Apr 29 Wednesday
Since 2007, UCSB Reads has fostered a shared sense of belonging by bringing the UCSB campus and Santa Barbara communities together to read a common book that explores compelling issues of our time. Conceived by then Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas, the program is led by the UCSB Library in collaboration with campus and community partners. Each year, a committee of UCSB faculty, students, staff, and community members selects a thought-provoking, interdisciplinary book written by a living author that encourages a wide range of readers to engage with a contemporary social, political, cultural or scientific issue such as climate change, racial justice, technology, memory, identity, and democracy.
The program kicks off in winter with a book giveaway for UCSB students led by the Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, and University Librarian, and culminates with a free public talk by the book’s author(s) at Campbell Hall in the spring. Throughout the winter and spring quarters, the Library sponsors a variety of free learning, experiential, and social events to explore the book’s themes. The selected book is also incorporated into the university curriculum for winter and spring, allowing students to explore its themes in an academic context. UCSB Reads is generously supported by many individuals, university departments, and organizations.
This exhibition highlights the history of UCSB Reads since its inception, featuring promotional posters, selected books, custom bookmarks along with testimonials and images of participants engaging with programming throughout the years. UCSB Reads has become a beloved campus tradition that brings together thousands of people every year and demonstrates the power of literature to bridge divides, promote intellectual engagement, and build community.
"Through most of our lives and work, Cedric and I have had deep commitments to collaboration, internationalism, and solidarity movements."–Elizabeth Robinson, 2024
This exhibition documents the life’s work of Cedric J. Robinson and Elizabeth Peters Robinson, placing it in the global context of the Black radical tradition. The Robinsons were renowned for their seminal scholarship and activism that had wide-ranging influence at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), in academia, and across many public arenas. The exhibition is drawn from the Cedric J. and Elizabeth P. Robinson Archive (“Robinson Archive”) and supplemented by a variety of materials from other collections in UCSB Library’s Special Research Collections, as well as personal contributions from Elizabeth Robinson.
A deeply influential educator, Cedric Robinson (1940-2016) was a well-known scholar of racial capitalism and the Black radical tradition, and an active participant in political movements, both at home and internationally. For more than 30 years, Elizabeth Robinson has been an educator, social worker, former associate director for media at KCSB-FM radio, activist, and community media producer.
This exhibition was curated by Yolanda Blue, the Library’s Curator of American and International History, Politics, and Cultures Collections, in collaboration with New York University and UCSB Library staff.
Now in our 50th year of serving Ventura County, the Coalition for Family Harmony—founded in 1976 in Oxnard, CA—is the only rape crisis center in the region to provide emergency domestic violence shelters counseling, legal services, and a 24-hour hotline with crisis response.
Our main fundraiser every year is Denim Day. It is held on the last Wednesday of April during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and raises awareness about sexual violence and challenges victim blaming. It began after a 1998 Italian court overturned a rape conviction, suggesting tight jeans implied consent. In protest, women in Italy’s Parliament wore jeans—sparking a global movement. Wearing denim shows support for survivors and promotes education about consent and prevention.
Apr 30 Thursday
May 01 Friday
May 02 Saturday
May 03 Sunday
The Arts Council of the Conejo Valley (ACCV) is thrilled to announce the Inaugural Conejo Cottontails 5K Color Run, happening May 3, 2026, at Memorial Field on the Cal Lutheran University Campus—and YOU’re invited to be part of the starting lineup! This untimed, family-friendly 5K is all about movement, creativity, and COLOR. Walk, run, ride, or hop your way through a celebration that’s less about the clock and more about the experience. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just here for fun, this is a game everyone wins.
Event Day Play-By-Play
7:00 AM – Check-in opensGrab your Conejo Cottontails swag bag and get ready to run8:00 AM – 5K Walk | Run | HopHit the course featuring Conejo Cottontail art stops, photo ops, color stations, and interactive moments11:00 AM – Color CelebrationBring your color packets and join us for a massive group powder toss that turns the venue into a living, joyful canvas
Art Sale & Jubilee (All Morning)Shop original art, meet local artists, and connect with creative organizations from across the Conejo Valley
Why This Event MattersEvery registration supports the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley and helps fund impactful programs like: *Conejo Public Art projects (including the iconic Conejo Cottontails)*Hang With The Best student art competition*Richard and Elaine Williams Legacy Scholarship*Summer Concerts in the Park
Register today: conejoarts.org/5kcolorrun