was a voice for those who were not always heard. Our mission to build pathways out of poverty across Ventura County relies on local leaders championing communities like Supervisor Ramirez did.

We mourn this deep loss for our communities and our county. The work we will do now and for years to come will always honor Supervisor Ramirez and her dedication to all people across Ventura County.

We still need your help to protect our local unsheltered community members!

CAVC needs to raise $20,000 by the end of this month to fund renovations of our current showers so they will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These renovations will enable us to better serve our neighbors and community members safely.

Without these renovations, we will have to close our showers and turn away unsheltered individuals from the care they rely on us to provide.

Now more than ever, we need your help to reach our goal! Can we count on your support to ensure we can continue to serve Ventura County’s unsheltered community members? Make your donation today to help us during this urgent fundraising campaign!

Did you catch us out and about in the community last month? CAVC staff members were out at the Sleep Out Ventura County at Oxnard High School to support this important community event that raises awareness and support for Oxnard's unsheltered population. Sleep Out Ventura County's goal of creating permanent funding sources for the unsheltered residents of Oxnard is one we fully support and stand in solidarity with. We were proud to support this great event.

We also hit the road and hosted a booth at the Hueneme Beach Festival in Port Hueneme. One of Ventura County's largest community events saw over 20,000 visitors enjoy fun in the sun for this free weekend event. At our booth, we shared resources and information with community members and had fun doing it! We cannot wait to come back for future festivals.

Our commitment to doing more doesn't just mean offering more services. We're doing more to ensure everyone in every community in Ventura County knows who we are and how we can help.

This month, we'd like to give a special shoutout to Johanson Technology! The Camarillo-based RF/Microwave chip manufacturing company has decided to sponsor CAVC for its company-wide personal hygiene drive. Now through the end of September, Johanson Technology employees will graciously donate clothing and personal hygiene items that our Homeless Services staff members can provide those who come to use 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 hygiene and clothing items for our Homeless Services program. Visit our Amazon Wish List to see what we need and how you can help those most in need.

Save the date for our fall event!

We'll be hosting a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, November 9th, at our campus about the important issues facing Ventura County communities and how we can do our part to help.

More information about this important event will be forthcoming, so keep an eye out to learn more and get involved!

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 September introduces you to Dr. Ramon Flores.

Sector represented on the Board of Directors: Private

Occupation: Engineer

Member of the Board since: 2013

CAVC: Why did you join the Board of Directors?

DRF: CAVC is the nonprofit that I have had the honor to serve on. Its mission speaks to me directly as I was born into poverty. When my family immigrated to the US, we had very little and organizations similar to CAVC helped us through my childhood years.  

CAVC: What inspires you most about CAVC?

DRF: The people of CAVC are amazing. The work done by CAVC’s staff is not always glamorous work, but it is very important work. Everyone single person I have met is so positive even though we work with clients that don’t have much to be positive about. Lastly, the mission of CAVC spoke to me, especially the part about treating our clients with dignity. 

CAVC: What is one program or service CAVC offers that is particularly meaningful to you, and why?

DRF: CAVC’s budget grew tremendously during COVID. One program that I was particularly interested in was the school supplies distribution. As a school board trustee, I know first-hand the impact that a good education can have on the life of an individual. Something as small as a new backpack or new laptop can have a huge impact on the confidence level of a student. 

CAVC: Describe a day in your life:

DRF: My role with my organization is to perform student outreach, similar to the outreach done by our CAVC staff. In any given day, I can be at a college campus, a high school campus, or on a Zoom call with students, administrators, or parents explaining the various programs we offer to encourage students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  

CAVC: Tell us a goal you've had for yourself in 2022.

DRF: I am eligible for retirement in November 2022. While I don’t plan on retiring soon, I am using 2022 to get informed on the steps that I will need to take once I do decide to retire. I’ve attended a number of retirement workshops and have met with various financial counselors. Most importantly, I stay in touch with friends that have recently retired to stay connected.

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.