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Our monthly newsletter brings you the latest news on all things MICOP in Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties.
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month Recap
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🌼 During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, MICOP's Voz de la Mujer Indigena and Living with Love came together to support our indigenous community. At our monthly food distribution, we shared important information about our programs and domestic violence resources, helping everyone know where to turn for help. Voz also made a trip to Santa Maria, partnering with DV Solutions to broaden our outreach. Together, we’re dedicated to breaking the silence and uplifting our community. Let’s continue to make a difference against domestic violence! 💜✨💪🏽
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Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program Scholarship
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🌟 Exciting news! MICOP and Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) are offering the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP) Scholarship! 🎓 This scholarship aims to invest in scholars and increase diversity among behavioral health providers in Ventura County.
Eligibility includes students pursuing a degree in behavioral health services, including those on a “non-traditional” educational path. Applicants must reside or have recently resided in Ventura County.
Applications are open from October 25th to December 1st. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference! 💙
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In observance of Thanksgiving, MICOP offices in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties will be closed on November 28 and 29. Our offices will reopen with regular hours on Monday, December 2nd. Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday!
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Ventura County Community Development Corporation 4th Annual Award Ceremony "Leading People Home"
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We are thrilled to share that on October 11, 2024, MICOP received the Michael McGuire Award for Excellence in Community Support at the Leading People Home Award Ceremony hosted by the Ventura County Community Development Corporation. This honor showcased the remarkable dedication of our team in supporting our Indigenous migrant communities.
A huge THANK YOU to each of you for your unwavering support— that has made this achievement possible! For more information about the awards, please visit https://vccdc-awards.org/#honorees.
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The Truth Act Forum
Ventura County Sheriff will continue to partner with ICE
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Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff speaks at the TRUTH forum on October 29, 2024 at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting.
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On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, MICOP, in collaboration with the ICE Out of Ventura Coalition, represented community members to voice their opposition to the Sheriff’s ongoing cooperation with ICE. By the end of the meeting, it became clear that while there is no mandate for the Sheriff to cease voluntarily collaborating with ICE, he will not consider changing this policy unless “the state legislature changes their posture where it is allowable.” He emphasized, “If you don’t commit a violent or serious felony, we are not going to have anything to do with immigration, period.”
However, this approach contrasts with broader examples of legal leniency, as illustrated by high-profile cases like that of former President Donald Trump, who was found guilty of multiple felony counts yet remains eligible to run for office. This disparity reflects systemic inequities, leaving immigrant communities vulnerable to deportation and family separation.
MICOP presented five public comments on behalf of community members affected by immigration policies. These included a statement from a father who was deported and separated from his family and a comment from a youth currently held in a detention center. Among California’s 58 counties, our Sheriff’s office is one of only 11 that still transfers individuals to ICE and notifies ICE of individuals’ release dates.
Please take a moment to listen to the stories we shared at the forum on behalf of the community and join our collective work to call on an end to the Sheriff's entanglement with ICE. To join the ICE Out of Ventura Coalition contact them at contact@iceoutofvc.org for more information or contact MICOP's Policy Director, Vanessa Terán, at vanessa.teran@mixteco.org.
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A "No on Proposition 36" - Reducing Mass Incarceration
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On Monday, October 7, 2024, MICOP was invited by the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to participate in a “Community Chat about Propositions 36.” The event featured a panel discussion that included Oxnard Police Chief Jason Benites, Public Defender Claudia Bautista, Disability Rights California Organizer Carolina Valle, MICOP Policy Director Vanessa Terán, and other Ventura County community leaders. The panel focused on examining both support for and opposition to Proposition 36, as well as its potential impacts on our community.
As a nonprofit organization committed to criminal justice reform and addressing the impacts of the prison industrial complex, MICOP’s contribution to the discussion centered on engaging Spanish- and Mixteco-speaking residents, who are often disproportionately affected by policies leading to mass incarceration due to factors such as immigration status, poverty, and racial biases. In our dialogue, we expressed strong concerns about Proposition 36, emphasizing the long-term harm it could bring to the broader community if enacted.
MICOP believes that every vote sends a powerful message, and we encourage our supporters to vote “No on Proposition 36” to advocate for a more just and equitable future.
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Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Special Meeting: The Case for a Living Wage for Farmworkers - Expert Panel and Public Comments
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In recent years, farmworkers across the region, facing rising housing and living costs, have led strikes for better wages. Empowered by their status as essential workers, they formed the Alianza Campesina coalition, joining forces with members of CAUSE, and MICOP.
Together, we are urging the County Board of Supervisors to pass a $26/hr minimum wage ordinance for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County. Now we need your help to make this a reality!
On Tuesday, November 12th, at 3:00 p.m., the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will meet in the Santa Maria Board Room at the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria, CA 93455. Farmworkers plan to give testimonies to the board requesting they take action to improve wages for farmworkers and we need as many community members and organizations to attend in support and also give public comment in favor of this desperately needed change. The meeting begins at 3:00 pm, starting with a 90-minute panel of experts speaking on farmworker conditions followed by a public comment portion.
We invite all allies and supporters to join us at the special meeting to show their presence and allyship. Please arrive early to be part of the audience, witnessing this important event. We’ll have posters available for you to hold during the meeting. Additionally, all are welcome to join a solidarity rally outside the boardroom!
Questions? Contact CAUSE’s Policy Associate, Erica Diaz at erica@causenow.org or MICOP’s Policy Director, Vanessa Teran at vanessa.teran@mixteco.org.
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MICOP offers a fast-paced, multilingual and multicultural work environment dedicated to carrying out our mission. We are currently recruiting for the following positions:
Oxnard
Santa Maria
Paso Robles
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