Ventura County Leadership Academy

Last Friday I attended Session Four of Ventura County Leadership Academy’s “Season 30” in Ojai and Ventura. We began our day at Mesa in Ojai, a stunning 10-acre transitional housing community for young adults. Ten residents live in “tiny homes” on Mesa’s orange-tree-dotted property, affording both privacy and an incredible opportunity to be part of a caring community. Mesa provides mental health support, educational opportunities, vocational and financial training, and community engagement to its residents, allowing each important individual to work toward permanent housing goals. Special thanks to Mesa Co-Founder and Executive Director Dan Parziale for taking the time to field questions from our cohort and for the energetic tour—Dan is one of the best public speakers I’ve ever met. After Mesa, our cohort traveled to the Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura, located at Westview Village, for a panel addressing community housing needs. Moderated by Jeffrey Lambert (great guy!), CEO of the Housing Authority, the panel of local housing executives and city planners discussed current Ventura County housing challenges and needs. Nicholas Deitch, Principal at RRM Design Group, then presented on “transforming single-use public land into vital community spaces,” with both ambitious and in-progress designs showing future land use projects. We wrapped up our day at the Museum of Ventura County with the best guided tour by Museum staff. Current Museum exhibits feature local and world-renowned artists. But my mind was especially blown by the artifacts kept in the Museum’s basement, which were absolutely perfect for my love of the Old West. I was fortunate to visit the Museum the next day as well for the Ventura County Prosecutors Association’s holiday party. Thank you Pattie Braga and VCLA for another rewarding cohort session. 

VCLA Cohort XXX recently had the opportunity to take a special tour of the Waste Management Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center, guided by Stephanie Jamison, the Recycling Education Representative for the company. The tour was incredibly informative and provided insights that many of us hadn’t previously known. We learned about the critical role the center plays in managing waste and recycling materials, as well as the significant effort involved in keeping our community clean and sustainable. It was an eye-opening experience, and I’m grateful for the chance to see firsthand how waste management and recycling truly operate. Our next stop was at the Calleguas Municipal Water District in Thousand Oaks, where we first heard from David Fleisch, Assistant Director for the Public Works Agency with the County of Ventura. He shared valuable insights about the vital work they do to manage and maintain the county’s infrastructure. We then listened to Jennifer Lancaster, Manager of Water Resources at Calleguas, who provided important information about the district’s role in delivering clean water to over 600,000 residents in the region. Calleguas is responsible for managing water resources, providing safe drinking water, and ensuring the sustainability of the local water supply. The day concluded with a tour of the Calleguas facility, led by Julio Reyes, Operations Supervisor. The presentations and tour highlighted how crucial both of these organizations are to the well-being of our community, from ensuring access to clean water to maintaining the infrastructure that supports our daily lives. Finally, our cohort ended the day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where we had the opportunity to experience the Situation Room. The Situation Room is a secure, high-tech command center that allows government leaders to make critical decisions during emergencies. It is designed to provide real-time information on national security and global events. Visiting this historical room gave me a unique perspective on how decisions are made during times of crisis, and it was a fascinating way to conclude our day. Personally, I found this experience to be incredibly informative and valuable, as it gave me a greater understanding of the vital services that support our community and how much effort goes into maintaining them. Ventura County Leadership Academy

The Housing Authority of the City of San Buenaventura is thrilled to welcome Alejandra Tellez as our newest commissioner. A Ventura native with a passion for sustainability and commitment to public service, Alejandra brings incredible experience to our mission of providing safe, affordable housing.