The Californer - Ventura College Announces 2025 Diversity in Culture Festival

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Featuring Award-Winning Author and Inspirational Speaker Reyna Grande

VENTURA, Calif. - Californer -- Ventura College is thrilled to present its annual Diversity in Culture Festival on April 9 and 10. This year's festival features an exciting lineup of live performances, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking discussions designed to honor global traditions and foster community engagement. This free, community-wide event offers a mix of virtual and on-campus activities and is open to students, faculty, staff, and the public.

As keynote speaker, acclaimed author Reyna Grande will take center stage on Thursday, April 10, sharing insights from her powerful memoirs, The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home, which chronicle her experiences as an undocumented child in America.

Students will also honor their roots in this year's Poetry Slam competition, where they'll share original poetry in a spoken-word competition for prizes, sponsored by the Associated Students of Ventura College (ASVC). This year's theme, "The Stories We Leave Behind: Legacies That Endure," invites participants to reflect on their personal and cultural histories.

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Hosted by Sade Champagne, the festival will also feature live music and cultural performances. Highlights include Los So-Lows, a soulful local band from Oxnard delivering smooth rhythms and rich vocals; the Bobby Hart Band, a dynamic fusion of classic American rock and cross-cultural influences; and Danza Azteca Xochipilli, a breathtaking display of traditional Aztec dance, celebrating the heritage of Mesoamerican cultures. Ventura College's Ballet Folklorico Club will also perform and host additional World Music groups to close out the festival.

Festival attendees can also take part in Zoom and classroom presentations centering around healing, mindfulness, and creativity. Additional Main Stage presentations will celebrate Indigenous culture and promote connection to one another.

ASL interpreting will be available for all stage events. The Ventura College Diversity in Culture Taskforce is committed to recognizing, celebrating, and promoting awareness and appreciation of the value of diversity at our college and in our community.

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For more information about the festival and a detailed schedule of events, visit the 2025 Diversity in Culture Events (https://www.venturacollege.edu/community/diversity-in-culture/2025-diversity-culture-events) webpage or contact Gigi Fiumerodo at mtfiumerodo@vcccd.edu.