ABOUT THE REBOZO FESTIVAL
The Rebozo Festival is a benefit event established to raise funds for Ventura County non-profit charitable organizations focusing on the cultural, social and educational needs of the community. This unique cultural event promotes the rich heritage of our area by highlighting the colorful Mexican rebozo (shawl) as our theme.
Rebozo Festival is a nonprofit 501c(3) Organization Tax ID#46-3641584.
7th Annual Honorary Madrina, Posthumous
Carmen Ramirez
Raised in the San Gabriel Valley of LA County, Carmen Ramírez was one of seven siblings. Graduating from Loyola School of Law in Los Angeles in 1974, she was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. She began her career in Oxnard in 1978 as a legal aid attorney in La Colonia working to protect the health and economic well-being of individuals and families before government and in court.
For 16 years she was the Executive Director of Channel Counties Legal Services Association, which served the legal needs of the poor in Ventura and Santa Barbara County. For 9 years thereafter, she was the coordinator of the Ventura Superior Court’s Self-Help Legal Center in the Colonia neighborhood of Oxnard, serving the Spanish Speaking community.
In 1998, she was president of the Ventura County Bar Association and remained active in bar activities until her tragic and untimely death. From 2005 to 2008, she was an elected member of the State Bar Board of Governors, overseeing the practice of the legal profession in California.
Carmen Ramírez spent her life in dedicated service to her community, championing sustainability, mobility, and equity, while tirelessly supporting numerous local civic organizations including the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, Ventura County Community Foundation, Ventura County Transportation Commission, Camarillo and Oxnard Airport Authorities, and the Center for Civic Education.
Carmen Ramírez made history as the first Latina to be elected to the Oxnard City Council in 2010 where she served for ten years, never once missing a meeting. Carmen later made history again by becoming the first Latina to be elected to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in 2020, and once more by being the first Latina to Chair the Board in 2022.
Carmen had an exemplary record of leadership, integrity and service to Ventura County and its residents as a Councilmember for the City of Oxnard, and as a Ventura County Supervisor. A trailblazing leader and beloved friend, Carmen’s kindness, intelligence, and tenacity enriched all who were fortunate enough to know and work with her.
Carmen Ramirez was an original Founding Madrina of the Rebozo Festival, which was established in 2005. She was an asset to this organization. Carmen was always energetic, enthusiastic, generous and committed. It is with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for her many years of commitment to the Rebozo Festival that she has been selected as the 7th Honorary Madrina, Posthumous, of this year’s festival. Her generous and caring spirit will always continue to influence future contributions made to our community. Carmen is the human equivalent of the rebozo: She would wrap one in her gentle but fierce care and concern as she worked to make the world a kinder, more nurturing place for all.
ENTERTAINMENT
INLAKECH del Maestro Javier Gomez
Mariachi Aguilas
La Gran Sonora de Colombia
Oxnard College Ballet Folklorico Mestizo under the direction of Mati Sanchez
Legacy Sponsors
Title Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Christine Petti
Gerardo “Jerry” Ascencio
Mission Real Estate
Dena L. Rogers
State Farm Insurance
Yolanda Benitez &
David Rodriguez
Single Tickets
Available March 2023
(No refunds or credits – rain or shine event)
$80
at the door $85
Preferred Tables of Ten
Available as of December 1, 2022
Please see Table Seating Chart.
Limited Preferred Seating
$800
Tables of 10 chairs only – No exceptions. Preferred Tables are prioritized by purchase date. Purchase by mail and save processing fees. No refunds or credits. This is a rain or shine event.
TICKET OUTLETS
Executive Board of Directors
Irma J. Lopez
Board Director & Founder
Irma is a third generation Ventura County resident, raised in Camarillo and attended local schools; Oxnard College, Ventura College and University California Santa Barbara. Her father Pete Luna was born in Moorpark and her mother Sally Cervantez was born in Piru. She is married to Dr. Manuel M. Lopez, former longtime Mayor of the City of Oxnard and presently President of the Oxnard Harbor Commission. She has four daughters, Yvonne, Lisa, Marisa and Tiffany, nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
She was a 24 year California State employee, working for the Employment Development Department and Senator Gary K. Hart. She has been a member of many organizations and on the Board of many Ventura County non-profits; The Salvation Army, Ventura County Women’s Political Caucus, Tres Condados Girl Scout Council, El Concilio, Oxnard-Ocotlan Sister City Committee, United Way, Oxnard Performing Arts Center Foundation, Oxnard College Foundation Board, LULAC and the Oxnard Elementary School Personnel Commission. She is a founding member of; VCCF Women’s Legacy Fund, Destino Legacy Fund and CSUCI Presidents Circle. She has been recognized by the Girl Scouts as a Woman of Distinction, Oxnard Woman of the Year, Cause action Fund Lifetime Achievement Award and the Mexican-American Bar Association Justice Award. She was recognized as the 2015 Woman of the Year by Senator Hanna Beth-Jackson.
