PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The community is invited to participate in a Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day of Celebration and Service on Monday, Jan. 18. The virtual event will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., feature engaging forums and activities and showcase the arts and culture of the community. 

“Long Beach proudly honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a hero whose vision for civil rights and social justice still inspires hope and change today,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The events of the past year have shown that we still have a lot of work to do and we must continue working together to support racial justice and equity for all.”

The free virtual celebration will be livestreamed on the City’s Facebook and YouTube pages and feature a variety of activities aimed at reinforcing the City’s longstanding message of community service, while also showcasing and celebrating the arts and culture of the Long Beach community. 

Facilitated by the Office of Councilwoman Suely Saro, Leadership Long Beach and various partner organizations will share their perspectives and experiences in service and facilitate three service projects throughout the city. DreamKreator Studio will curate and produce the lineup for the celebration of music artists, leaders and influencers from the arts, community leaders and inspirational sectors. 

The day’s activities will be as follows:

• Virtual MLK Celebration (10 a.m. to noon): an online event featuring music, art and community and civic voices celebrating the legacy and lessons of Dr. King.
• “Courageous Conversations About…Bias” Forum (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.): a facilitated conversation pairing community members to discuss the topic of bias in the Long  Beach community. Community members must apply online to participate.
• Virtual Service Projects: three virtual service projects are available this year for community members to take part in independently. Those interested in participating must sign up online in advance. Projects include:
  • Letters to Older Adults: community members can write letters to residents of a local long-term care facility.
  • Community Assessment and Clean-Up: the Maye Center will provide a tutorial on the Go Long Beach app and coordinate clean-up opportunities for residents to help neighborhood clean-up opportunities. 
  • Food Pantry Hygiene Kits: The Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion and the Long Beach Food Support Network will prepare hygiene kits that can be put together by community members and dropped off to be distributed to a network of nine food pantry partners across the city.

“I am honored to be able to continue the spirit of the Long Beach MLK Jr. Parade during this unprecedented time with a virtual Celebration,” said Councilwoman Suely Saro. “Dr. King’s life and legacy changed the course of history forever. And on this day, we must reaffirm ourselves to the ideals he fought so hard for. As a country and community, we must continue to be active citizens and continue this fight towards a more just society.”

“Our collaboration with the City of Long Beach and our sponsors is an exceptional example of how our Long Beach community can come together, work together and serve together,” said Leadership Long Beach MLK committee member Jeff Williams. “We look forward to accentuating the message of community service even in the face of COVID-19 restrictions. Our community is still resilient and committed to service.” 

For additional information about the virtual event and to participate in the activities, call 562.570.6816 or visit longbeach.gov. 

About the City of Long Beach   
Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths. 

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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