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For the 2500 students on campus in CTE programs, there have been “zero problems.”

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For the 2500 students on campus in CTE programs, there have been “zero problems.”

As most students have shifted their learning to online for the fall 2020 semester, nearly 2000 students are still on campus for in-person classes, a number projected to hit around 2500 by the end of the semester due to late-start courses. 

According to Gene Carbonaro, Dean of Career and Technical Education at LBCC, the process of determining which programs would be allowed to return to campus was mostly contingent on health department regulations. Fields that were considered “essential,” according to COVID-19 regulations, such as welding, horticulture, culinary arts, metal fabrication, and nursing returned to campus. 

Long Beach City College has the most students on campus compared to any neighboring schools, with more programs allowed to continue in-person than at surrounding Los Angeles and Orange County community colleges, said Carbonaro. 

“Rio Hondo is probably a close second, and everybody else is distant. Some schools aren’t bringing anybody back until Week 8,” Carbonaro said.

Carbonaro specified that which fields are determined essential can vary by region, although most surrounding schools opted to only allow an average of two or three programs onto their campuses for in-person learning. Carbonaro said that most L.A. community colleges only have 200-300 students on campus.

Luis Perez, a student taking intro to welding, works on his beading during class on September 17, 2020. Photo by Conner Robbins

“Our senior leadership, our vice presidents and presidents, they felt it was necessary,” Carbonaro said. 

“You really can’t weld by watching a video, you can’t fix a car by watching it on youtube. We felt we were doing a disservice to our students by not letting them come back and get hands-on training.”

However, Carbonaro explained that class sizes were cut to better accommodate social distancing. In culinary classes, for instance, the caps were set at 25, but after faculty determined how many students could safely operate in a kitchen together, class sizes were then modified to only 16 students, and similar factors were examined for each program. 

“Every program we brought back is under the allowed count. Most of the trades are at 25, and we capped at 16 to 18. Culinary, nutrition, we cut way back. The college is down about 5.5% of enrollment, but the school of CTE is not down,” said Carbonaro. 

Carbonaro said that faculty was very involved in the process of modifying classes for social distancing, meeting consistently over the summer to devise a plan for each program, determining factors such as how social distancing would be ensured, how classes would be effectively taught, making sure students wear masks, and how to deliver lectures without being together in a classroom. 

“None of the lectures are on campus but faculty needed to do some demonstration, and some basic  lecture before you actually get into a lab. For instance, before someone goes into a welding booth, even though the instructor puts the lecture online, the instructor still needs to demo, before you go into a booth, same things with auto and other programs. So we had to devise a plan and they had to be part of it and explain how they were going to social distance and still get that message out to students,” said Carbonaro, regarding the planning process.

LBCC utilized different technologies to assist with CTE classes. Auto programs, for instance, brought in numerous monitors to place around the auto shop to allow students to observe while at a distance. 

Software was utilized to map out each classroom and lab space in use this semester, by designating where seats should be placed in order to maintain a six foot distance between students. 

Carbonaro said that faculty was active in developing each program’s plan and tweaking the necessary details for each specific program. 

Carbonaro’s job entailed helping provide the faculty with supplies they may need, such as monitors or microphones. 

Culinary, for instance, presented unique challenges due to the nature of a busy kitchen environment. As a result, changes were introduced such as implementing a designated exit and entrance doorway. 

Additionally, at culinary faculty’s request, before classes classified staff volunteers have been setting up boxes at each student’s work space with the necessary ingredients for each day’s lesson, in order to reduce movement within the space. Each workstation was also set up with individual scales and cooktops.

“We’ve devised those little intricacies for every one of the programs,” said Carbonaro. “It’s a full college team effort.” 

Some classes, such as welding, required little modifications as the nature of the classrooms were already distanced. 

Associate Professor of Metal Fabrication and Welding, as well as Department Chair of Trades and Industrial Technology Damon Skinner spoke about adapting his classes for safe in-person learning.

