March 2023

To read this newsletter in Spanish, please click here.

Dear Emmanuel,

Happy Women's History Month! Every March, we take time to reflect on the impact women have had at every level of American history. At CAVC, women leaders have filled prominent roles throughout our history. I'm proud to continue that legacy alongside other women in our staff, on our Board, and among our donors and volunteers who continue to serve Ventura County every single day.



In this newsletter, you'll notice that we feature women in our communities in special ways. You'll be introduced to Linda Lefler from the Lutheran Church of our Redeemer in Oxnard, CAVC staff member Jessica Tapia, and donor Barbara Macri-Ortiz, all of whom are caring for families and community members in meaningful ways.

You'll also see a special announcement about our upcoming 40 Years of Action event on Saturday, May 20th, at our headquarters in Oxnard. We're celebrating 40 years in our current location at 621 Richmond Avenue as we make it a better place to serve Ventura County. (We're also celebrating my 40th birthday!)

Finally, keep your eyes and ears open for special CAVC ads hitting radio airwaves and showing up on Gold Coast Transit District busses soon. We're getting the word out to every community about the services we provide!

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



Susy Lopez-Garcia

Executive Director

Community Action of Ventura County

Mark your calendars!

Saturday, May 20th, from 2 to 4 pm, we're hosting 40 Years of Action at our headquarters in Oxnard. Join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving Ventura County from our venerable headquarters *and* the 40th birthday of our fantastic Executive Director, Susy Lopez-Garcia!

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now! We can't wait to commemorate 40 years for both of these very special reasons with you!

Last month, our executive director, Susy Lopez-Garcia, represented CAVC on the Ventura County Digital Equity Coalition's Conference panel in Camarillo.

Alongside partners from the Ventura County Office of Education, the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, and Broadband Consortium Pacific Coast, Susy shared experiences about community members needing help to pay for internet bills. She also shared a critical need for digital literacy and for expanded broadband access in the county.



The Ventura County Digital Equity Coalition supports brings together partner organizations committed to increasing community digital literacy. We are excited to move forward with the Coalition to achieve digital equity and close the digital divide for every Ventura County resident.

We would like to send a special thank you to Linda Lefler from Lutheran Church of our Redeemer in Oxnard!

Linda (pictured on the left) and church members like Julie Jensen (picture on the right) have been tireless advocates for CAVC. They have organized donation drives for months; in February, they donated a new coffeemaker, coffee, and clothing to our Homeless Services team. They've also donated towels, winter clothing, and over 300 pairs of socks for our unsheltered clients.

Because of Linda and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer team, we can continue to care for unsheltered community members who need our help. We can't thank them enough!

Throughout 2023, we will periodically introduce you to members of the hard-working CAVC staff that changes so many lives in our communities. Our staff members are there day in and day out to ensure every person who comes to CAVC is cared for as deeply as possible.

This month, we're introducing you to Jessica Tapia, our Energy Services Intake Specialist in our Weatherization program team.

Jessica is a Ventura County native, having been born in Ventura and raised in Oxnard. She went to school at CSU Channel Islands and graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. She's been with us for a year and a half, and before CAVC, she worked as a paraeducator for the Oxnard School District for two years, where she enjoyed working with children with special needs.

Jessica has always been passionate about helping people and finds "working for CAVC so rewarding in every sense of the word." She calls working with families in Ventura County who benefit from the weatherization program an "honor."

Outside of work, you can find Jessica spending time with her family, friends, and her dog. And to keep her energized and clear her head, she starts most days in the gym or running.

Jessica is a tremendous asset to CAVC and to the families she serves. We're so grateful she's on our team and caring for Ventura County!

Throughout 2023, we are spotlighting our donors, partners, and friends who are generous enough to share their time, talent and resources with us. Their belief in our mission of eradicating poverty in Ventura County drives us forward and makes us stronger. This month, we're introducing you to Barbara Macri-Ortiz from Oxnard.

CAVC: How did you first hear about CAVC?

BM-O: I think my first contact with CAVC was at an Oxnard City Council Meeting, in the early 1990s. I was a legal aid attorney covering housing issues and I remember CAVC representatives making a proposal to the Council, requesting CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding to cover some of their program expenses. They advocated well for the population they served, and were very focused on their goal to maximize the delivery of their services to those in need in the community.

CAVC: What inspired you to give to the organization?

BM-O: Over the years I have seen CAVC working primarily to bring a measure of dignity to those who, for one reason or another, are down on their luck. Key CAVC services include, providing showers, food and referrals as needed for residents facing homelessness. Also, for years CAVC has repaired the homes of many low income residents through its weatherization program, which helps low income families and seniors to stay warm in their own homes and better control their utility bills.

CAVC’s food distribution program is more important than ever now as housing costs continue to go up, leaving more and more families without enough money left (after paying the rent) to buy groceries and other necessities. Also, it is impressive that CAVC has managed to keep their Richmond office location intact all these years, even in the face of many challenges.

CAVC: In your opinion, what is the most important work that CAVC does?

BM-O: The most important work that CAVC does is connect with the clients they serve, one on one, as individuals. The staff listens to their clients and addresses their most basic needs, efficiently and effectively.

CAVC: How would you describe CAVC to others?

BM-O: CAVC is a great organization that is dedicated to serving many of our community members, based on need, regardless of one’s personal condition or extraneous issues. Over the years CAVC has consistently stood up for their clients, our community members, and delivered needed services, even in times when it was not popular. I donate to CAVC because I know that whatever I am able to give, will be used wisely by CAVC for the benefit of the people they serve on a daily basis.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for CAVC!

Over the next few weeks, we'll be rolling out advertisements on the airwaves of KXLM 102.9 FM across Ventura County. KXLM is one of Southern California's largest Spanish-speaking radio stations, and we can't wait to broaden our reach to cover every single neighborhood in our county.

We're also starting our bus advertisement campaign on Gold Coast Transit District vehicles in the coming weeks. GCTD is the largest public transportation operator in the county and provides nearly 4 million trips per year. Whether you're on your way to work or just looking to get across town, look up in the bus: you'll see us there!

Each March, we celebrate Women's History Month to highlight and celebrate the vital role of women in American history.

Women's History Month is particularly meaningful to us at CAVC given the women leaders on our staff, Board of Directors, and volunteers who have shaped this organization throughout its history to care deeply for Ventura County families.

Without women and the leadership, there's no CAVC. We invite you to meditate with us on that fact in a deeper way this month.

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.