Every voice holds history, meaning, and connection. As part of Ventura College’s Liberal Arts and Public Humanities Initiative, we invite community members, students, alumni, and faculty to share their stories — reflections on life, identity, creativity, and the struggles and triumphs that shape who we are.

Your story matters. By participating, you’ll help build a living archive of voices that celebrates our shared human journey and the rich traditions of our community.

How to Participate
Interviews will be recorded (audio and/or video), and participants will receive a consent form explaining how their stories will be preserved and shared. Whether you have a story about your time at Ventura College, your family’s history in the region, or reflections on meaning and purpose, we’d love to hear from you.

To learn more or sign up to share your story, please contact:
Contact: Anthony Mansueto – amansueto@vcccd.edu  /  805-289-6230

PRESS RELEASE
    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ventura College Launches "Ventura Speaks" – 
A Day of Stories, Reflection, and Celebration

Historic Event Brings Together Oral Histories, Liberal Arts Symposium, 
and Centennial Celebration on October 29

VENTURA, CA – Ventura College invites the community to "Ventura Speaks," a groundbreaking public humanities event that explores questions of meaning, value, and identity through the power of storytelling and reflection. The day-long celebration takes place on October 29, 2025, in Guthrie Hall at Ventura College.

"Ventura Speaks" marks the inaugural public event of the Ventura College Liberal Arts and Public Humanities Initiative, a bold new effort to strengthen the college's liberal arts mission and position Ventura College as a vital community space where people engage with the big questions: Who are we? Where have we come from? What does our shared human journey mean?

"This initiative is about reconnecting people with their history and traditions, their identity and creativity," says Dean Anthony Mansueto, who is organizing the event. "We want to help our community reflect on the meaning of this common human journey that we all share."

A Day of Discovery and Connection

The event features multiple programs throughout the day. (Attendees can also view photographs by Yvette Marthell and a faculty exhibition featuring objects that represent their identities and work.)

Morning: Oral History Forum (10:00 AM – Noon)
Moderated by Michael Ward, students and faculty will present original research based on oral histories and local archival materials, bringing community voices and forgotten stories to light.

Afternoon: Liberal Arts and Public Humanities Initiative Symposium (1:00 – 4:30 PM)

• Project overview by Anthony Mansueto
• Faculty panel discussions
• Legacy Faculty Panel exploring the liberal arts mission of Ventura College: past, present, and future

Evening: Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Centennial Celebration (6:00 – 8:00 PM)

• Performance by acclaimed New Zealand musician Mark Menzies.
• Honoring Division Centennial Alumna, Emeritus Faculty member, and community leader Ola Washington
• Poetry reading and conversation with poet Luzmaria Espinosa
   

* Light refreshments will be available.
 

Share Your Story

Community members are invited to participate in the oral history project by sharing their own stories. Interviews will be recorded (audio and video options available). Participants will receive a consent form explaining how interviews will be preserved and shared.

To learn more about sharing your story or to attend "Ventura Speaks," contact the Division of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Ventura College (Dean Anthony Mansueto: amansueto@vcccd.edu / tel: 805.289.6230)

Event Details:

• 
What: Ventura Speaks – Liberal Arts and Public Humanities Initiative Launch
• 
When: October 29, 2025 (10:00 AM – 8:00 PM)
• 
Where: Guthrie Hall, Ventura College (4700 Loma Vista Rd, Ventura CA 93003)

• Admission: Free and open to the public

About the Initiative

The Ventura College Liberal Arts and Public Humanities Initiative seeks to strengthen the college's liberal arts mission and create opportunities for the community to engage with questions of meaning, value, history, and identity.
 

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