VC SocialHi! My name is Jess, I'm 23, and I enjoy all things creative. In May of 2022 I graduated from Cal Lutheran University with a BA in Film & Television, and I aspire to own my own production company one day. My top interests are writing, movies, business and finance, and pretty much anything queer.
Two Trees Escape is a Ventura-based, family owned business that describes themselves as “a unique venue for playing, exploring, and bonding. Our escape rooms are designed for players of all kinds: young, old, brave, curious, friendly, and eager to learn something new about themselves and their team”.
Use code “VCSOCIAL” when you book an escape room for 10% off!
Two Trees Escape Website: https://www.twotreesescaperoom.com/
It’s not very often that Ventura College gets paid a visit from a legend in American civil rights history. However, fortunately for us, this was the case last week at the VC Campus as a part of the annual Diversity in Culture festival. On April 13th, at the center of VC’s campus, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta was welcomed to the outdoor stage to address the community of Ventura.
The Diversity in Culture website gives a brief bio of the iconic activist:
“Dolores Huerta is a celebrated Latina, labor leader, activist, and community organizer. She has worked for civil rights and social justice for over 50 years. In 1962 sheet and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers Union. She served as vice president and played a crucial role in many of the union’s accomplishments for four decades”.
If you remember the campaign slogan, “Yes, we can!” used by President Obama in the 2008 election, you may have heard the original Spanish version, “Sí, se puede!”. Huerta was the one who coined the phrase in 1972 when told by people in Arizona that she could not get the farm workers to organize there. Her response to people saying –originally in Spanish– “you can’t do that here”, was “Yes, we can!”. This phrase became a staple of the Latinx community and is still used to this day as we continue to fight for equity for all.
During her time speaking at the VC festival, she encouraged us to keep our heads up despite the current political state of this country, which has left many Americans discouraged. Still, at 93 years old, Huerta continues her activism and doesn’t plan to stop any time soon. One of her biggest pieces of advice to listeners was to VOTE! She reminded us to stay politically informed, vote, and get everyone we know to vote. This is one of the greatest ways we can use our voice to make the change we want.
At the end of her speech, a handful of VC students and club leaders were able to conduct a Q&A with Huerta. Here, she told more about her early life and her years spent organizing. One piece of advice that she gave especially stuck out to me. It was her urge for us to be patient. Huerta told about the tireless hours going house-to-house of the farm workers and explained to them her and Chavez’s goal. This required a huge amount of patience, however, this work is what ultimately led to the great success of the United Farm Workers campaign.
Lastly, at the end of her Q&A, attendees got the chance to do a quick meet and greet with Huerta and stop by her merch table to get some items. We here at VC and the city of Ventura are so lucky to have had the opportunity to have her in our presence. Especially since so many residents of Ventura County have strong ties to the farmworker community. This is an event that we will remember for a lifetime.
*All photos used in this article are property of the author.
In this podcast episode, Marsha and Jess discuss something high school didn’t teach us (that it really should have), finances. They hit three main topics of bank accounts, credit cards, and investing for the future. We hope you enjoy!
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Marsha: https://vcsocial.biz/marsha-carroll/
Jess: https://vcsocial.biz/jesslopez/
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Marsha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlesoflaguna_wigs/
Jess’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yessifromtheblock
Disclaimer: We are not accountants or financial advisors, nor are we holding ourselves out to be. The information contained on this podcast is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.
If you live in Ventura and have ever craved authentic Italian food, you know the struggle to find a good place. Even in the entire county, it’s hard to come by a restaurant that’s both authentic and affordable. Let’s say you find a great authentic place, most likely a plate of pasta will cost you nearly $30. And if you go someplace affordable, you can tell they just microwaved the food in the back five minutes ago. Neither is the case if you go to Brio Cafe in Ventura.
Brio Cafe is a cute and casual Italian restaurant with some of the best authentic dishes in town. Everything here is homemade: from the pizzas to the pasta, the bread, and even the desserts. Located at 2404 E Main St. in Ventura, it’s not far out of the way from most places in the city, and wait time for food is fairly short. Inside, the restaurant features a small seating area, with a homey ambiance and friendly staff. You can place an order at the front register, over the phone, or even online through their website.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite dish at Brio, but some fan favorites for my family are spaghetti bolognese, potato pizza, and spinach lasagna. You can get a decent sized plate of any pasta here for around $12, and the homemade pizzas are just about $15. The rectangle-shaped pizza comes covered with fresh toppings, delicious sauce, and has a perfectly crispy breading. When you finish your meal, don’t forget to add some dessert and pick one of their homemade cheesecakes to dig into!
Overall, Brio Cafe offers inexpensive, tasty, and genuine Italian food that you just can’t find elsewhere. I highly recommend stopping by and trying one of their pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads, or (my personal favorite) their fresh squeezed lemonade.
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