The monthly Mobile Food Pantry will be giving free food to the public at Lot 2 on PCC Campus on March 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Mobile Food Pantry is a collaboration between the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the LBCC Viking Vault. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is an organization dedicated to hunger relief through spreading awareness and events.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank supplies all necessary supplies including groceries and bags. The Viking Vault’s provisions are not used at this event.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own bags, but can be provided with one as well.
During that time, parking in Lot 2 will be free. This mobile food pantry is open to the public. Participants do not need to be enrolled at LBCC as faculty or staff.
Jesse Marroquin, Basic Needs Program outreach specialist, assures the event will take place regardless of weather conditions.
“The event will take place, rain or shine,” Marroquin said.
Participants are able to choose from different stations of fresh produce, protein or shelf stable items. A healthy amount of food will be provided to each participant while supplies last.
A portion of the parking lot will be closed off for the event. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank will set up canopies giving out different provisions under each one.
“I encourage everyone to come and enjoy (themselves),” Justin Mendez, the Basic Needs Program manager said. “The first hour is usually really busy. After that first hour, it usually dies down.”
The staff at this event will also be able to help those eligible to fill out CalFresh applications. CalFresh issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores.
Those interested in finding additional assistance, volunteering, or donating to the Los Angeles Food bank can visit their website at lafoodbank.org.
An informative meeting was held from the K building on Zoom Tuesday afternoon about paid art internship opportunities being offered and hosted by the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture.
A slideshow presentation was organized by Martin Hernandez, senior program associate at the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture, accompanied by his colleague Sam Avita, a program associate at LA County Department of Arts and Culture.
172 organizations applied to the program and requested 303 different positions. Of those 303 positions, the L.A. County Department of Arts and Culture were able to fund 228 internship positions and 157 organizations.
These 400 hour arts administration internships range from marketing, arts education, production, administration, audience services, city engagement and development, fundraising, event planning, graphic design and research and evaluation.
“All interns will be paid a total of $6,760 at a rate of $16.90 an hour with a total of 400 hours,” Avita announced.
Payroll taxes will apply to that $16.90 wage which will ultimately be deducted from the $6,760 total.
Students must be a currently enrolled undergraduate at either a four-year university or community college and must reside in or attend school in the L.A. county in order to apply.
For DACA recipients and international students, work authorization will be required before applying to any of the positions.
“There are opportunities to have an internship at the government level in the arts, which is a really, really unique and a really, really exciting opportunity,” Hernandez said.
Martin Hernandez, the Senior Program Associate at the Los Angeles County Arts and Culture Department speaking at the Art Internship Information Session on March 21 from 1-2pm in room k102 at Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus in Long Beach California. The Los Angeles County Arts and Culture Department worked with Long Beach City College to get community college students involved in their year-round paid internship program.(Casper Torres)
A majority of these internships will be launched to the website of the LA County Department of Arts and culture on April 3, 2023. Their website can be found at www.lacountyarts.org/internships .
The website is not where students will be applying, but simply a job board to help them find new opportunities.
When applying, students should look for the “how to apply” section to help guide them through each organization’s application process.
“As long as you come with a good attitude and are ready to learn new skills, you’re going to be successful in this program,” Avita said.
Interns can start working in this program from June 1st, 2023 through March 1st, 2024.
Sophomore starting pitcher Ashley Hester’s complete game leads the Vikings to a 5-1 victory over San Bernardino Valley.
Hester went seven innings while striking out six batters and giving up one run on three hits.
When asked about what was successful on the mound Hester responded, “We were trying to not throw my changeup until we were around the lineup one time, so I think the element of surprise was good and all my pitches were working. I was just excited to be able to get out here and throw good.”
The Vikings struck for two in the third giving them a 2-0 lead.
San Bernardino Valley’s scored one in the fourth inning, but the Vikings immediately responded in the bottom half thanks to a single hit by sophomore center fielder Alia Marquez.
The Vikings would continue to score in the fifth as they scored two runs on three consecutive hits.
The rally was started off with a double hit by freshman right fielder Natalie Wilson. Wilson would be scored on a double hit by sophomore catcher Racine Ruacho, and Ruacho would then be scored on a triple hit by freshman outfielder Alynna Gonzalez.
Freshman catcher Racine Ruacho hits a towering double to left field. The Vikings beat San Bernardino Valley 5-1. (Tyler Bermundo)
After giving up a run in the fourth Hester would face and retire the last nine batters to end the game and lead the Vikings to a 5-1 victory.
