Neighborhood voice and advocacy is alive and well in Wrigley. Our guests, Justin Simon, Vice President and Alejandra Gutierrez, Communications and Government Strategist of Wrigley Association talk about the collective efforts neighbors can take to improve our civic health through advocacy and action. Local progress and improvement is obtainable, we just need to come together to achieve it.

The Wrigley neighborhood in Long Beach, CA is bordered on the north by Interstate 405, on the south by Pacific Coast Highway, on the east by Long Beach Boulevard and on the west by the Los Angeles River.

Resources:
Wrigley Association
District 6 Councilmember Dr. Suely Saro
District 7 Councilmember Roberto Uranga
Willow Springs Park
Wrigley Buy Nothing Group
Buy Nothing - Find a Group
The Wicked Wolf
The Cove Hotel
Zoom Room - Dog Training
PBS Pub & Co.
Cal Matters Op-Ed, written by Melissa Mathews, Assistant Professor, Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration at Cal State Long Beach

How do we support the Long Beach neighborhoods that need more time, resources and attention? We volunteer!

Meet Jontue of Starr King Neighborhood Association, who volunteers her time with a small group of caring individuals to bring important resources, events and information to North Long Beach residents. Starr King neighborhood is situated in northwest Long Beach within the boundaries of Greenleaf to Artesia Blvd. from Long Beach Blvd. to Coachella Avenue, which borders the 710 freeway.

Resources:
Starr King Neighborhood Association Facebook page
Starr King Neighborhood Association Instagram page @StarrKingNeighborhood
9th District City Council Member Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie
City of Long Beach Translation Service - Event Requests
City of Long Beach Lawn-to-Garden Program - The new (L2G) Lawn-to-Garden program was created with the goal of making the landscapes of Long Beach sustainable and water efficient, while also providing multiple benefits for the environment such as capturing storm water, reducing runoff and developing habitat for birds and butterflies.
City of Long Beach Climate Action & Sustainability programs
Litter Free Long Beach
Long Beach Neighborhood Group Directory (includes neighborhood group location map)
Go Long Beach app
No Trespassing Signs
City of Long Beach Helpful Contacts
Photo Credit: Neighborhood Group Location Map created by City of Long Beach Neighborhood Resource Center 

Volunteering in Long Beach truly is a labor of love for Cascia and Tom. In this episode, we explore the many benefits and intrinsic rewards of volunteering including social connection, personal well-being, sense of purpose & accomplishment. Let's start to imagine our neighborhoods stronger and healthier because everyone takes the time to care for our environment, and for each other.

Resources:
Neighborhood Leadership program
Litter Free Long Beach
Organic Waste Collection in Long Beach
Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association
Long Beach Community Table
Meals on Wheels Long Beach
The Volunteer Center - Impact Makers program
Care Closet
Cal Heights Neighborhood Association - Volunteer
Ridgewood Triangle

Among the 18 designated historic districts, California Heights Neighborhood is the largest historical district in Long Beach with the oldest home built in 1905. This year, California Heights Neighborhood celebrates 100 years of architectural charm and history.

Listen as we talk with Manny Valenzuela of California Heights Neighborhood Association, a volunteer-led nonprofit organization working to promote public knowledge and preservation of historic and architectural resources.

We acknowledge that California Heights resides on the traditional territory occupied by the Tongva people who were the area's original residents prior to the arrival of European colonizers.

Resources:
California Heights Website
California Heights History
Long Beach Heritage
City of Long Beach Historic Preservation
City of Long Beach Historic District Design Guidelines
Cultural Heritage Commission
Long Beach Historic Districts
City of Long Beach Housing and Neighborhood Services
List of Long Beach Neighborhood Groups
Long Beach Gives 

Meet Jen and Kat of LBC Hero Squad, two Long Beach moms on a mission to provide awareness, support and education to parents of neurodivergent youth. Listen as they share their personal experiences and their hope of creating a culture of acceptance, kindness, celebration and inclusion of neurodivergent youth. It is our hope that this episode inspires you to be kinder to yourself and to others ...

LBC Hero Squad
The LBC Hero Squad is a nonprofit organization led by passionate parents with the mission of bringing inclusion, acceptance, and kindness to neurodivergent youth.

Resources & Community Collaborators:
Harbor Regional Center
Local Hearts Foundation
Tichenor Clinic for Children
Long Beach Health Department Disability, Access & Functional Needs (DAFN)
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department), in partnership with KultureCity, has launched a new mobile sensory service, the Sensory Area for Everyone (S.A.F.E.) vehicle. For questions, please contact the DAFN Coordinator, Esmeralda Garcia, at [email protected] or by phone at (562) 570-7901.
The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Mixed Miracle Arts
Super Skate Posse
VIP Records
Creative Flow Arts
Sowing Seeds of Change 

Meet Atle and Nico, two Long Beach residents who are passionate about micro-mobility, public transit, and infrastructure that results in safe, accessible ways to move around the city. Listen as we talk about the joy of community, bike riding adventures, and the special place they found with Car-Lite to advocate for safe streets and alternative transportation in Long Beach.

