On this week's "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Long Beach Post reporter Alicia Robinson explains how she discovered 14 people enrolled at a transitional housing facility in Long Beach had died in the span of two years — and what that means for the city's response to homelessness.

Passion is often a powerful force, driving individuals to give selflessly of their time and expertise.

For Erin Carey, coaching the Wilson High School's girls' basketball team was a labor of love. But after leading the Wilson Bruins to the CIF Southern Section Division 3A championship in 2020 — the school's first title in the sport in 20 years — the financial sacrifices began to take a toll.

Earning a stipend of just $4,533.03 for the entire season and having to maintain her job in aerospace — Carey made the difficult decision to step down from her coaching role for financial reasons in 2021.

Carey's passion for coaching and inspiring young women couldn't keep her away for long. In 2022, she returned to the head coaching position, driven by her love for the game and her desire to push her players to greatness.

Unfortunately, Carey's return was short-lived. Facing consistent personal attacks from parents, Carey made the difficult decision to step down mid-season earlier this year, citing the need to prioritize her mental health.

On this episode of The Word with Jackie Rae podcast, Carey opens up about her decision, highlighting the importance of mental health and the challenges of balancing passion with personal well-being.

Most candidates challenging incumbents in the current race for a seat on the City Council have little, if any, political experience.

Gerrie Schipske, a candidate for the 4th District seat, stands out as an exception. With over 20 years of political experience, Schipske has served as the Long Beach City College trustee from 1992 to 1996, ran for Congress in 2000 and served two terms on the City Council after being elected in 2006.

After redistricting absorbed portions of what was once District 5, Schipske is now running again.

On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, Schipske discusses the need for transparency in local government, police reform and promoting a unified Long Beach.

To learn more about Gerrie Schipske visit her website, and for more about all the candidates, visit lbpost.com/elections.

In 2020, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk ran against Councilman Al Austin for the 8th District seat. Austin prevailed, but now that he's termed out, Thrash-Ntuk is running again with endorsements from most of the current City Council and mayor.

Thrash-Ntuk, who's previously been tapped by Mayor Rex Richardson to co-chair his transition committee and a policy task force on economic inclusion, says she's got a head start knowing how to get things done. She says she wants to revitalize underserved business corridors in the 8th District, bring in quality jobs and create safe neighborhoods.

On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, Thrash-Ntuk explains why she believes her background and relationships with city leaders will earn her a seat in the City Council.

You can learn more about her on her website.

Read all the Long Beach Post's campaign coverage at lbpost.com/elections.

If diversity is the spice of life, Ketty Citterio has led a flavorful one. Citterio, the daughter of an Olympian, followed in her father's athletic footsteps and played professional basketball in her home country of Italy.

After studying foreign languages, Citterio traveled the world in the tourism industry before making her way to California. When she arrived in the United States 29 years ago, she worked as a linguist, translating English movies into Italian.

Eventually, Citterio longed for a community like the one her parents and five siblings helped her grow to love. She and her wife made their way to Long Beach, where Citterio joined Friends of Bixby Park and began working to help the unhoused in the park and make it safer for neighbors.

On this episode of "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Citterio explains how the city's lacking response to the community's needs prompted her to run for Long Beach City Council District 2. To learn more about Citterio, you can visit her website.

Cristino Pinto has a unique background. He was born and raised in Angola, where he worked for the Angolan government before making Long Beach his home in the United States, where his goal was to further his education.

While he is currently working as a professor in the art history department at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Compton College, Pinto is hoping to add the title of District 6 council member to his resume.

On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, we learn how Pinto wants to reduce traffic deaths, address homelessness and give a voice to a drastically underserved community.

To learn more about Pinto, you can visit his website here.

A new era is unfolding for residents in City Council District 8. Not only has the district expanded after the city completed redistricting in 2021 — Councilmember Al Austin is leaving an open seat for a new candidate after completing a 12-year tenure.

With a diverse professional background and a history of community leadership, Sharifa Batts is hoping she can secure the seat in the March election. Batts, who served as vice president of environment & sustainability for Ports of America, was also appointed by former Mayor Robert Garcia to Long Beach’s Equity and Human Relations Commission. Batts says her love for the community she grew up in is why she's dedicated to trying to beautify and improve District 8.

On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae” podcast, Batts explains why she believes her background, along with being a native of Long Beach, makes her the ideal candidate for the District 8 seat.

To learn more about candidate Sharifa Batts, you can visit her website.

Most of us can't remember our favorite toy at the age of 3. That could be because that toy did not ignite a passion within us.

Clifton Weaver is not like most of us. While we were begging our parents for the latest toy, Weaver was fervently asking his parents to play the 1974 album "Fire" by the Ohio Players.

Instead of playing the same album for their determined toddler over and over, Weaver's parents gave him his own turntable and copy of the album to play on repeat.

Looking back, that is the moment Weaver the DJ, also known as DJ Soft Touch, was born. On this episode of "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, we delve into Weaver's musical upbringing, discovering how his early experiences have become the foundation for his exceptional DJ skills and unwavering loyalty to vinyl.

Weaver is set to start his new residency in the downtown Los Angeles Arts District this week — and you can find him every month at his '60s soul/garage rock night at the Monty Bar in Westlake. You can find Weaver's upcoming DJ appearances by visiting his Instagram.

In a time when supporting local businesses is more critical than ever, the city of Long Beach took a significant step forward in November by introducing the Shop Long Beach app. This citywide initiative not only celebrates entrepreneurship but also aims to provide a lifeline for small business owners struggling with financial challenges.

The Shop Long Beach initiative offers a platform for small business owners to connect with their customers on a deeper level by providing exclusive rewards and incentives.

DW Ferrell is the visionary behind this endeavor. With his app called Localight, Ferrell's mission to give back to the community is deeply ingrained in his upbringing. From watching his father open their spare bedroom to unhoused individuals — to helping people in Compton learn tech before the rise of the internet, Ferrell has never wavered from his determination to use technology to empower people.

On this episode of “The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Ferrell explains how his unique background and understanding of systemic racism have allowed him to use his tech powers for good.

If you are a small business owner who would like to join the Shop Long Beach initiative or, if you are a customer who would like to start earning rewards at local businesses, you can download the Localight app or visit the website here.

Long Beach resident Jerlene Tatum has been a vocal advocate for justice, equity, and community empowerment.

In 2022, she stood as a liaison for the Rodriguez family after a Long Beach Unified School District officer fatally shot 18-year-old Mona Rodriguez.

Earlier this year, Tatum pitched her tent at Silverado Park, opposing the city's plan to repurpose the park's gym into a temporary homeless shelter. She argued it was unfair to take away the gym from an already park-poor community.

In the past, Tatum has sought to spotlight issues affecting marginalized communities in Long Beach, and she's now hoping to bring her perspective to the Long Beach Unified School District's governing board. She has announced her intention to run against school board member Erik Miller for his Area 2 seat representing Central and West Long Beach.

On this episode of "The Word with Jackie Rae" podcast, Tatum talks about her vision for the future of education in Long Beach.

We've also invited Miller on the show, but he has so far not responded to interview requests. The election is March 5.