Not counting the forfeit victory vs Compton this has been the Vikings tenth consecutive home game since their last away game. With the turf field many teams opted to play at LBCC due to the weather.
The Vikings are 8-2 in those 10 games and will end the season with only four of their 17 remaining games in the season being at LBCC.
When asked about the importance of the team being able to find and maintain their rhythm head coach Megan Martinez responded, “ We try to play every game just like we’re at home. We treat each other like we’re at home so we’re not worried about hitting the road. We’re excited, we have each other, and we feel like home so we are excited to take on the adventure.”
The Vikings play the first of their six game road trip Saturday March 25th at Cypress.
A lecture in a sequestered off party room in the back of Dave and Buster’s enthralled both geology college students and industry professionals alike this past Monday, with the noise of screaming children, loud music, and arcade machines only a door away.
Long Beach City College Geology Club students had the opportunity to attend a meeting of the South Coast Geological Society hosted at Long Beach Dave and Buster’s.
With ambient disco lighting, a nacho station and a small drinks bar in the corner, the venue provided a comfortable scene to network and meet people before the lecture began.
“I feel like the physical sciences are often overlooked over the biological sciences. So, I wanted to learn more about them. I kind of believe in intersectional science,”said Story Daly, a biology major and Geology Club member at LBCC.
Daly spent the meeting hours seated at a table, sketching in a small notebook, until Steve Zigan, a retired geologist, sat in the open seat next to her and they began chatting about her drawings. Zigan asked about her interest in professional field sketching.
Their conversation illuminates the intent behind the South Coast Geological Society’s meetings: to foster networks between those already established in the field and those just starting out, in a fun, semi-professional setting.
Based out of Santa Ana, SCGS usually holds meetings in Orange, but had a change of location for March’s monthly meeting.
In recent years, the society has tried to extend their reach to college students and professors in geology fields, emphasizing the need for connection to span across all members of the industry.
Megan Andreasen, a geologist at Group Delta asking Jillian Pearse during the monthly South Coast Geological Society meeting at Dave and Busters in Long Beach California. the Long Beach City College Geology Club was invited by their advisor to dinner, drinks and a night of networking with professional geologists and guest speaker Jillan Pearse presenting her latest research. (Casper Torres)
“Yes, you come in and don’t know anybody, but I don’t want students to feel intimidated by the environment, it’s a really invaluable resource.” Taylor Bogdanovich, current board member and previous SCGS president said.
“A lot of the people here are in the middle of their career or retired or just starting out and we wanted to create a space where people could just meet,” said Bogdanovich, “younger people don’t realize how important networking is as college students.”
The society waives the $40 membership fee for college students as well as reducing the monthly meeting cost to $30, lowering a barrier of access that would have discouraged students from attending meetings.
Monthly meeting fees go toward covering the price of catering, as well as the space’s rental fee.
For LBCC Geology Club members, even this $30 charge has become nonexistent.
Since SCGS meetings are a Geology Club member event, adviser Otto Figueroa is able to have these monthly meeting fees paid for by ASB club funds. Students simply have to RSVP with Figueroa and fill out a school trip waiver.
“I like it for the networking, but also for the professionals presenting their research, it’s different from learning in a classroom,” Monet Pedrazzini, secretary for the geology club said.
The lecture portion of the event, presented by Jillian Pearse, was all about her research on the sinking land around volcanoes in South America and how that research could be used to predict the land shifts of coastal cities, Long Beach in particular.
These predictions could prove useful in helping city and state governments establish preventative measures, according to Pearse.
Referred to as “the sinking city” by Pearse, she discussed how excess oil drilling in Long Beach has led to subsidence, the excessive sinking of land, caused by the space left in the earth’s crust after the oil is removed.
She explained that it can be mitigated by pumping water into the space left by the oil, but that it does not stop the city’s sinking completely.
The Vikings stay hot as they improve to an 8-2 record in conference play with a 4-0 victory over Rio Hondo.
Sophomore starting pitcher Olivia Ramirez remained dominant as she threw a complete game shutout, striking out seven batters while giving up three hits. Ramirez has struck out 22 batters in her last two outings against Rio Hondo.
“Last time it was curves, but they definitely got a hold of that so I threw in some changeups this time,” Ramirez said.
The Vikings would start the scoring off early in the first as freshman third baseman Alejandra Mota scored from second on a throwing error by Rio Hondo.
