By Dianne Anderson Water, that nearly invisible thing that nobody thinks about until it’s gone, is the catalyst behind Phyllis Venable’s mission with Sister Cities of Long Beach, and their Mombasa affiliate. Currently, the east coast of Africa leads the world in babies dying from waterborne diseases. It’s what keeps Venable up at night. Their ...

By Dianne Anderson Teens and parents are invited to join up and talk out their problems, but especially if they don’t think they have a problem, which was true for Maleka Chris throughout her growing years. Chris said she didn’t realize that she was the problem behind her choices that were causing more problems. It ...

By Dianne Anderson Martin Luther King, Jr National Day of Service on-site events have canceled out as Omicron picks up speed, but local nonprofits are determined to mask and glove up for the community to honor the slain civil rights leader in all he represents. In the Inland Empire, local activist Trudy Coleman said that ...

Vice Mayor Rex Richardson has declared his candidacy to be the next Long Beach Mayor. “Long Beach provided me with an opportunity to put down roots, build a family, and spend every day making our community a better place for every resident,” stated Richardson. “I’ve seen the results of what happens when neighbors come together ...

By Dianne Anderson Everyone’s mom – “Mother Doris” – was always guiding and mentoring generations of leaders that wanted to follow in her footsteps where no other African Americans had blazed political trails before. Her sphere of influence opened doors that had never been opened to the Black community in Long Beach. Her son Stephen ...

By Dianne Anderson Getting the kids ready to receive their Christmas gifts is a delicate procedure for Alisha Wade and volunteers as they make their list of children and check it twice, but without any names to go with the cherubim faces. Through her sorority, Beta Pi Sigma, she heads up the Angel Tree Prison ...

By Dianne Anderson Not everybody is fit to sit on all city commissions or boards, but almost anybody can do a little something to change their community, like showing up to voice concerns and keeping a closer watch on what the movers and shakes are up to lately. Some could attend city council meetings, or ...

By Dianne Anderson Coming out of the Thanksgiving feast, the Long Beach Black Infant Health Program and partners are teaming up to make sure local moms can make it through the holidays with a little less stress. For Gwendolyn Manning, there is no time to rest from now until Christmas. BIH moms receive food staples, ...

By Dianne Anderson In her four years working with foster youth, CASA volunteer Julie Spacht reflects on one of the main things for people to know about the foster system is that the kids usually are in the system for a reason – and that reason is traumatic. In the best of circumstances, she said ...

By Dianne Anderson Deadlines loom in the recruitment and selection of a new police chief in Long Beach, which is expected to happen by the end of the year. As part of the push for community participation, a city community input survey is now circulating via social media. Local business owner Senay Kenfe saw and ...