Enjoy our photo gallery from the 2024 Black History Month Luncheon Photo Gallery, held in Long Beach, California on February 17, 2024, at the Expo Arts Center.
Video presentation from the 2024 Black History Month Luncheon Celebration which features a group of Long Beach, CA residents reading passages from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones as part of a celebration of Black History Month.
Click here to learn more about this podcast project.
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Expo Arts Center
4321 Atlantic Ave 11 am -2 pm
Join us for an afternoon of inspiration and talent! Celebrate Black Excellence in Art, Music & Culture in Community.
Art Exhibition:
Enjoy artistic expressions from local visionary Black artists
Musical Performances:
Experience the rhythm of Black musical brilliance
Cultural Showcase:
Explore the rich heritage and growing legacy of Black culture
Free Luncheon Celebration:
Celebrate California Senate District 33 Honorees
FORGING THE FUTURE: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
February 10, 2023
11TH Annual Black History Month Showcase
A Celebration of the City of Long Beach’s 1st Black Mayor, Rex Richardson
CEO Diversity Awardees: The Boeing Company & Long Beach Community College
Putting “comfortable” aside and getting to real talk about the criminal justice system and the transformation of public opinion in the post-George Floyd world. In the video below, Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District, City of Long Beach, CA moderates this dialogue. CAMARA BANFIELD Superior Court Judge, Clark County, WA GLEN…
Mental health awareness is the recognition that our psychological well-being is an important part of our own health, productivity, and happiness, as well as the well-being of our communities. This awareness became glaringly obvious with the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Individuals, families and even children were found to be…
Critical Race Theory was partly a response to the belief at the time that society’s laws, policies, and institutions were colorblind. Critical Race Theory holds that racism was not and has never been eradicated from our laws, policies, or institutions, and is still woven into the fabric of their existence.…
WALL OF EXCELLENCE – A BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROJECT FEATURED HONOREE – DORIS TOPSY-ELVORD Doris Topsy-Elvord, known as “Mother Doris” for her legendary work in the community, and for being both the first Black woman to be elected to the Long Beach City Council and the first Black person…
Young, Gifted & Talented students from Hughes Middle School in Long Beach, CA are scheduled for The Power of Truth Black History Celebration. In addition, come out to hear DJ Mona Lisa and DJ Sir Jinx. Get your FREE tickets via EventBrite.com
The Andy Street Community Association invites you to experience our Black History Celebration Event: The Power of Truth as we commemorate the late Doris Topsy-Elvord and her legacy. In honor of Doris, we will be renaming the wall in our “Wall of Excellence” ceremony, an event you do not…
DJ Monalisa Murray was part of the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration DJ Showcase. Tune in after the “Powerful Women Speak” Forum for her DJ set as we celebrate Women’s History Month in Long Beach. Monalisa Murray has been associated with quality music and events in…
To celebrate Black History Month in Long beach, we invited all Long Beach Unified School District elementary, middle school and high school students to participate in the Andy Street Community Association The Power Of Truth Essay Competition, for a chance to win a CASH prize. The winners were announced on…
Sir Jinx was part of the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration DJ Showcase. Let’s keep the party going with his one-hour long DJ set as we celebrate Black History Month in Long Beach. Sir Jinx was featured in the blockbuster movie Straight Outta Compton. and has worked with…
Mayor Rex Richardson, Long Beach Vice Mayor at the time, gives a perspective on racial equity at the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration. This presentation is part of a series of highlights that we are sharing as we celebrate Black History Month in Long Beach.
Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely gives a perspective on history at the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration. This presentation is part of a series of highlights that we’ll be sharing as we celebrate Black History Month in Long Beach.
Darick J. Simpson Keynote Address was presented at the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration. This video is part of a series of 2021 highlights that we’ll be sharing as we celebrate Black History Month in Long Beach.