Infielder Alejandra Mota slides into home plate for the first run for Long Beach. The Vikings beat Rio Hondo 4-0 on Thursday. (Sam Huff)
Ramirez got into trouble in the second inning as a defensive miscue and a walk loaded the bases.
With the bases loaded she got into a 2-0 count, but after a meeting on the mound Ramirez would go on to throw three straight strikes and strike out the batter.
The scoring would continue in the third as Mota would score on a triple hit by sophomore center fielder Alia Marquez
“For the first part of the at bat she was pitching me away. Usually when they pitch me away I try to hit a little dribble in the infield to run it out, but she left one right over the plate and I noticed they (the outfielders) were playing me in so I was trying to hit it over their heads.” said Marquez.
Marquez would then score on an RBI double hit by sophomore right fielder Kirstin Sanchez.
The Vikings would score their fourth and final run of the game on a home run hit by sophomore left fielder Jasmine Delgado.
The Vikings celebrate a solo home run by sophomore outfielder Jasmine Delgado. The Vikings beat Rio Hondo 4-0 on Thursday. (Sam Huff)
Prior to her at bat sophomore Gladys Garcia just got under a pitch as she hit a fly out to left field. When asked about if that gave her confidence going into her at bat Delgado responded, “It gave me confidence knowing that we were making contact. I was going up there with the mentality of making contact and hitting the ball. With two outs I just wanted to get on base and it worked. As I was rounding the bases I didn’t even know that it was over. It was honestly a good feeling and in my head I just thought lets keep this going.”
After the Vikings three run third inning Ramirez would go on to give up one hit in the next four innings striking out three batters.
With this win the Vikings move to an 8-2 conference record and a 14-6 record overall and they hope to improve to that record as they play San Bernardino Valley Friday March 24th.
Less than 2% of junior college athletes end up going pro. For the other 98%, community college needs to make academics more of a priority.
LBCC should raise the GPA requirement to 2.5. Setting a higher standard would help motivate students who are earning lower grades.
LBCC hasn’t produced an NBA player in 45 years, an MLB player in 15 years, and only 2 NFL players since 2005.
Athletes need to get rid of this notion that they will go pro and focus on their academic careers. Non-athletes come to college to earn a degree, athletes need to have the same mentality.
There is a life after college sports. While a 2.0 is passing, students will be put at a disadvantage when entering the workforce after college. They will also have wasted money, time, and effort just to play their sport.
Athletics should be a privilege, not a last-chance athletic career opportunity. Junior college athletic GPA requirements are already lower than many four-year institutions.
Many universities have an athletic requirement of a 2.5. Those universities also have higher average grades for student-athletes.
Assistant football coach, Neo Aoga, talked about how this would affect some of his players.
He said that some players live without parents, commute and work jobs to support themselves and their dependables.
“Division one athletes can get away with a higher GPA requirement because of the help. Junior college athletes have a lot on their plate already. It would put an emphasis on school work, but it is hard for junior college players,” Aoga said.
The goal of a policy like this is not to make athletes ineligible, but to set them up for the future.
LBCC has a vast amount of student-athlete resources. Students who are deemed ineligible due to grades should be required to sacrifice class time in order to go to study hall or work with a tutor so they can improve their grades and get back on the field.
If students really want to play their sport, they will find a way to meet this higher expectation for grades.
When former students look back at their junior college experience, they should remember their teammates, big games and playoff runs.
They also need to remember how the effort in the classroom gave them a degree that helped them find work.
The 2.0 GPA will handcuff athletes, giving them a minimal backup plan. For 98% of athletes, academics are extremely important. A 2.5 requirement is the first step in improving academic performance.
College should not be a place to just continue an athletic journey. It should be a place that sets athletes up for the rest of their lives.
A large crowd of Rotary members came together last Wednesday afternoon for their weekly meetings at the Grand in Long Beach to discuss future events.
The Rotary is an international club with clubs throughout the community and worldwide. Their mission is to make a difference and a positive change in their local community and the world.
Madrid Zimmerman, executive director of the Rotary Club of Long Beach, welcomed members and handed out lunch tickets as guests arrived, stating, “we have 240 members and about 60%, around 180 to 200 members rotate showing up every week.”
At the start of every meeting, everyone stands up for the Pledge of Allegiance, and the pledge for the Rotary, by the Rotary four-way test that fosters truth, fairness, and goodwill and is beneficial to all.