“My proudest achievement has been as founding Madrina of the REBOZO FESTIVAL. The first Festival was held in 2005. The 12th Annual Rebozo Festival will be celebrated in 2016. When the Rebozo Festival Committee was established in 2004 it was with the thought of establishing an organization that would support Ventura County private non-profits that further the cultural, economic and social well being of our community. I chose the name “Las Madrinas” because we, the volunteer Madrinas represent the life force of this collaborative effort. I am truly grateful to these volunteers who work tirelessly for our community”.
Yolanda Plascencia
Board Director & Treasurer
Yolanda Plascencia was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, was raised and lived in Oxnard, CA for 30 years and currently lives in Camarillo. Together with her husband, Alfredo Plascencia, President and CEO of Lazer Broadcasting Corporation, Yolanda is helping the Hispanic community in several counties of California by promoting education, community services, local and international news, music and talent through the various Spanish radio stations. She is a devoted mother of three children–Elizabeth, Julissa and Alfredo Jr.–who has helped them complete their educational goals to succeed in their careers. Yolanda has been able to achieve her goal of helping others, as well, by being a part of and contributing to great organizations throughout Ventura County, such as founding Madrina of the Rebozo Festival, 2004-present; founding member of Destino 2000, 2000-Present; member of Clubes Zacatecanos, 1999-2015; past board member of Camarillo-Autlan Sister City, 1998-2006; past board member of Grants Committee and as well as the Vision Committee for VCCF. Currently, Yolanda is a board member of the Oxnard College Foundation.
Barbara Barraza-Ordonez
Board Director & Secretary
Barbara Barraza-Ordonez was born and raised in Oxnard. She graduated from Oxnard High School and has attended both Oxnard and Ventura Colleges. She worked for the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) for over 40 years, in both supervisory and management positions. She also served as Secretary for the Western Ventura County Employer Advisory Council for over 10 years during her EDD career.
Barbara currently does volunteer work for the Lighthouse Women and Children’s Shelter, located in Oxnard. She is also an active member of the Museum of Ventura County and serves on the Las Contemporaneas committee. She has been involved with the Rebozo Festival for the past 4 years. She currently resides in Oxnard with her son, Marco.
Yolanda Lopez
Board Director
Yolanda a friend to many, always willing to give the best of herself and lend a helping hand. Yolanda has worked at Livingston Hospice for 22 years. She is a member of the Zacatecanos Club and the director of their beauty pageant. She is a member of a group who assists the Augustinian Recollects at the Augustinian Recollects Priory in Oxnard. For 12 years she was a member of the local Fiestas Patrias committee and the director of the Señoritas Fiestas Patrias Beauty Pageant. In her spare time, Yolanda is an event planner, making use of her talent working with flowers creating beautiful decorations for events.
Born in El Palmar, Jalisco, to Don Salvador Pelayo y Doña Aleja Aguilar, the seventh of ten children, Yolanda has formed a beautiful family with her husband of 26 years Ricardo Lopez and their two children—Barbara and Edgar.
Yolanda is a Rebozo Festival founding “Madrina.”She is convinced that this organization has helped the community in various ways—enhancing pride in wearing our traditional Rebozo, providing an event to promote our culture with traditional music, food, and entertainment, and giving funds to local organizations that greatly benefit from the financial support.
Teresa Elenes Waisman
Teresa is a graduate of Laverne University with a degree in Business Administration and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California Lutheran University. She retired as head of the Adult Services Department within the Human Services Agency. In the past 15 years she has been serving on the Board of Directors for the Oxnard College Foundation. The Oxnard College Foundation raises funds for college scholarships and program. Teresa is a long time county resident and currently makes her home in Oxnard with her husband Bruce. She has two daughters Mandi and Marnie and one stepson Jerremy and four grandchildren.
Eva Leckman
Eva was born in Texas and moved to California in 1972. She received bachelor degrees from Texas A&I and UCSB and graduated with a masters from UCLA. Eva worked for the Oxnard School District and California Department of Education’s Beginning Teacher program. Eva is retired and her favorite fundraising charities are Oxnard Educational Foundation, No Room at the Inn, And the Rebozo Festival.
Madrinas
Dolores Ochoa
Marisa Michell Montgomery
Marisa was born and raised in Mexico. She attended private Catholic elementary schools in Mexico before coming to California and attending Ventura High School and Ventura College. She returned to Guadalajara where she continued her education enrolling in the four-year nursing program. She graduated with a B.A. in nursing with a specialty in obstetrics. She returned to Ventura County and became a basic life-support instructor at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), teaching CPR before becoming a certified lactation counselor and supporting VCMC’s effort to be a “Baby Friendly Hospital.”
Elsa Bello
Elsa was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and has lived in Oxnard since she was 9 years old. She graduated from Oxnard High School and attended the University of Laverne. She has been married to Felipe Bello for 38 years, and they have two daughters, Susie and Teri and one son, Felix. She loves music and her hobby is dancing. She retired from Verizon Communications after 36 years and is currently working for Lazer Broadcasting. She enjoys working with people and helping community-based organizations.
Laura Barroso
