805-659-3791 [email protected] 702 County Square Drive,
Ste 200 Ventura, CA 93003
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The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation

Comprehensive Housing Services and Community Economic Development

Day of Caring event focuses on senior residents

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On Sept. 28, Cabrillo employees, residents and the United Way of Ventura County collaborated on a project at Cabrillo’s Camino Esperanza Apartments in Simi Valley for the 30th Annual Day of Caring.

“Volunteers built a community garden for the residents to enjoy and maintain together,” said Cabrillo Resident and Community Services Coordinator, Anhely (Nelly) Camacho.

“We want to liven up the property and bring in something that will keep the residents occupied and excited about the finished product,” Camacho said.

Anthem Blue Cross and Green Thumb Nursery provided soil and plants for the event. Cabrillo staff members provided monetary donations, plants and soil for the project. Camino Esperanza serves seniors age 62 and older.

Christy Torres of Port Hueneme was on-site volunteering her time and providing free haircuts to residents. Torres works at Royal Gardens Assisted Living Facility in Camarillo and cuts hair on the side.

Legislators plan Santa Paula Health Fair Sept. 28

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Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, (D-Santa Barbara) and Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) will host a FREE Family Health Fair on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Park across from City Hall in Santa Paula.

The 2019 Family Health Fair will feature informational booths with health resources from countywide agencies and community organizations as well as FREE basic health screenings, blood pressure and glucose checks. Participants also will have a chance to get updates on health-related legislation impacting the state. Children of all ages are welcome.

For more information, contact Jackson’s office at 805-988-1940.

CEO Message: Margarita H. de Escontrias

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CENSO 2020 – ¡TODOS CUENTAN! CENSUS 2020 EVERYONE COUNTS!

Cabrillo is gearing up to support and ensure that an accurate count occurs. Stay tuned for more information about YOUR participation in the neighborhoods we serve!

The State of California, its leadership and its residents are all on a quest for affordable housing for working people. We need both rental and owner-occupied housing and the State is engaged in reviewing zoning, land use and site identification to build affordable housing. Your voice, your vote counts and the decisions our elected officials make in the upcoming year will affect housing availability and affordability for years to come. It will drive our economy and will ensure that the labor force exists in our county, cities, and state.

We have all read the news regarding the exodus of many families out of our golden state. Let’s all work together to preserve a future for our children! Get out to vote and participate locally in meetings to express the need for more housing. Our County and many of our cities are currently completing or updating their General Plans. Let’s all pay close attention to the housing and land use elements of the Plan. This is a mandated process that requires public meetings and input and we ALL have a voice.

Su Voz es Su Voto! Your Voice is Your Vote.

Cabrillo kids enjoy active 2019 Summer Program

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Cabrillo Resident Services has been hard at work this summer providing a variety of summer activities for children at our properties. The 2019 Summer Program took place from 1 to 4 p.m. each Tuesday through Thursday, in July and August.

The program, with themes such as Super Heroes, Disney Week, Mad Science/Community Champions, Zombie Apocalypse, and Animal Appreciation, included fun and educational workshops, games, experiments, and art projects.

Click here for more photos.

Cabrillo partners with HOPE for Sept. 13 Latina Empowerment Day

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Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation is proud to be a partner with HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality) for the 2019 Latina Empowerment Day, a one-day intensive workshop series created to empower Latinas to increase their community advocacy and strengthen their skills and knowledge on a variety of issues.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13, at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard/Ventura, 600 Esplanade Drive in Oxnard.

Latinas are a major force in the economy by population size, rising educational attainment, and considerable purchasing power, said Maya Gomez-O’Candis, Research and Communications Strategist at HOPE.

“Latinas make up nearly 20 percent of California’s overall population, they are enrolling in college at record rates, and the rate of creation of Latina-owned businesses continues to exceed the national average. The economic success of Latinas is inextricably linked to the economic sustainability of California. For this reason, it is important to provide Latinas with the necessary tools to advance their careers and to amplify their voices on public policy issues. HOPE aims to provide these tools via the Latina Empowerment Day workshop series,” she said.

This year’s topics include small business financial literacy, advancing in your career and California’s energy goals.

“The workshops bring Latinas personal and professional development tools including career advancement strategies and insight on how to start your own business. Participants will also develop a basic understanding of California’s Greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals and learn how they can engage their communities about energy and environmental issues,“ Gomez-O’Cadiz said.

Nidia Rodriguez, Director of Human Resources at Cabrillo attended the event last year.

“I enjoyed the networking aspect of the event, I was able to meet new community members and reconnect with colleagues. There were good speakers and on the housing end, it was great to learn about California’s energy goals as they related to new construction,” she said. I would encourage any Latina professional who is active in her community and looking to build personal and professional development skills to attend,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to connect, recharge and engage with fellow Latinas in Ventura County.”

