Bits 'n' Pieces

Connect With Aviation

Long Beach Airport (LGB) celebrated a new class of future aviation professionals recently as students from Cabrillo and Jordan high schools graduated from the fourth year of LGB’s annual Careers Taking Flight summer externship, a week long program that gives Long Beach high school students the opportunity to explore jobs within the aviation industry.

From August 17 to 21, students gained hands-on experience through behind-the-scenes tours, career panels and personal conversations with industry professionals, exploring opportunities ranging from aviation operations and aircraft maintenance to aviation safety, security and piloting.

Conducted in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District, the 40-hour externship is a short-term, career-exploration experience that gives students hands-on exposure to the aviation and airport industry and is offered in two cohorts each summer. Students are selected through a competitive application and interview process, with hundreds applying each year for a limited number of spots. Each student who successfully completes the program receives a $500 incentive.

The program also provides opportunities for students to continue building toward aviation careers after graduating from the program through internships, networking and training opportunities with LGB and its partners.

A total of 82 students have graduated from the Careers Taking Flight program since it began four years ago.

“Long Beach has a long history as a nationally significant aviation hub,” said Long Beach Unified Superintendent David Zaid. “Careers Taking Flight allows students to explore careers, build confidence and see new possibilities in aviation. We’re grateful to Long Beach Airport for investing in our students and helping bring those possibilities to life.”

Throughout the externship, students learned directly from Airport tenants, aviation companies, federal agencies and airline partners. Participants toured aviation facilities, heard from aviation professionals about their career journeys and took part in interactive activities designed to give them a firsthand understanding of the industry.

Partners that provided tours, guest speakers and learning experiences included Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, AMPAIRE, Atlantic Aviation, CLEAR, the Federal Aviation Administration, FlightSafety International, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, JetZero, Sling Pilot Academy, SoCal Jet Services, Southwest Airlines and the Transportation Security Administration.

“Careers Taking Flight is more than introducing students to aviation – it’s about uplifting students with meaningful experiences that can shape the future,” said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry. “We want students to leave this program with new skills, connections and a clearer sense of what’s possible. It’s about helping dreams take flight.”

On the final day of the program, students were offered exploration flights through Chapter 7 of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. For many participants, the flights provided their first opportunity to experience general aviation from the cockpit and put the week’s lessons into a whole new perspective.

The Careers Taking Flight externship is part of Long Beach Airport’s broader initiative to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals through a suite of programs that span from grade school outreach to college fellowships. In addition to the externship, LGB hosts an average of 2,000 members of the public, most of them students, on free tours of the airport.

This program aligns with the city’s Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults, which prioritizes academic enrichment and workforce development for Long Beach youth. The program is also one of many activations taking place during the summer to foster positive youth development as part of the city’s Summer of Opportunity initiative.

LGB currently offers nonstop service to 21 airports nationwide through Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Learn more at lgb.org.

Veteran Support Center

VA Long Beach has opened a fully renovated and expanded peer-led resource center for veterans living with mental illness. Called The PIER (Partnership in Effective Recovery), the center provides fellowship, recovery and community.

The PIER is not a typical VA clinic. Veterans do not need to schedule appointments and can drop-in any time it is open. Veterans can use the PIER to take a warm shower, get something to eat, and use the phone to connect with family and community resources. They can also use the center to connect with other veterans recovering from mental illness – with support from VA clinical staff.

It is often an entry point to VA services for veterans who otherwise wouldn’t connect with VA, helping them get housing, doctors’ appointments and medication.

The approximately 5,815 square-foot renovation transformed the north side of Building 46 into a modern, functional space, including two dedicated group room locations that significantly expand the center’s ability to provide programming and services to veterans. The nearly two-year, $1 million project included:

• New men’s and women’s restrooms
• A new patio with outdoor furniture to support social events
• A new drinking fountain with bottle-filling station
• A cell-phone charging station for veterans and visitors
• New landscaping and hardscape improvements
• Additional food-service equipment.

Vida Latina Celebration

The Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) invites the community to celebrate its eighth annual Vida Latina series, featuring more than 30 days of free programs that celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Latin American communities. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 31, all 12 LBPL locations will offer programs and activities for children, teens, adults and families.

This year’s theme, Alumbra Tu Vida (Light Up Your Life), encourages everyone to discover something new that brings light and joy into their lives. Whether through art, music, storytelling, dance or hands-on activities, Vida Latina offers opportunities for the community to come together, celebrate culture and make meaningful connections.

“Alumbra Tu Vida is an invitation to find joy in culture and in community. Whether you are learning a new dance, listening to a story, making art or simply spending time with loved ones, Vida Latina offers something for everyone,” said the director of the department of library, arts and culture, Cathy De Leon. “We are excited to fill our libraries with experiences that celebrate Latin American culture and encourage our community to discover something new together.”

The celebration begins with Una Tardeada con (An Evening with) Boleros with Attitude on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway). The Los Angeles-based trio Boleros with Attitude will perform a lively mix of traditional Latin folk music, romantic Boleros and original hip-hop. The all-ages performance blends music and storytelling to celebrate culture, creativity and community.

This year’s Vida Latina series celebrates with special guests and programs offering the community opportunities to find and explore new traditions. Highlights include:

Children’s author and creator of Millennial Loteria, Mike Alfaro, will delight young readers with the latest books in his series, Sí Sabo Kids: The Unbreakable Piñata and What Does Ñ Sound Like? on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library.

Bilingual storyteller Josue Cuentacuentos will share his energetic Selena Storytime at multiple branches.

Local dance instructors Christopher Sandoval and Jeanette Flores will lead Baile Con Nosotros (Dance with Us) workshops, including Mexican Regional Dance for children and Family Latin Dance. Both programs, taking place at multiple branches across the month, are designed for participants of all abilities.

Acclaimed storyteller Olga Loya will bring her signature Day of the Dead performance and storytelling workshop to Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.) as part of Noche de Cuentos en Comunidad (A Night of Stories in Community) on Friday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m.

The spirit of Día de los Muertos will also be celebrated at Harte Neighborhood Library every Friday in October from 3 to 5 p.m. as the library’s community room becomes a community altar. Each week, families and community members can participate in an all-ages arts and crafts activity to create decorations for the altar or their own family altars. The Library will also accept 5-by-7-inch photos of deceased loved ones to include on the community altar throughout the month.

Vida Latina will conclude with La Gran Tardeada (The Big Evening): Latin Idols with Selenamos on Friday, Oct. 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). The celebration will feature a performance by Selena tribute band Selenamos, a children’s Bad Bunny puppet show, a Latin idols costume contest for all ages, karaoke, arts and crafts and more. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as a favorite Latin music icon, cultural figure or even their favorite Lotería card for an evening of fun and celebration.

The Long Beach Public Library’s Vida Latina celebration is generously supported by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, the Port of Long Beach and REFORMA, The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. For the full schedule of programs and to learn more, visit the library’s Vida Latina events calendar or call the library at (562) 570-7500.