“In my building we teach metal fabrication and welding, so in the welding areas there is a dividing wall between every student already, just because you don’t want to be blinding and burning people while you’re welding. So that half the building was really easy, because everyone was already distanced. There’s an actual physical barrier. In the other half the building, we just space the students out in a zig zag going along the workbenches. And the audio visual team has brought in a laptop with a webcam, which it then streams wirelessly over a couple big screen TVs, so when we’re doing demonstrations, not everybody’s in one spot. It’s worked out really well. It is a lot of work, but it’s not hard work. It’s just you’ve gotta be able to think on your feet and solve problems,” Skinner said.

Classified volunteers have been employed to assist with the extra safety protocols that are 

currently required, such as administering temperature checks and monitoring the campus. These volunteers also monitor areas to ensure everyone is wearing a mask and there is no congregating occurring in areas such as bathrooms, with one or two volunteers designated to each class. 

Many of these volunteers  came from areas that had been previously shut down such as the Child Development Center. 

However, the center will be reopening on Oct. 5, presenting a new need for staffing.

A recruitment process took place, leaving 70 applicants for student assistants currently in the pool, said Carbonaro, and at least 20-25 will be needed after Oct. 5. Carbonaro said that this will all be paid for by the CARES Act, and onboarding has begun for many to help in labs and at check-in tables. 

The CARES Act was also utilized to provide classes with their necessary supplies and additional equipment. “We were really proactive off campus and on campus to make sure each student has the items they need,” Carbonaro said.

Throughout the process of developing these modifications and plans, Carbonaro said that there was relatively little anxiety or pushback from students and faculty.

He said that there were only two full-time faculty members in his department who opted to teach online this semester due to their age and health concerns, but “Most faculty couldn’t wait to come back. They struggled teaching their class in spring online when we went online in March just to get through June. A lot of them didn’t get through.”

Some CTE courses were considered suspended by the end of the spring semester, and were instead completed over the summer, said Carbonaro. 

However, he explained that this made the fall process far smoother, as most faculty then began the semester knowing what was required to make social distance learning work. 

As for students, Carbonaro reported that there have been no incidents thus far of any students disobeying the pandemic-related regulations, nor has there been one case of COVID-19 on campus.

“I think people are happy to be out of the house and actually doing something. It’s better than sitting in front of a monitor alwl day doing your class. We made it clear to them, we have the rules they need to follow, and there will be disciplinary actions, a notification, then a suspension from class, so they understand it’s important and they all take it serious, it just helps everybody if everybody’s following the rules,” Carbonaro said.

Skinner affirmed that his classes have had no incidents regarding COVID-19 safety regulations. “We’ve had zero problems with students and masks and social distancing. They’ve been really great about it. I have more trouble reminding students to keep their safety glasses on than I do with keeping their masks on.”

“Being on campus is great. Most of us in CTE do things with our hands, we’re kinaesthetic learners, and being stuck on the couch trying to Zoom everything was more of a challenge than coming back and making this work,” Skinner said.

Having COVID-19 testing sites available on both campuses has also made it easy for students to immediately get tested if they experience any symptom, said Carbonaro. Faculty and staff teaching on-campus are expected to be lenient with students feeling unwell and not penalize them for missing a class, allowing them to return once a negative COVID-19 test has been acquired.

As for the spring semester, Carbonaro said he anticipates it going even smoother. He said that LBCC is set to follow the exact same format as this semester, however he said he would like to see some fashion programs back on campus, as remote learning has been a challenge for some students.

“The situation is far from ideal, but we’re making the absolute most of it that we can. Considering the skills that were teaching are listed on the essential skills list, and the job shortages in the coming years for the industries that we serve, getting the students trained as quickly as we can and as safely as we can has been really fun,” Skinner said.

Students await instruction before the intro to welding class on September 17, 2020. Photo by Conner Robbins

How proposed policy changes have affected international students

Caitlyn Thiele
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How proposed policy changes have affected international students

A new policy insinuated international students who were not physically in classrooms or were receiving online instruction due to COVID-19 would have to return to their home country. 

Many international students were shocked by the change. 

LBCC student Rie Takayama said she “was in shock because [she]’d have to change everything.”