CEO Roundtable – How to Engage Communities of Color was a panel discussion that took place at the 2021 Rhythm in Black Virtual Black History Month Celebration. This panel is the first of a series of highlights that we’ll be sharing as we celebrate Black History Month in Long Beach.…
We invite all LBUSD Elementary, Middle School and High School students to participate in our #ThePowerOfTruth essay contest, for a chance to win a CASH prize. Truth is the courageous living of our lives in harmony with our ideals. Truth matters both to us as individuals and to society as…
The Power of Truth: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow – A FREE TO THE PUBLIC Black History Celebration. June 2 – 4, 2022 Our rhythms tell our history. Andy Street Long Beach invites you to experience our FREE Black History Month Celebration: The Power of Truth: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. Interact…
David and Sharon McLucas are the owners of Forgotten Images: A Traveling Educational Exhibit and Museum. Their exhibit features thousands of lost and forgotten artifacts that span two centuries of the African American experience in America. After spending nearly 20 years amassing a personal collection of Black History…
Anitra Dempsey has a long and distinguished record of service in the areas of community policing, nuisance abatement, police complaints and hate crime response/recognition/ prevention. She worked for the City of Long Beach for 30 years and served as the city’s first African American Deputy City Manager (Interim) to…
As we prepare for our event – The Power of Truth, we want to highlight those that make a difference, introducing Thaddus Jackson. Thad Jackson is a Principal emeritus from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and served the children and communities of LAUSD for 37 years…
Introducing Naomi Rainey-Pierson, one of our Wall of Excellence honorees, who has become synonymous with Long Beach community service, civil rights, and equality. Since the age of 14, Naomi has been a fighter for social justice, women’s rights and voting. She has successfully and productively managed the Office of President…
Highlighting those that make a difference, introducing Dr. Vickie McCloyn and Dr. Alex J. Norman! Introducing Dr. Vickie McCloyn is a teacher with 27 years of experience at Hughes Middle School. At Hughes, she has been an AVID Teacher and Coordinator, SOAR Director, SCC Secretary, SBDM Member, CAAP Coordinator, ELL…
Spotlighting current leaders making a change, today. We would like to proudly introduce Thomas Fields! Thomas Fields is a man of many wonders and extraordinary talents with strong involvement in the Long Beach community. He is the first person to service on the four Long Beach charter commissions,…
Spotlighting current leaders making a change, today. We would like to proudly introduce Maxie Viltz! Maxie Viltz is a graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and received a BSBA degree from the University of Redlands. Retired from the Boeing Corporation as a Government Contracts Manager, she has been…
Spotlighting current leaders making a change, today. Introducing Reginald I. Harrison! Reginald “Reggie” Harrison is the Director of the City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications (DPEC). Appointed as the founding Director of DPEC in 2014, Reggie oversees the department’s operations which include Citywide emergency…
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to highlight strong women who are making history, today! Introducing Dr. Minnie Douglas. Dr. Minnie Douglas is a native of Texas but a longtime resident of Long Beach. A Long Beach City College Professor Emeritus, where she served as Associate Degree Nursing Program Instructor…
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to highlight strong women who are making history, today! Introducing Wilma Powell. Wilma Powell, also known as “The Regulator,” changed the way women’s roles are viewed at ports across the nation and the world. She is the first woman in the nation to…
Doris Topsy-Elvord, known as “Mother Doris” for her legendary work in the community, and for being both the first Black woman to be elected to the Long Beach City Council and the first Black person to serve on the harbor commission, has died. She was 90. Topsy-Elvord’s last public…
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to spotlight current leaders making a change, today. Introducing Oliver Tate Brooks, M.D. Oliver Tate Brooks, M.D. received his undergraduate degree in biology from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1977, graduating in three years. While at Morehouse, he received the Frederick E. Mapp Prize in…
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to spotlight current leaders making a change, today. Steve Neal has been a long-time community leader in the Los Angeles area. Dedicating his career as an advocate in the labor, nonprofit, healthcare, clergy and public office work sectors, he has long been recognized as a servant…
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to spotlight current leaders making a change, today. Mrs. Wade is the CEO of New Hope Homes, a senior living facility in the 6th District of Long Beach. In her role as CEO she oversees the day to day operations of the 140 Unit apartment…
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to spotlight current leaders making a change, today. Darick J. Simpson is President of the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation. In 2020 he was also honored as the California State University Long Beach, Leadership In Residence. Before joining the Miller Foundation in 2019 Mr.…