Registration for the event is $25 for early bird registration, which ends Aug. 30 and $35 thereafter. To register or learn more about the event, visit the online registration page at led19ventura.eventbrite.com. For questions please contact [email protected].

This event is presented by the California Corporation (CRC), the California Teacher’s Association (CTA), Southern California Edison, SoCalGas, and Wells Fargo. HOPE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to ensuring political and economic parity for Latinas through leadership, advocacy, and education to benefit all communities and the status of women.

Azahar Place residents enjoy paint night

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About 40 residents at Azahar Place Apartments in Ventura enjoyed a paint night courtesy of two teens with an artist’s knack who donated their time to teach fellow residents ages 3-70 how to paint.

William Caceres. 14, and Jazmin Garcia, 12, both residents of Azahar Place apartments, stepped in when the professional instructor originally contacted to conduct the event canceled at the last minute, said Gabby Vignone, resident manager at Azahar Place Apartments.

Azahar Paint Night

Azahar Paint Night

“I was so proud of them for being fearless and taking on the challenge so the event could still happen. I reached out to the two teen-age residents who have expressed a love of art to see if they were willing to take on the challenge. They did, and in a few days put together what they would paint and how they would work together to instruct,” Vignone said.

Jazmin said she had a lot of fun working with fellow residents and helping them learn to paint. “I was a little shy at first, but the people were nice and made me feel comfortable,” she said. Jazmin her love of art has increased since she first started sketching some of her favorite characters, then evolved to other sketching subjects and painting.

William, who attributes his talent to his family, since his grandmother and great grandfather are both artists, said the biggest challenge in putting on the event was trying to find inspiration to know what to paint and speaking to a room full of people.

“It felt amazing to teach a room full of people how to paint because some of the people that were in the room may never get to have the chance to take an art class,” he said.

The paint night event is part of a series of community events that take place each month at Azahar Place Apartments. Inspiration for the events comes from resident requests. Vignone said resident Veronica Garcia, Jazmin’s mother, suggested doing a paint night during a previous Mother’s Day event where residents were creating birdhouse paintings.

“This was our first time organizing and putting on a paint night, and is something we will be doing yearly from now on,” Vignone said.

Vignone said resident Maria Sanchez, grateful for the teens’ instruction, asked if they could teach an art class once a month so everyone at Azahar could become as talented as William and Jazmin.

Vignone said that as a resident manager, it is her goal to connect residents with their local community and with each other, and this was one of the more productive community-building events.

“The teaching aspect alone created confidence in the young teens, gave them an item to put on their resume, and a way to say thank you to all of their community. Paint Night was an immensely beautiful and special event and provided an opportunity for families who cannot afford to purchase tickets to a paint night a chance to have the same experience with their entire family present,” Vignone said.

“The event allowed families to share the community center space and interact with one another. Residents were able to create connections with each other that turn into priceless friendships and support systems, which is exactly what we are aiming for,” she said,

Office Depot, Veronica Garcia and Cabrillo’s Resident Services Department, provided supplies for the event.

Cabrillo honors Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship recipients

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The Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation recognized its 2019 Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarships recipients on Thursday, July 30, during a meeting of the Board of Directors at Cabrillo’s Snapdragon Place Apartments in Ventura.

Cabrillo Chief Executive Officer, Margarita H. De Escontrias welcomed the recipients, introduced the board members and thanked the members of the scholarship review panel for their commitment in determining the scholarship recipients.

This year, Cabrillo received 24 applications and awarded $12,500 to 14 recipients. Edison International provided a $10,000 grant for STEM recipients, and another $2,500 funded by individual donations was distributed among recipients of all majors.

The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship Program, created in 2011, honors the legacy of Rodney Fernandez, Cabrillo’s founder and Executive Director for 30 years (1981–2011). The Scholarship continues Fernandez’s legacy of community building by cultivating the leadership of residents to attain their goals and empower themselves to take action to improve the quality of life in their communities.

“The Rodney Fernandez Leadership Scholarship applicants and recipients exemplify Rodney’s dedication and commitment to making Ventura County a better place to live and work,” said Jack Hinojosa, Chief Executive Officer of Child Development Resources of Ventura County and a member of the review panel.

“I was very impressed with the high-quality applications I reviewed and each of the recipients’ commitment, dedication and passion for learning and higher education. More importantly, many of the recipients plan to return to the county to help our community after they graduate. Congratulations to all the RFLF recipients,” he said.

Other members of the scholarship review panel were:
• Jaime Galvan, Programs and Events Manager at Ventura College Foundation
• Brian Gilpatrick, Managing Director, Ventura Region, Union Bank
• Christina Perez, Admissions Counselor, California Lutheran University.
• Jessica Cook, Assistant Vice President and Branch Operations Manager at Pacific Western Bank, Camarillo office, and a Cabrillo board member
• Denise Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development and Administration at Cabrillo

Luz Soto, Director of Property Management and Resident Services, introduced each of the recipients in attendance and welcomed their family members. About 40 people attended the event catered by El Pescador in Fillmore.