Visit Car-Lite Long Beach HERE or https://carlitelb.org/

Car-Lite Long Beach Calendar of Events HERE or https://carlitelb.org/calendar/

Visit Car-Lite Long Beach Instagram HERE or https://www.instagram.com/carlitelb/

Long Beach Bike Co-Op on Instagram HERE or https://www.instagram.com/long_beach_bike_co_op/?hl=en

Need a bike? Visit Long Beach Bike Share HERE or https://www.longbeachbikeshare.com/

This episode is about the importance of human connection, relationships, care and compassion. Our guest, Rocio of AOC7 Neighborhood Organization talks with us about how their organization serves to uplift and support the needs of black and brown residents in the neighborhood and highlights the partnerships that help them achieve common goals. Listen as Rocio shares the impact of their community building efforts - all done with hard work and lots of heart.

AOC7 Neighborhood Organization represents the boundaries of Anaheim, Orange, Cherry, and E7th Street.
Visit https://www.aoc7neighborhood.com/

AOC7 Neighborhood resides in the 1st and 6th Districts
District 1 Councilwoman Mary Zendejas
District 6 Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro

More about Project Dignity HERE https://www.aoc7neighborhood.com/partners/project-dignity

More about the Safe Passage Initiative Community Ambassadors program and to volunteer HERE
https://www.lbsafe.org/

Resources:
Long Beach Police Department Non-Emergency Number
(562) 435-6711

Long Beach Rescue Mission
Long Beach Rescue Mission offers shelter for men at the Samaritan House located at 1335 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813.

Intake at Samaritan House is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Monday – Friday or call our reception desk 24 hours a day at (562) 591-1292 for immediate assistance.

Long Beach Rescue Mission offers shelter for women and children at the Lydia House located at 1400 Pacific Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813.

Intake is by appointment only. Please contact us at 562-591-1292 for assistance.

Visit https://lbrm.org/what-we-do/emergency-services/

211 for LA County
The hub for community members and community organizations looking for all types of health, human, and social services in Los Angeles County.  
https://211la.org/

Litter Free Long Beach
Plan or join a neighborhood clean-up HERE
https://www.longbeach.gov/pw/resources/litterfreelb/

Rose Park Neighborhood resident Sylvia talks about her experience dealing with crime and safety issues on her block. Sylvia provides a real-look at how problems are addressed at the neighborhood level, and tells listeners how she and other neighbors work together with city agencies, nonprofits  and businesses to improve her area.

Rose Park Neighborhood boundaries run from 10th St on the North to 4th St on the South, Cherry Ave on the West, and Redondo Ave on the East. The neighborhood includes two of Long Beach’s largest designated historic districts: Rose Park North (north of 7th Street) and Rose Park South (south of 7th Street).

Resources:
List of Long Beach Neighborhood Groups
https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/lbcd/media-library/documents/housing--neighborhood-services/neighborhood-resource-center-nrc/neighborhood-group-directory-jan--2024

Go Long Beach App - report graffiti, dumped items, potholes, fireworks, e-scooter parking violations, and more!
https://www.longbeach.gov/pages/golongbeach/

Council District Map -
https://www.longbeach.gov/redistricting/maps/current-maps/

Code Enforcement - https://www.longbeach.gov/lbcd/enforcement/

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - https://www.longbeach.gov/globalassets/city-manager/media-library/documents/memos-to-the-mayor-tabbed-file-list-folders/2019/april-19--2019---crime-prevention-through-environmental-design--cpted--overview

LBPD Community Watch Group -
https://www.longbeach.gov/police/crime-info/community-watch/

Litter Free Long Beach - find or organize monthly clean-ups - https://www.longbeach.gov/lbrecycles/refuse/illegal-dumping/find-or-organize-a-clean-up/

"**Heart of the Neighborhood** is a community benefit project of Rose Park Neighborhood Association dedicated to highlighting the vibrant leadership and community volunteer efforts that make Long Beach,  California a better place to live. Join us as we interview local neighborhood leaders and showcase innovative initiatives that address neighborhood issues and improve the quality of life for residents. Through engaging conversations, discover how effective neighborhood organizing transforms communities and empowers individuals to make a difference.

Our podcast aims to educate and inspire residents by sharing the resources and the process that have driven positive changes in Long Beach neighborhoods. Whether you're looking to get involved or simply want to learn about the impactful work happening around you, "**Heart of the Neighborhood**" provides the insights and motivation to engage with your local community and become an active participant in its growth and improvement. 

Tune in and be part of the change!

Meet your Heart of the Neighborhood hosts Danielle & Nicolette. Listen as they express their love for Long Beach, and provide you with reasons and resources for getting involved and taking an active role in making our neighborhoods safe, healthy places to live!

List of Long Beach Neighborhood Groups https://www.longbeach.gov/lbcd/hn/resource-center/neighborhood-groups/

We Love Long Beach
https://welovelb.org/