As we enter #BlackHistoryMonth, we want to spotlight current leaders making a change, today. Introducing Ivy Arlinda Goolsby. Born and raised in Long Beach, CA, Ivy has always had great pride and passion for her city and community. With years of professional career experience and entrepreneurial spirit, she has become…
Lori R. Gay is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County (NHS), a non-profit lender, developer, and neighborhood revitalization corporation. She has worked in the community development field for over 30 years, focusing her efforts on rebuilding impoverished communities and creating mechanisms…
Carolyn Caldwell is currently the President and CEO of St. Mary Medical Center (Dignity Health) in Long Beach, California. St. Mary is a 389-bed academic facility with a Level II Trauma Canter that offers extensive healthcare services to the greater Long Beach Community. Carolyn is a healthcare executive with over…
In this Long Beach Spotlight, we want to highlight Kenneth McDonald, President and CEO of Long Beach Transit since 2013. With 30 years of transportation experience, he has overseen programs and projects that benefited transit and rail systems for Long Beach, San Francisco and Atlanta. Ken loves to inspire employees…
Today, we spotlight Michelle Dobson for being an active community leader for the city of Long Beach. Beginning her career as a Criminal Defense Attorney with the Orange County Public Defenders’ Office, Attorney Dobson joined a boutique corporate law firm defending physicians, acute hospitals, nursing homes and facilities, and…
An inspirational quote from an inspiring person! Introducing Autrilla “Sheba” Gillis! “The only missed opportunities in life are the ones that you do not take. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone and always step out on faith.” Autrilla “Sheba” Gillis is a life-long Long Beach resident with a…
To celebrate Black History Month in Long beach, we invited all Long Beach Unified School District elementary, middle school and high school students to participate in the Andy Street Community Association The Power Of Truth Essay Competition, for a chance to win a CASH prize. The winners were announced on…
During Women’s History Month, LaVerne Duncan posed this question to 15 women leaders: These are difficult times. How do you navigate the challenges? Click PLAY on the video below to hear their answers (7 minutes) – Click here to learn more about “Powerful Women Speak”, our March 2022 Women’s History Month forum.
To celebrate Women’s History Month this year, the Andy Street Community Association presented Powerful Women Speak, an hour-long forum. Hear a select group of influential female voices share their truth about the most important issues facing our community. Click PLAY to watch the full forum below (1 hour 8 minutes).…
As we celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to highlight women who face challenges head on. In our #PowerfulWomenSpeak series, we asked how do we navigate the challenges? This is what Barbara Sullivan had to say – “I look at a challenge as an opportunity to make choices. So I use…
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to highlight strong women who are making history, today! Introducing Dr. Minnie Douglas. Dr. Minnie Douglas is a native of Texas but a longtime resident of Long Beach. A Long Beach City College Professor Emeritus, where she served as Associate Degree Nursing Program Instructor…
In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to highlight strong women who are making history, today! Introducing Wilma Powell. Wilma Powell, also known as “The Regulator,” changed the way women’s roles are viewed at ports across the nation and the world. She is the first woman in the nation to…
David and Sharon McLucas are the owners of Forgotten Images: A Traveling Educational Exhibit and Museum. Their exhibit features thousands of lost and forgotten artifacts that span two centuries of the African American experience in America. After spending nearly 20 years amassing a personal collection of Black History artifacts, the couple has taken…
Anitra Dempsey has a long and distinguished record of service in the areas of community policing, nuisance abatement, police complaints and hate crime response/recognition/ prevention. She worked for the City of Long Beach for 30 years and served as the city’s first African American Deputy City Manager (Interim) to oversee the Office of Governmental…
As we prepare for our event – The Power of Truth, we want to highlight those that make a difference, introducing Thaddus Jackson. Thad Jackson is a Principal emeritus from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and served the children and communities of LAUSD for 37 years with distinction and honor. He…
Introducing Naomi Rainey-Pierson, one of our Wall of Excellence honorees, who has become synonymous with Long Beach community service, civil rights, and equality. Since the age of 14, Naomi has been a fighter for social justice, women’s rights and voting. She has successfully and productively managed the Office of President for the Long Beach Branch…
Highlighting those that make a difference, introducing Dr. Vickie McCloyn and Dr. Alex J. Norman! Introducing Dr. Vickie McCloyn is a teacher with 27 years of experience at Hughes Middle School. At Hughes, she has been an AVID Teacher and Coordinator, SOAR Director, SCC Secretary, SBDM Member, CAAP Coordinator, ELL Department Head, Homework House Co-Creator…
Spotlighting current leaders making a change, today. We would like to proudly introduce Thomas Fields! Thomas Fields is a man of many wonders and extraordinary talents with strong involvement in the Long Beach community. He is the first person to service on the four Long Beach charter commissions, co-founded the community organization that…