Two of the seven recipients in attendance spoke about themselves and the impact the scholarship will have on their ability to attend school and reach their educational goals.

Mireya Avila Mejia, a Fillmore High School graduate, is attending California State University, Channel Islands, in the Masters in Nursing program. She said she was inspired by nurses who tended to her mother, who was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and underwent surgery and radiation.

“I want to impact someone’s life in a positive manner and help someone’s mother in the way my mother was being helped. … As I embark on my nursing journey, I plan to get a job in the Ventura County area as a Nurse Practitioner. I will most likely be working in the Ventura County Hospital in the emergency unit, but it doesn’t matter where I am as long as I am saving lives,” Mejia said.

Yuliana Ceja, a Pacifica High School graduate, is attending Ventura College studying applied mathematics. She said she discovered her passion for mathematics while working as a tutor at Ventura College and Tutor Doctor, preparing high school students for SAT exams.

“My ultimate educational goal is to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics at CSUCI. My dream job is to become a math professor at a community college. As a college professor, I aspire to help students develop a love and understanding of mathematics,” she said.

Panelist and Cabrillo board member Cook said she was impressed by the women who shared their experiences and gratitude. “I can relate to both women when they mentioned they could not speak English when they started school. Being teased and bullied can shape who you are as a person. I am so proud these award recipients were shaped in a positive way,” Cook said. “They used their experience to help others in a similar situation and told themselves they were going to become successful. I am fortunate to be a part of this process. Everyone who submitted an essay did an amazing job.”

In addition to Mejia and Ceja, scholarship recipients are:

• Angellica Ayala-Ibarra, a Ventura High School graduate attending California Lutheran University as an environmental science and accounting major
• Denise Castro, a Foothill Technology High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as a global studies and education major
• Dominique Delgadillo, a Ventura High School graduate attending Ventura College as a Zoology major
• Trenton Grimes, an El Modena High School graduate attending Oxnard College and transferring to the University of California, San Diego, as a mechanical and environmental engineering major
• Edith Ibarra, a Santa Paula High School graduate attending Ventura College as a biology major
• Julio Martinez Fernandez, a Pacifica High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an Earth sciences major with an emphasis in geophysics
• Monique Melendez, a Rio Mesa High School and Notre Dame de Namur University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in biochemistry. She attends Grand Canyon University working on her Master of Education degree in special education.
• Cassandra Mendez, a Santa Paula High School graduate attending California State University, Channel Islands’ nursing program.
• Edwin Ponce, a graduate of Applied Technology Center High School attending California State University, East Bay, as a computer science major
• Devin Ruiz, a Ventura High School graduate attending California State University, Channel Islands, as a mathematics and business major
• Naomi Summers, an Oxnard High School graduate, attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an environmental studies major
• Kevin Tapia, an Oxnard High School graduate attending the University of California, Santa Barbara, as an actuarial science major

CAPTION: Back row (l-r): Edwin Ponce, Angellica Ayala-Ibarra , Mireya Avila Mejia; Front Row (l-r) Kevin Tapia, Naomi Summers, Cassandra Mendez, Yulianna Ceja; Not pictured: S. Trenton Grimes, Edith Ibarra, Monique Melendez, Devin Ruiz, Dominique Delgadillo, Julio Martinez- Fernandez, and Denise Castro

Cabrillo competes in the Oxnard Salsa Festival’s ‘Dancing With Our Community Stars’

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For the first time in the Oxnard Salsa Festival’s 26-year history, Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation will participate in the “Dancing With Our Community Stars” competition. After weeks of rehearsals, Cabrillo board member Victor Rodriguez will take the stage with local dance instructor Yesenia Peña to raise funds for Cabrillo’s mission of affordable housing.

“At Cabrillo, we serve families, farmworkers, seniors, veterans as well as special needs populations to provide safe and secure housing,” said Margarita de Escontrias, Cabrillo’s CEO. “We don’t just build and leave; we stay and work with many of our families. Our services not only provide a roof and shelter but a platform for moving out of poverty, obtaining an education, maintaining stable employment and being part of a community.”

Although “not a great dancer,” Rodriguez will endure several weeks of rehearsals and dance in front of thousands of people at the Salsa Festival on July 28, 2019, at Plaza Park in Oxnard. Rodriguez, who immigrated to the United States with his parents and eight siblings, eventually settled at the Cabrillo Village farmworker community in Saticoy, where he grew up. “Cabrillo Village had a positive impact on my life and created opportunities my family would have otherwise not had. Having access to affordable housing and safe living conditions allowed our family to focus on other priorities, including homework and participating in after-school programs.”