Rie Takayama is taking courses at LBCC while living in her hometown of Miyazaki, Japan. 

She said returning to her home country was the best option because it allowed her to save money. 

Due to Japan’s COVID-19 precautions, Takayama had to quarantine for 14 days, paying out of pocket for the hotel. 

One of the difficulties Takayama has experienced during this time is adjusting to the time zone differences, but Takayama has reviewed the class meetings over a recording from her professor. 

Takayama said she misses Long Beach and would like to return to the city at a better time.

Pablo Albillo, an international student from Guatemala, decided to move to Long Beach two years ago to advance his learning of the English language and be with his family. 

LBCC international student Pablo Albillo (Photo by Marcelo Osterloh).

When asked about how requirements to  physically attend classes might affect international students, Albillo said “I couldn’t go back anyways because the borders are still closed. I had to stay and if Trump’s law was going to happen then I would have had to take classes that are not even in my educational plan, only [to] be able to stay at school and continue my studies.” 

However, COVID-19 did affect his studies.

Before the virus he was expected to graduate in Fall 2021. Now that he can not progress with classes that are not offered online, he will be graduating in Spring 2022.

Although both Vikings have faced struggles with the outbreak and are unsure if the country will recover, they’ve both managed to push through with school. In hopes to further their education they continue with online courses. 

A student guide to surviving the obstacles of California weather

Caitlyn Thiele
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A student guide to surviving the obstacles of California weather

For Californians, the months of August and September brought record-breaking heat waves and disastrous wildfires, adding additional challenges to the many students already struggling with remote learning.

Some students have expressed that these added conditions due to extreme heat waves and poor air quality from the wildfires have made long-distance learning tougher amid these unconventional times.

Twenty-year-old student, Timothy Dyekns, shared, “In regards to the air quality, I am mainly affected by this at home, where I am mostly in a room with open windows…I experience headaches as well. Besides this, I am asthmatic, and the air quality, the longer such calcine lingers, the more likely I will experience respiratory issues in the proceeding days or weeks.”

The County of Los Angeles Public Health has published releases from August to September 27th, advising the public to take extra health precautions with the poor air quality and heat.

Los Angeles County Health Officer, Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, advised people living or working in the affected areas to minimize outdoor activities especially those with autoimmune diseases.

August and September are typical months for heatwaves in California, but many people do not know what to expect out of 2020 anymore.

The LBCC Viking News reporters sought out advice from other students on how they are coping with the extra restrictions that can impede their long-distance learning at the moment or in the future.

Dyekns, said, “The heatwave and fires have a generally negative effect on my being. I find the heat unbearable.”

When asked what advice he would share with others Dykens said, “They should seek outlets they find comforting in the reduction of stress…Managing stress is not an easy feat for everyone; across the board, meditation is one of the best ways to handle stress, and is largely supported by modern psychology. This can be meditation in the stereotypical sense, or it may find its form as something one finds simply to be meditative.”

He also suggested students have a backup plan ready when power outages occur due to extreme heat, such as finding “a friend with working electricity and power.”

A first-year student at LBCC named Amier Morris has lived in Bellflower for 10 years. 

When it comes to wildfires and power outages he said, “With heat and wildfires, I have had bad mornings because I get a very dry nose. Power outages don’t happen very often, but when they do they aren’t very long.” 

Even though wildfires and power outages are happening more, Morris said it doesn’t affect his online learning experience. 

With these conditions at hand with COVID-19, wildfires, and power outages. Morris suggested, “Best to probably keep up with an air humidifier and keep up as much of your place and home dusted.”

A copper colored smoke haze fills the air making it difficult to see and unsafe to breathe. (Photo by Caitlyn Thiele)

Many factors can come into play that affect LBCC students in these extraordinary times, especially when long-distance learning is concerned.

Students coping with extra struggles in their education should always seek the help of a professional or friend or classmate that may be experiencing the same thing that they are experiencing.

