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 ...

By Dianne Anderson Out of school and out of work is not an obstacle for one recent group of youth getting ready to take their place in space for a future they may have only glimpsed in video games with drones, satellites, spacecraft, propulsion and rockets. In the coming weeks, nearly 30 youth are exploring ...

This fall, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will once again offer programs to engage youth during after school hours. The After School Programs are for children ages 5 to 12 and will take place at varying times per location, weekdays from Aug. 26 through Dec. 20, 2024.  This is a free ...

The City of Long Beach and the Office of Ninth District Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie present the 13th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival, taking place on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 2 to 7 p.m. at Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave., in Long Beach). The afternoon event will feature a lineup of incredible music and entertainment, a ...

By Dianne Anderson Whether youth want to get into law enforcement or fire department careers –  or not – they can still access free training for skills that last a lifetime and look great on their resume, like certified emergency response, CPR, crowd control, and more. Soon, Long Beach youth programs are expected to fill ...

By Dianne Anderson Finding secure housing and decent nutrition in Long Beach food deserts, or making it to school without being jumped into gangs are just a few predictable factors that keep childhood poverty playing out for generations. Nonprofits do whatever they can, but usually get bogged down in daily operations and emergencies. Many juggle ...

By Jesse B. Johnson, Jr.  The 100 Black Men of Long Beach, Inc., is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) professional organization. During the 38th International Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 11-18, the “Best of the Best” Stock Market Game competition took place, where only the top four teams competed for top prizes. Fourteen weeks prior to ...

The City of Long Beach celebrated the grand opening of 26 Point 2, a new 77-unit affordable housing development for low-income households that are experiencing homelessness. The development, by Excelerate Housing Group and their partner Harbor Interfaith Services, is comprised of studio units and residents will have access to a multi-purpose room with a kitchen and lounge, outdoor courtyard and barbecue ...

By Dianne Anderson Local students are stepping up their professional game in the last year of college, upleveling with a foot in the door of good paying city careers to future proof a hot jobs market. Whether a senior at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Long Beach State, or a second year with at least 30 ...

by Dianne Anderson If the community didn’t have enough to talk about at last year’s Juneteenth – this year should provide more than enough conversation to cover the latest threats to freedom and democracy. Across the Inland Empire, Orange County, and Long Beach, celebrations are honoring Black history by preserving the culture, and defending the ...