Today Rodriguez is a success story with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne and nearly 20 years of professional experience in human resources. He currently serves as the Human Resources Director at Puretec Industrial Water.

“I am excited about the exposure this will create for Cabrillo’s brand and mission, but what scares me is tripping over my own feet into a face plant in front of a large audience,” said Rodriguez.

His instructor, Peña, is a Ventura County native who has been dancing for eight years. In 2015, Peña started teaching at Caliente Dance Studios and Co-Directing Rumba Caliente Kids. She has been teaching Salsa, Bachata, and Hip Hop in Oxnard for four years and believes that dancing communicates a person’s deepest, highest, and most truly spiritual thoughts and emotions far better than words, spoken or written.

Peña is passionate about teaching the new generation as she helps makes a difference in each of the child’s lives. In 2019, she started her own all-ladies dance team, “Sizzling Dulzura.” Peña has been supporting the Oxnard Salsa Festival for the past eight years and this will be her the first time as an instructor for Dancing with Our Community Stars.

Every dollar donated counts as one vote. To vote for Rodriguez and Peña make your donation at http://bit.ly/SalsaVictorDWOCS

Links for additional information
• Cabrillo Economid Development Corporation Donation Page
• Oxnard Salsa Festival
• Dancing With Our Community Stars

Meet board member Jessica Cook

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In this recurring feature, Cabrillo introduces each of our board members. We are grateful for their support, commitment to community, leadership, and experience in their fields.

Jessica Cook has a long connection to Cabrillo Village, the labor camp community that formed the first housing cooperative in Ventura County. Resisting the razing of their homes, these courageous families raised money to purchase the land and became the legal owners in 1976. Incorporated in 1981 as the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation, we now manage 1,122 rental homes in 23 properties and collaborates with community partners to provide a variety of resources, social opportunities, and educational programs for residents.

“I had family and friends who lived there for years and still have friends who reside there. Many of my memories of Cabrillo Village are of the family-oriented atmosphere. There was always a soccer game in the park, a fiesta in the recreation room and the Carniceria was the best place to get meat for the family barbecue. My appreciation for Cabrillo comes from changing the life of one of my friends when her family was given the opportunity of affordable housing. I knew this organization was the best fit for me because they have helped people in my life be successful.”

With 20 years in the banking industry, Jessica is the Assistant Vice President and Branch Operations Manager of Community Banking for Pacific Western Bank in Camarillo, one of the youngest in this role in the region. She oversees sales and operations at the branch level, as well as serves as a regional trainer. She also serves her community through participation on various boards and nonprofit organizations.

What is the best part of being a board member?

The opportunity to make a difference in our communities.

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the reason is not that he is handsome, although it is nice. He lives his life being humble and gives back to the world as much as he gets from it.

Do you have a motto or personal mantra?

You are always responsible for how you act, no matter how you feel.

What makes our mission meaningful?

Everyone deserves a safe place to live. It should not come with an unattainable price tag. Cabrillo’s mission to better the quality of life for those who lack opportunity is an impressive task. My grandparents and father were field workers trying to better the lives of their children. I have seen the struggle to decide if food or rent was more important this week. Families like mine are not a rarity, and Cabrillo is the reason these families succeed. I am living a life of gratitude for all the opportunities I have been given through the struggles of my parents. If I can be a part of helping even one family not have to decide between rent and food, I have been successful. To be a part, either big or small, of changing someone’s life for the better is an everyday aspiration, and Cabrillo does it every day.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I am a bit of an adrenaline enthusiast. I have gone skydiving and bungee jumping. As a kid, it would get me in trouble. I have broken both arms, cracked my head open and found out I was allergic to bees – but not all at the same time!

CIT Bank/One West Bank awards $50,000 grant to Cabrillo

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Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation is excited to announce that CIT Bank/One West Bank has awarded a $50,000 community service grant to help the organization provide comprehensive housing services and a ladder of opportunity to its low- to moderate-income residents and families, including farmworkers, seniors, veterans and individuals with special needs.

“Housing is a platform for moving out of poverty, obtaining an education, maintaining stable employment, sustaining healthy relationships with friends and family, being part of a community, and achieving all of the things that most families take for granted,” said Denise Bickerstaff, Director of Business Development and Administration at Cabrillo. “This grant will allow us to continue to provide valuable services to our residents who need it most.”

Cabrillo’s Resident & Community Services Department provides supportive programs and educational opportunities for both adults and children living at its 23 properties. Programs such as homework clubs and after-school programs; fitness and nutrition classes; food distributions and community gardens; and ESL, citizenship and financial literacy classes that provide needed educational support, physical activity, and opportunities for economic advancement.

805-659-3791
[email protected]
702 County Square Drive, Ste 200
 Ventura, CA 93003
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