Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do returning partners need to RSVP?: Yes, we ask that you RSVP every time. You can do this by text or email ac@swapmeetjustice.org along with any revisions in space or equipment needs!
  • “How do I become a partner?”: Fill out our application: https://swapmeetjustice.org/how-to-participate/
  • “My client/friend/neighbor has a question NOW!”: Please have them check out our website at swapmeetjustice.org and/or contact (805) 616-2715.
  • Location: We are located in front of the gymnasium at Oxnard Community College, 4000 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard.
  • Time: The market is officially open between 8:00 and 3:00.  People from the vendors area start coming through at 8.  The citizenship tent starts services at 9:00, because we have to train new volunteers at 8:30. We ask our participants to assume they’ll stay until 3:00 pm. Every participant is welcome to join the new volunteer training to learn about the citizenship process.
  • Services: 
    • We encourage organizations to provide as complete a service as they can to the community right there in their tents. If you have applications, forms or signup sheets, please bring them with you, either on paper or laptops, in lieu of asking a community member to complete them by themselves later online or requiring them to come to an office during the week to do the same thing. 
    • If a fairgoer must make an appointment by phone, please provide them with a name of a person who can assist them in their preferred language, along with their direct number and extension. 
    • All services, information and items provided at the fair must be completely free to the community and we don’t permit sales or fundraising. Giveaways of swag are popular and who doesn’t love one of those spinning wheels? Small gift cards have been given out for various things, like filling out Medi-Cal forms or participating in a survey. 
  • Spanish is the predominant language, so having at least one bilingual staff member is essential. If you have single-language resource material, we estimate that +90% should be in Spanish. Mixtec languages and Tagalog are also spoken there. If you have no bilingual tent staff, we will try to team you up with a bilingual volunteer. Find Monica Salas at the citizenship tent to see if she has some bilingual teen volunteers. We have two professional Mixtec interpreters you can call over when necessary stationed at the Information Booth
  • Tents and equipment: Unless you specify otherwise, we will supply you with our basic kit of one 10’x10′ tent, a 6’ long table and (2) chairs. All are free to our participants.
    • If you need more of anything to be efficient and comfortable, just email us by Wednesday before the fair. at ac@swapmeetjustice.org.
    • Because Oxnard College has serious weight requirement of 40 pounds PER LEG for tents, we’ve found that the fair is more accessible and safer for all participants if our professional tent supplier provides the tents. 
    • If you have a branded tent you would like to use AND the appropriate weights, please email at ac@swapmeetjustice.org by the Wednesday before the fair and we’ll leave a space for you. Tents not weighted to swap meet requirements are not permitted.
    • Please contact us 24 hours ahead at ac@swapmeetjustice.org if you have to cancel, so we can save tent and equipment charges.
    • These information deadlines are important, as we must give a completed layout and equipment list to our long-suffering tent-guy by the Friday before the fair. 
  • Vehicle access and set-up time:
    • If you need a vehicle to drop off your equipment, there is a window between 6:00 – 7:30 am before swap meet personnel block all vehicular traffic at 7:30 am. (See the attached map below.) Otherwise, equipment needs to be brought in by hand. 
    • If your set-up includes a van or similar vehicle as a base for your services, tell me so I can leave space for it. For accompanying tents, see above. 
    • If you are lost or need assistance, we are always at the site at 6:00 am getting set up and are happy to assist you. Contact us by phone or text at (805) 368-4923.
  • Electricity: We have access to electricity to recharge laptops and hotspots behind the citizenship tent. 
  • Bring rocks! Oxnard College is often visited by a lovely breeze! Bring rocks or other weights to hold your papers down!
  • Shareables: We have a copy machine we will share for black and white forms and (2) hotspots to share. If you have your own hotspot, please bring it!
  • Emergency number!: If you haven’t done so already, please provide us with an emergency text number that will be picked up on weekends. This is so we can alert you in the event the college is forced to close down the marketplacefor inclement weather or some other issue.
  • Help us share this event:
  • ARE YOU ALREADY LISTED AS A RESOURCE ON OUR WEBSITE? If we don’t have you listed, please send in a description of services you’ll be offering in English and Spanish and we’ll add you to both our website and to our flyers! (Main site: swapmeetjustice.org, Family Resource page: https://swapmeetjustice.org/family-resource-fair/)
  • Welcome!:
    • Food!: We provide donuts, bagels and coffee during our new-volunteer training session for filling out citizenship applications at 8:30 am (feel free to join in and learn how citizenship applications are completed!) and a taco lunch from one of the awesome food trucks. All are free to our participants. Fabulous potluck treats are welcome!
    • Dress: We suggest dressing in layers, as temperature can change dramatically from the early morning hours. Also hats and sunscreen.
    • Go shopping!: The vendors at this marketplace have amazing produce and other items. Bring your shopping bag!
    • Teens: We welcome have teen volunteers. If you need help distributing brochures to vendors or need help in your space, find Monica Salas at the citizenship tent to see if she has some available assistance.
    • Map: We’ve attached a map below of where we are and the closest parking areas. The college is at 4000 S. Rose Ave. We’re right in front of the gym.

Map of Oxnard College Marketplace parking lot:

Directions to Oxnard College on Google Maps.