OC Live – WEspeak
The student voices of our community
Thursday, April 18, 2019 @ 6pm in the Performing Arts Building
Celebrate the unique voices of our student community! WEspeak is our annual presentation of OC students telling their own stories in their own words – live on stage. Discover what it means to meet life’s challenges right here, right now. Moving, inspiring, enlightening – these are their stories and our stories.
WEspeak is the brainchild of Oxnard College Professor José Maldonado.
” I thought a lot about what I’d like to do if I ever were fortunate enough to be hired full time. One of the ideas that kept popping up was bringing TED Talks to a community college. I thought it’d be great to expose our students to ideas from all around the world on their very own campus. Once I got to Oxnard, however, I realized that we don’t need anyone to come talk to us because we have our own story to tell. Besides, low-income communities of color are always being talked to, but not necessarily listened to. So my idea evolved into this – what if our students spoke for themselves? That’s where the name WEspeak comes from, ” Professor Maldonado explains.
Bios from some of this years’ speakers:
Crystal Harris: I’m working toward my AST in Biology and I want to be a Dr. I wear many hats in my daily life but my favorite is being a mom to my 2 kids, Devin and Zoey.
Vance García:”Sometimes the hardest paths in life often lead to the most beautiful views and outcomes…”Vance Garcia is a 28 year old communication Studies major and traumatic brain injury survivor who used his second chance at life as motivation to go back to school and chase his dreams with a strength, positivity and willpower that he gained struggling and persevering through his personal recovery.
Jason Bauer: Jason is a long time resident of Ventura County and originally from the State of Missouri, where most of his extended family still lives. Jason is a 10 year military veteran, he is a single father with a 9 year old son and a 7 year old daughter and loves spending time with them. Jason recently went back to school and this year he earned a certificate with the Addiction Disorder Studies Program and an associates degree. Jason’s plan is to transfer to university and study Sociology and eventually get a Masters in social work.
Andrea Moreno Lara: My full name is Andrea Moreno Lara. My major is Spanish. I plan to teach a second language to my future students with the set goal of demonstrating the many open doors that new languages bring and that learning another language can make you feel connected to a new culture. I also plan to work with my students who already speak Spanish to help them to preserve their language because I firmly believe in bilingualism and that our roots are the ones that hold us and keeps us strong.
Anna Casillas: Anna was born and raised in Carpinteria, California. She is currently a communications major. Anna has always found her joy in writing, and hopes to use her voice as a tool for positive change.
Andrea Moreno Lara 
Anna Casillas 
Beatriz Basurto 
Crystal Harris 
Jason Bauer 
Vance Garcia 
2019 WEspeal cast with Professor Maldonado (far left) and Professor Edwards ( back center)
If you need ASL interpreting services for this OC LIVE event, please contact director Dr. Amy Edwards at aedwards@vcccd.edu seven days prior to the event and it will be provided free of charge.
As an adjunct speech teacher things/events can easily slip by. I regret that this was not on my radar. What an amazing thing you have put together for OC. Next year my students will be required to attend and several will be encouraged to participate. Thank you for making Comm Studies have a real impact on the college and the community. Much respect!