Andy Mcfarland, Sergeant of Arms of Rotary, went around the room to let a few members speak about recent events and future events, like how their charity golf tournament has plans in the works.
Gail Schwandner, from LBCC Economic Development and head of LB Rotary Scholarship Foundation, said they are one of the most significant contributors to scholarships for LBCC and CSULB through the various scholarship programs they offer.
(Center) Rotary club member, Robyn Gordon Peterson speaks with the club members about their annual Mark Bixby Memorial egg hunt and Paul Kennard book fair taking place at the Rotary Centennial Park. The event took place at The Grand in Long Beach on March 15, 2023. (Desary Vailencour)
“In the interview, we let the student tell their story because everyone has dreams and can use help in their process. We are here to help create a better community,” explained Schwandner.
She also explained how they work closely with LBCC’s homeless students’ coalition and “Feeding the Future” by having food drives and refilling Vikings’ pantry.
Another speaker Robyn Gordon Peterson went up to the podium to talk about the annual Mark Bixby Memorial egg hunt and Paul Kenner book fair that will be happening on Saturday, April 1, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Rotary Centennial Park.
“All are welcome, and there are going to be free bunny photo opportunities, egg hunt, face painting, and a whole lot more,’ said Peterson.
Half of the members left at the end of the lunch meeting, while others stuck around for networking.
The Rotary Club is one of the longest-standing service clubs that have flourished throughout the last century.
An assembly of staff and students met at the Social Justice Intercultural Center Thursday afternoon to celebrate Women’s History Month, putting together a sip and paint event.
Organizer and host of the event, Bri Pinkerton, was a little “worried” in the beginning, as she forgot that she had planned it on Flex Day but was very happy with the outcome.
Pinkerton set up easels with paint, brushes, along with an array of food and some nonalcoholic bubbly ciders were provided.
An instructor was not present for this sip and paint because it did not fit into the budget, but staff and students proceeded with the event.
There were about 15 participants at each table, with there being four different tables.
They all started by placing the reference photo on the back of the canvas and tracing it from the front.
The reference photo used for the painting was a cartoon depiction of Josephine Baker, a French dancer, singer and actor in the 1920s.
“I chose Josephine Baker because I fell in love with her as a kid,” said Pinkerton.
Rubi Gudino, an LBCC student participating in the event was glad to be there because it was a free day off, and she wanted to celebrate Women’s History Month.
“It’s recent how women have gotten more rights,” said Gudino.
“This event is about bonding, learning, and discussions. I wanted to make an effort, and I like painting,” Sundee Dominguez, staff member and women’s rights advocate said.
At the end of this two-hour-long event, participants signed their pieces of art and were able to take them home.
Long Beach City College managed to weather the storm in spite of COVID. Superintendent-president Mike Muñoz shared how Long Beach Community College not only weathered the storm but continues to make great strides in his State of the College address.
Enrollment for colleges decreased drastically due lockdowns and fear. “Through the pandemic, the colleges and universities across the country experienced record drops in enrollment. Due to innovative real time response, LBCC was among the top 5 of 116 community colleges in minimizing loss and maintaining student enrollment,” said Muñoz.
Muñoz further stated that this is an accomplishment of the LBCC team. 13 colleagues were honored with the Viking Impact award, which recognizes employees who exemplify high level of service and dedication.
The transfer rate increase was up for Black and Latinx students according to Muñoz. Black/African Americans had a 17% increase in Associate Degree for Transfer and Latinx students had 18% increase. Black/African Americans had 54% increase in University Student Transfer and Latinx students had 23% increase.
“For the fifth time in six years, LBCC was recognized for the campaign for college opportunity for our transfer effort, but for 2022, LBCC was recognized for the Equity Champion of Higher Education Award for accomplishments in supporting Black and Latinx transfer efforts. The transfer efforts have continued to rise despite the pandemic” Muñoz said.
The Long Beach City College 2022 commencement had 920 students participate and 5,369 degrees and certificates of achievement awarded.
LBCC Championship Cheer Team at State Of College Address (Photo Rosa Leon)
Muñoz introduced the strategic plan 2022-2026 stating, “It is the script in which we will act upon our mission and live our values.” He further declared, not to be thrown in the drawer and forgotten, but a script to live by.
The four themes of the plan are Inclusive, Supportive, Innovative and Synergy. Synergy is evidenced by “one of the markers that demonstrates our success: increase job placement into positions that support a living wage, which is now up to 41%.”
