As we continue celebrating our 50th anniversary at Oxnard College, it is worth reflecting on how we were established. Oxnard College was born from community advocacy and the belief that a better future is always worth organizing for. In 1975, local families and activists pushed for equitable access to higher education in Oxnard, resulting in a college built to serve its families.
That origin story should come as no surprise, given the community we call home.
For generations, Oxnard has been defined by advocacy. This is where some of César Chávez’s early organizing took place. Oxnard was also the site of one of the nation’s earliest multi-ethnic labor strikes in 1903, when Japanese and Mexican workers successfully challenged unfair wages, subcontracting, and other exploitative practices by their employer. Our community is where families and civil rights leaders confronted public education inequities, including segregated schooling, through the Soria v. Oxnard School District (1971) case. These efforts reflect a community that has long understood that progress happens not by accident but when people come together and organize.
Oxnard College was born of that work and continues to carry forward the legacy of civic engagement and community leadership today.
This year, Oxnard College was recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education for our community engagement efforts. Only 277 institutions nationwide received this designation, honoring colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to working alongside their communities.
“Higher education is a vital economic engine for us all. Our colleges and universities not only fuel science and innovation, they build prosperity in rural, urban and suburban communities nationwide,” shares Timothy F.C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “We celebrate each of these institutions, particularly their dedication to partnering with their neighbors — fostering civic engagement, building useable knowledge and catalyzing real world learning experiences for students.”
This recognition affirms who we have always been and reflects the values we were founded on. For example, Sociology Professor Dolores Ortiz leads the California Freedom Summer participatory action research project, which engages students in civic leadership and community-based research focused on issues affecting young people in Oxnard. Sponsored by the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, the project empowers students to conduct original research, contribute to public scholarship and deepen civic participation.
One outcome of this partnership is the Thriving Youth Study, a comprehensive look at Oxnard youth experiences and civic engagement. Commissioned by the City of Oxnard, the study informs policy discussions and community investment decisions, demonstrating how student learning can translate into community impact. The program’s students have also exhibited civic leadership by coauthoring several additional reports and presenting on their work at conferences.
Students are also developing leadership skills through Oxnard College’s Community Leadership Fellowship, led by Professor Evan Hess and supported by the Community Learning Partnership’s California Youth Leadership Corps. Through the program, students partner with local organizations to address local challenges – from helping to educate workers about their labor rights to advocating on environmental and climate issues here in Ventura County. Some of the program’s fellows have extended their learning beyond the classroom by engaging in public dialogue and publishing opinion pieces of their own.
At the center of this work are students like Gustavo Lopez who partnered with the United Farm Workers (UFW) Foundation to support immigrant and farmworker communities. Through “Know Your Rights” presentations, participation in International Migrants Day events and outreach at community gatherings, Lopez shared information about constitutional and labor protections.
“I saw how impactful it can be to empower people by informing them of their rights,” Lopez said. “It showed me that community education is a form of leadership.”
Lopez’s experience illustrates how Oxnard College students put learning into action, strengthening both their leadership skills and the communities they serve.
Our community engagement extends beyond these programs. Among other efforts, Oxnard College supports community food distributions, campus-led fundraising for students facing economic hardship and the OC Mercado, which provides snacks, groceries, fresh produce and essential items to students in need.
Our impact also reaches far beyond campus through alumni serving Ventura County as elected officials, nonprofit leaders, educators and activists. Together, they are shaping policy and advancing values instilled here at Oxnard College.
Fifty years ago, Oxnard College was created because a community organized for equitable access to higher education. Today, we honor that legacy not only by remembering our history but by continuing the work it demands — grounded in community, guided by heart and committed to Ventura County’s future.