Community News

Harbor Tour

Mark the end of summer with the Port of Long Beach on Saturday, Sept. 19, by hopping aboard one of three free harbor tours to experience the sights and sounds of the nation’s busiest seaport complex. The tours are first-come, first-served – no reservations.

Join one of the 90-minute narrated excursions and learn more about how the Port of Long Beach impacts you and the economy, get close to some of the biggest ships in the world, learn how the port is building the Port of the Future to handle 20 million container units annually by 2050 while becoming the world’s first zero-emissions port and take pictures of amazing machinery and local marine life.

The End of Summer Harbor Tours will be offered at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., departing from Dock 4 near the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Parking at the Aquarium of the Pacific parking structure will be validated. Validations will be provided on board the harbor tour.

For more information on harbor tours, including parking information and directions, visit polb.com/porttours.

Harvest Hoedown

Sowing Seeds of Change, a local nonprofit organization empowering foster youth and transition-age youth with disabilities through sustainable agriculture and job training, announces its upcoming Harvest Hoedown celebration on Saturday, Sept. 19, 4-8 p.m. at 750 E. Via Carmelitos, Long Beach.

Serving as the official kickoff for the organization’s Long Beach Gives fundraising campaign, the free, family-friendly event invites neighbors, supporters, and community members to gather, connect, and experience the transformation of the farm’s newly expanded growing space at Carmelitos, the former site of the beloved Growing Experience.

Having spent months pouring their energy, heart, and dedication into reviving the historic site off Via Carmelitos, students have transformed the space into a flourishing community farm built to help Long Beach residents grow, connect, and thrive together. The Harvest Hoedown gives them the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments firsthand, lead farm tours, and share fresh, locally grown produce with the community. 

The Harvest Hoedown offers a lively day of community togetherness featuring:

• Student-Led Farm Showcase: Fun fair booths and tours hosted by Sowing Seeds of Change students, who are excited to proudly guide neighbors through the space they have restored.
• Live Music & DJ: Local sounds and energetic entertainment for all ages.
• Games & Onsite Sales: Fun interactive games and SSC merchandise.
• Raffle & Fundraising: Opportunities to enter prize drawings and support Sowing Seeds of Change’s Long Beach Gives fundraising goal.

The event aims to achieve a dual mission: welcoming community neighbors into the farm space to experience the magical transformation, and launching the annual Long Beach Gives campaign to secure vital operational funding for the year ahead.

“We have come such a long way, and our students are beyond excited to welcome the community in a big way and show everyone what they’ve built,” said Dina Feldman, co-founder of Sowing Seeds of Change. “This space off Via Carmelitos is a living, beautiful space dedicated to help our community. The Harvest Hoedown is our invitation to the neighborhood to see that hard work in action and help us kick off our Long Beach Gives campaign with real momentum.”

All proceeds from raffle tickets, merchandise, and onsite sales directly benefit Sowing Seeds of Change’s educational and vocational programs, helping ensure these opportunities remain accessible to the community. 

For more information visit https://www.longbeachgives.org/organization/Sowing-Seeds-Of-Change.

Beginning Genealogy

The Questing Heirs Genealogical Society is offering a free Beginning Genealogy class on how to start researching your family history and learning about your ancestors. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, 5306 E. Arbor Rd., Long Beach.

To reserve a seat or ask a question, send your name to questingheirs@gmail.com. More info is on their website: https://QHGS.info.

Celp Scholar Program

 Students currently enrolled in a community college, undergraduate, masters, or PhD program in Southern California are invited to apply for the 2027 cohort of the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Community, Equity, Learning, and Persistence (CELP) Scholar Program. The program provides both individual networking opportunities and community building events for students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields related to the ocean.

Applications are now open and are due by 5 p.m. on Oct. 20. Recipients will each receive $10,000 to support their continued persistence in the field.

Throughout the year, CELP Scholars are invited to participate in aquarium programs to explore career paths, engage in professional development sessions facilitated by alumni, join a growing community of scholars who gather online and in-person, receive a quarterly e-newsletter, and present at the annual Scholar Symposium in fall 2027.

“Our CELP Scholars get to lean on the aquarium to meet professionals, gain skills, and explore new aspects of marine science,” said Jennie Dean, vice president of conservation and policy. “Not only are they exploring individual interests, CELP Scholars contribute to a supportive community of peers who celebrate and encourage each other. It is truly inspiring to see the scholars grow and learn from us and each other.”

The aquarium’s CELP Scholar Program seeks to broaden participation in marine sciences, help more students find their own community in STEM, and support students’ persistence in the field.

With this program, the aquarium looks to bring a greater variety of lived experiences to the challenge of ensuring a healthy and sustainable ocean for everyone. “Being a part of CELP has lifted my confidence in myself as a person and as a future scientist. I hope to apply the experiences, perspectives, and other learning goals to my life,” said Elias Zamora, CELP Scholar Program alum.

The aquarium plans to announce the 2027 cohort of CELP Scholars in March 2027. To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Southern California school through December 2027 and commit to active participation in the program. An information session will be held virtually on September 29, 2026, and will be recorded for those unable to attend and available to view online. For additional information about eligibility and the application process or to apply, please visit the CELP Scholars webpage. Students who identify as a member of groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM, marine science, and conservation fields are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants of any race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, age, disability, or veteran status are welcome.

The CELP Scholar Program is supported by contributions. For the 2026 Long Beach Gives campaign, the Aquarium is fundraising for the CELP Scholar Program with support from an anonymous donor who will be matching donations up to $10,000. The public can have their impact doubled by giving online September 17-24 on their website here. Donations are also accepted year-round on the giving page here.