In line with the strategic script, other major accomplishments include securing $6.8 million dedicated funds for internships, adding 60 new local industry partners committed to hiring our students and strengthened collaborations with Arizona State University, USC which is aimed at supporting transfer success.
LBCC is also strengthening partnerships with Long Beach Unified School District, City of Long Beach, Port Of Long Beach and CSU Long Beach.
Muñoz also spoke of working with equity based non-profits like Raise the Bar, to help single student parents.
Long Beach Regional Small Business Center, headquartered at LBCC, advised 10,960 entrepreneurs in Long Beach and the surrounding region.
“We are currently working with University of Southern California (USC) Rossier School of Education’s. Together LBCC and USC are collaborating on a new program that promotes and supports higher education for former gang-impacted youth in greater Long Beach over the next three years called the Phoenix Scholars Program” Muñoz said.
The program was dubbed LBCC Phoenix Scholars and received a million dollars and was the only such grant allocated in the nation by the Department of Education.
A student from this new program, Adrian Burt, spoke of how the program changed his life. When Blas Villalobos was asked what his favorite part of today’s program was, he said “My student – Adrian”. Adrian now has a stable life and is a full time student at LBCC as a result of the program.
In December 2022, LBCC announced “Viking Clubhouse” providing after school programs to the children of an estimated 1,000 students. This is accomplished in partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach. According to Muñoz, this could become a model for the nation.
Honorable Herlinda Chico with Kids Club at 2023 State of College address Monday, Wednesday, March 13, 2023. (Photo by Rosa Leon)
“This new service is simply a game changer for our student parents because at the end of the day, these are just students who are trying to do what’s best for their kids. They are going to college to better their lives and the lives of their family. We know that education creates a generational impact and so we are so proud of this program.” Muñoz said.
To support LBCC’s endeavors, 37 new faculty members have been added.
When asked what she thought of their new Superintendent-President, “I find him approachable and genuine,” said Pamela Brackman, Senior Administrative Assistant, Academic Senate.
From the State of the College address, it appears that LBCC is storming into the future to become the best community college in the country. The strategic website link is https://www.lbcc.edu/strategicplan and all were invited to review and respond. This contains the goals and strategies set to make LBCC the best community college in the nation.
Correction: An initial version of this story contained errors in information. Student enrollment statistics for fall 2021 were 67% online, 3% in person, and 29% in both online and in-person, the original version improperly cited online enrollment as 90% during the fall 2021 semester.
For a student who has become accustomed to an online-learning setting during the COVID-19 lockdown, a return to in-person learning can be a difficult transition.
With the lockdown lasting well over a year, students had to adapt to this new way of life. Despite learning to adapt through devastating means, online learning proved to be possible and a different approach to furthering one’s education.
Prior to the pandemic, in the fall 2019 semester, only 7% of students were enrolled in online-only schooling at LBCC and only 27% were hybrid learners.
It is known that students who enrolled in LBCC during the pandemic are less likely to register and attend in-person classes in the present day, but will continue to stay enrolled as hybrid or online-only students.
Once restrictions were lifted and in-person classes became an option once more in the fall 2021 semester, only 3% of students decided to return to campus fully, 29% were in hybrid online and in-person, while 67% remained fully online. This is due to a multitude of reasons, including COVID-19 fears, mental and physical disabilities, or the simple convenience of online learning.
Of course, there are undeniable perks of attending college in person such as community, and direct contact with faculty, instructors, and peers, but these perks are not applicable nor necessary to all learners.
Zoom, Discord, Slack, and many other services, have surged as social networks for online students creating a strong sense of community and support from their professors, instructors, and peers.
For some, having the ability to enroll in an online curriculum gives them the flexibility to manage all of the additional responsibilities in their lives.
To a student who is also a parent, an online-only college experience can prove to be a major convenience. Having the ability to stay home with their child while simultaneously attending
class and completing all classwork. Without these options, a student who is a parent would likely have to pay for childcare or give up on the concept of higher education altogether.
Similarly, a student-athlete must dedicate hours to training, practicing., and competing. They can also benefit from online and hybrid schooling. This gives them the ability to obtain a college education while continuing to prioritize the sport they are committed to.
While there is a substantial amount of accessibility for online learning, most degrees and programs require some classes that are only offered in person.
The most effective and progressive thing that can be done by the college is to assure all departments have sufficient online-only and hybrid options for all programs offered at LBCC to be completed.
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