By Dianne Anderson

For the latest group of community improvement enthusiasts of the Neighborhood Leadership Program, graduation is just the start to power ahead and implement their own vision for changing their city.

After several memorable and motivating experiences, participant Astra Varnado is brimming with ideas.

For their Day of Discovery, they rode a charter bus around the city and met up with other leadership alumni who are continuing on their successful community journeys and nonprofit outreach. She said the program represents a great mix of diversity.

“It was really eye-opening and inspirational. Being a part of this, I have a real community that I can reach back [for those who] need help or guidance,” she said.

Fellow participants all came together to work on team-building skills with  their 12-hour day weekend retreat, and learned more about their peers.

Varnado gave the graduation speech, and expects to use all the skills soon as she starts her own journey when her nonprofit is finalized. Her focus is on creating a safe space and providing resources for targeted at risk communities because of the huge gap in community information.

She didn’t realize the extent of disconnect until she served as a safety ambassador downtown.

“I was talking to the homeless people, people that worked with the unhoused and mentally ill and telling them where to go, that’s how I gained more information,” she said. “Even now as a new mom, I’m getting more information, it’s like oh, I can get diapers for free, and free food?”

Through the program, she said they received a huge assortment of materials to draw from, including writing, filling out grants, fundraising, and how to get resources to host local events.

“We’re everyday people from different walks of life. It made you appreciate the diversity in the program and gave you an idea of why we’re coming together to learn the importance of doing this for your community,” she said.

Mayor Rex Richardson commended this year’s graduating class of 33 individuals from diverse backgrounds across the city. It is the 30th class to graduate from the program.

“This year’s graduates of this outstanding program are ready to take what they’ve learned and do the good work of making a difference in the quality of life of our communities,” he said. “They are ready to help lead the way and make more positive contributions to their neighborhoods and beyond.”

The program runs for five months from March through August, where participants prepare to engage in several top areas of tackle in the city.  The next group is invited to watch for the application opening for the Neighborhood Leadership Program Class of 2025 next January.

Margaret Madden, Neighborhood Improvement Officer for the City of Long Beach, said the Class of 2024 created four class projects utilizing $1,000 grants along the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue corridor.

“Participants learn a wide variety of skills including working in a team, creating team norms, planning and hosting community project events, writing grant proposals, creating a program budget, creating marketing materials, conducting community outreach, and public speaking.  These skills are all useful to the graduates in their work in the community after graduation,” she said in an email.

Of the four projects, one multicultural celebration event provided free back to school supplies for children. Residents also enjoyed a day-in-the-park event to learn free and low-cost recreation activities, along with a family safety event to help young children learn about pedestrian, fire, and home safety. Yet another environmental event included a neighborhood cleanup, a free pollinator plant giveaway, and training for residents to use the Go Long Beach app to report dumped items, graffiti, and potholes.

The program also helps participants sharpen communication skills, explore new ways to improve their neighborhoods, identify resources and develop partnerships. They meet with the city’s top decision makers, including Mayor and City Council, along with other government and nonprofit leaders.

Applicants must live in Long Beach and provide a letter of recommendation, along with an in-person interview to be eligible. They must participate in mandatory class and team building sessions, attend a session on tardiness and absences policy, and work with their class project teams outside of class sessions.

Madden said participants are applying skills they’ve learned to carry into the future with their outreach for community improvement.

So far, she said the program has helped over 800 Long Beach residents make a local difference since 1992.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Neighborhood Leadership Program.  This program is possible because of the hard work of our dedicated staff and Alumni Support Team volunteers and we are all looking forward to working with our new graduates to make Long Beach a better place to live,” she said.

To learn more, see https://www.longbeach.gov/lbcd/hn/leadership, call (562) 570-1010 or email Francisco.Rodriguez@longbeach.gov