Tag: Ojai Local
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Are We Sliding Toward Autocracy?
Are We Sliding Toward Autocracy?
A Talk from the Perspective of a CentenarianBorn one hundred years ago, W. Michael Blumenthal has had a storied career at the
top echelons of national and international institutions, including three Presidential
administrations. He fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1939, coming to the US
after World War II. Here, he embarked on a remarkable career that included
academia, business and public service. Highlights include serving as Chairman and
CEO of two Fortune 100 companies, senior economic advisor and trade negotiator
in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and Secretary of the Treasury in the
Carter administration.
Mr. Blumenthal draws from personal experience as a victim of an autocratic
government, a refugee and immigrant, and first-hand knowledge of other
authoritarian regimes. He played a major role in the negotiations for the re-
establishment of US-China relations and was the last Cabinet-level officer to meet
with the Shah of Iran before his government fell.
In 1997 Mr. Blumenthal became the founding director of the Jewish Museum of
Berlin where he served until 2014. His opinion piece on the threat to democracy
recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal.Tuesday, March 17, 2026
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Ojai Retreat
160 Besant Road, Ojai
Sponsored by Indivisible Ojai Valley, a volunteer-led, grassroots group dedicated to
promoting civic participation and for justice, sustainability, and equality.
Link to event details on website
Admission is free, but donations to Indivisible Ojai Valley are welcome. -
Singing for Peace
Sacred Voices Ojai Presents
Singing for Peace
Sunday, March 1st 1pm
Libbey Park, Ojai
Through singing together, we strengthen community, give voice to shared values, and embody a joyful, nonviolent presence in the world.
Free Event •
All Are Welcome!Also featuring:Vigil Wall with Bill Haff
In collaboration with Democracy Ojai
Sacred Voices Ojai
Wayne Marshall & Katherine McClelland
with guest leader Kerri Cook -
Donate to Poder Popular
You can help by donating to Poder Popular in Support of Local Farmworkers Affected by ICE Raids
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Los Padres ForestWatch Stop Oil Drilling & Fracking
Protect Central Coast Public Lands From Trump’s Oil Expansion
The Bureau of Land Management has released a new federal proposal that would open up to 850,000 acres of Central California—including nearly 400,000 acres of public lands, parks, beaches, and wildlife habitat—to oil drilling and fracking. The plan threatens some of the Central Coast’s most treasured landscapes and water sources, from the Sierra Madre Mountains and Montaña de Oro State Park to lands near schools and major waterways.
A public hearing is scheduled for February 3, 2026, for proposed updates to public lands in parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties managed by the BLM Bakersfield Field Office. Click HERE to register. -
SNAP and How to Help
Food insecurity isn’t a distant issue — it’s happening right here in our community.
According to the American Community Survey (2019–2023), families receiving SNAP benefits make up:
- 54.8% of households in Meiners Oaks
- 42.9% in the City of Ojai
- 37.8% in Mira Monte
- 31.5% in Oak View
With a federal freeze on SNAP benefits expected, more local families may soon face difficult choices between food, rent, and other essentials. HELP of Ojai’s Food Pantry will be more important than ever.
Open twice each week, from 9:30–11:30 a.m., our pantry provides steady access to nutritious food and support — ensuring our neighbors don’t have to go without. But we can’t do it alone.
Here’s how you can help:
- Donate requested pantry items
- Contribute financially
- Volunteer your time – whether it’s sorting food, building food boxes or delivering food to neighbors, your help is needed and appreciated
- Spread the word — your neighbors may need help during this time. Ensure they know the resources available to them by sharing our info.
