South Bay Leader

Long Beach, CA – In honor or National Gun Violence Awareness Month, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services’ (Health Department) program Long Beach Advancing Peace will host Leaders of Violence Prevention Community Symposium, addressing violence prevention efforts, best practices and challenges.

“This event serves as a critical platform to mobilize and empower our community, fostering a deeper understanding of the collective actions we can take to effectively curb gun violence in Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson.

The symposium, which will take place Friday, June 30, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Miller Family Health Education Center (3820 Cherry Ave.), will bring a diverse group of community leaders to share the history and best practices of community violence prevention in Long Beach. The event will include mini lectures, an interactive panel discussion with Q&A and an inspirational spoken word.

Confirmed panel speakers include Dr. Lydia Hollie, former City of Long Beach Violence Prevention taskforce member and justice advocate; Jessica Quintana, Executive Director of Centro CHA; Peggy Preacely, civil rights activist; Dr. Aquil Basheer, founder and executive director of the Brotherhood Unified for Independent Leadership through Discipline (B.U.I.L.D.) program; Sayon Syprasoeuth, youth program manager at United Cambodian Community (UCC), Sithy Bin, co-founder of the Made New Foundation; Hugo Gonzalez, transformational coach and alumni coordinator at Success Stories; and two-time national poetry slam champion and inspirational speaker Sekou Andrews.

“Violence is preventable,” said Director of Health and Human Services Kelly Colopy. “It's important for us to implement approaches that build safe and healthy neighborhoods and increase social connectedness and economic opportunities in communities most impacted by violence.”  

The City of Long Beach Violence Prevention Initiative, also known as Long Beach Advancing Peace Initiative, helps organizations by providing support through funding, training and administrative assistance. The Initiative works with residents and organizations to achieve four goals, including:

• Creating social connectedness.
• Supporting economic opportunity.
• Building safe and healthy neighborhoods.
• Using trauma-informed systems.

 While the event is open to everyone, space is limited, and people are encouraged to register in advance.

Original source can be found here.