31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration

Vice Mayor and Sixth District Councilman Dee Andrews is excited to announce the 31st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration happening on Saturday, January 19th, 2018. This year’s theme is “Walking the Talk” which celebrates those community partners that take social, environmental, and human rights in consideration within their daily actions. “I am extremely excited for this event. We need to give credit where credit is due, and this year’s honorees have proven to give back to the community.” said Vice Mayor Dee Andrews.

This year’s grand marshals are as follows:

Port of Long Beach– Through its sponsorships, grants and education outreach, the Port is dedicated to making Long Beach a better place to live and work. Their industry-leading environmental policies continue to guide their modernization efforts as they build the Green Port of the Future.

Philip Gonsal- Philip has been with the Long Beach Fire Department for 19 years, he currently holds the rank of Engineer. Philip believes strongly in the old African Proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”, which drives him in reaching back to the youth who come from troubled and challenging backgrounds. He oversees two
Youth programs, the Rockett Academy and It takes a Village. He is also on the board of directors of EPIC, which is an organization that works to expand economics opportunities for all through civic engagement, leadership development, and policy advocacy.

Rich Archbold- The Long Beach Press-Telegram‘s former executive director and current columnist and public editor is a Leadership Long Beach graduate and serves on the Honorary Board of Governors. As a retreat team leader, he has mentored young professionals as they go through the 9-month Leadership Institute. He was recently awarded the Distinguished Journalist award from the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Naomi Rainey-Pierson- The NAACP Long Beach Branch President has worked diligently to uplift and promote disenfranchised persons especially African American community members in the areas of civil rights, social justice, and voting rights. The NAACP works year-round to host free community events that bring neighborhoods and people together. The NAACP was recently honored by the American Bar Association for their annual Law Day activities event.

Adam Hijazi & Long Beach Collective Association Board: Long Beach Collective Association is a nonprofit cannabis trade association. The LBCA works closely with the City of Long Beach’s health department and various community organizations to ensure public safety, cannabis education, and non-invasive environment for residents. The Station, a member of the LBCA, is the first legal cannabis dispensary in the Sixth District that transformed an empty building into a thriving business with a new artsy mural to attract and invite the community out to the Pacific Ave corridor.

Mauna Eichner and Lee Fukui- Mauna and Lee are Sixth District and Wrigley residents presently involved in environmental volunteer endeavors. Lee and Mauna have served on the City of Long Beach’s Tree Advisory Committee and Mauna has also served on the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee. Mauna and Lee are founding members of Wrigley is Going Green and the Wrigley Clean Team. The Wrigley Clean Team is a neighborhood-based group that meets several times per month and collects trash and debris along major business corridors and residential streets. Wrigley is Going Green is a grass roots environmental organization that has helped save mature trees as well as plant and maintain young trees in Wrigley and around the City.

The parade kicks off at 10:30am at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street. An open-air celebration with live entertainment, food, merchandise, and information vendors follows from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, located at 1950 Lemon Avenue, Long Beach. Applications for parade entries, food, and merchandise booths are still being accepted.

Free parking will be available at Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus on Orange Avenue and 19th Street. Grand stands will be available at 19th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and 16th Street. Volunteers are needed and invited to sign-up by calling (562) 570-6816. Community service hours will be provided to those who need them. One free t-shirt, first-come, first-serve to those who complete their volunteer shift.

For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1549575098519411/