How online learning has affected student health

Caitlyn Thiele
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How online learning has affected student health

Switching to online learning has been a hard transition for many students across the country. While staying home is keeping students safe from the pandemic, it can cause an increase in mental health conditions. 

When school moved to online back in March, for many there was a sense of uncertainty about the future. What was thought to be a few weeks of online learning turned into months of this new style of learning with no end in the near future.

Being isolated at home from other students, friends, and sometimes family for an extended amount of time can have negative effects on a student’s mental health. 

The stress from school workloads as well as a student’s external environment can play a huge role in students’ mental well-being. (Photo by Victoria Tafoya- Turoldo)

Everyone has a different experience during these times, but some students have noticed an overall increase in their anxiety and depression.

College student Katarina Pearce said, “My mental health has been fluctuating since I started online school. Most days are good and I can do anything, and some are bad and I can’t get out of bed.” 

Pearce also said she has had a hard time learning at home. 

“I have so many distractions at home that it is hard to sit down and focus on my school work. I haven’t truly learned anything so far this semester,” Pearce said.

With colleges around the country staying online, some doctors are concerned for the effects it could have on students.

Dr. Mario San Bartolome, the founding director for the Memorial Care Addiction Medicine Unit, said, “The peer social interaction that students lose or those that have to go back home and having to deal with an expanding role with their family can have negative effects on a student’s mental health.” 

Many students living at home have also experienced the struggles of living with family, pets, and with limited space for studying. 

This can cause frustration for those who have a hard time focusing and may not be able to finish tasks on time. 

As students are forced to move their educations to their computers at home distractions become a large issue for many. These distractions can range from pets, to outside commotion, to the student’s mental state itself. (Photo by Victoria Tafoya- Turoldo)

While this transition to online is challenging for many, many students have realized the importance of mental health and self care during this time.

“I started to make a routine for myself to fill in the days so I’m not staring at my phone all day,” Pearce said. 

“I started yoga recently and it has helped me clear my mind. I also do a strict skincare routine every day, I journal every day and I go for long walks with my dogs,” she said. 

San Bartolme said, “Self-care needs to be centered. Exercise, recreation, less idle time, not allowing yourself to fall into a hole of sitting on the internet, yoga, meditation, are really important.” 

“Avoid self-isolation as much as possible,” he said.

While focusing on self-care to improve your mental health, some may need professional help. 

San Bartolme advised against thinking, “I can do this myself.”

For those struggling with a mental health disorder, San Bartolme also said, “Reach out to mental health programs.There are a lot of programs that are now available to everyone more than ever before.”

Long Beach City College also offers various resources for students struggling with their mental health, including individual therapy sessions. These resources can be viewed at https://www.lbcc.edu/mental-health-services. 
However, if you are having thoughts about harming yourself or other people, please call 911 or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).

Are park visitors afraid of COVID-19?

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Are park visitors afraid of COVID-19?

This year, COVID-19 entered everyone’s lives and the world has been in a panic ever since; malls, theme parks, sporting events, and even holidays have all been canceled/shut down. Yet, parks in the city of Long Beach remain open.

Take one stroll down to a local park and you will see it filled with many visitors, many in groups without a care in the world. 

One may think a place where so many people have the possibility of coming in close contact with each other would be a place to avoid. 

Still, parks like Scherer Park in Bixby Knolls and Silverado Park on Santa Fe Ave. have no shortage of visitors, many with the common understanding that the threat of visiting a park during a time like this is not a worry. 

Jogger Dalia Valles, visits the park around twice a week, mainly visiting for a jog around the park.

When asked if she had any fear about coming to the park she said, “Kind of, but not really. If I see somebody, I’ll just go around them.” 

She also said she doesn’t come to socialize or mingle with anyone, therefore, her fear is not great at all. 

Jogger does her usual runs at a local park during COVID. Photo by Edgar Jimenez.

Some park goers such as Rumil Legaspi take extra measures to protect others from the possibility of contracting COVID-19.

Legaspi said he does not visit the park without having been tested for COVID-19. On the day of the interview, he had tested negative for COVID-19 and decided to head to the basketball court for a game of pick-up basketball.

It was his first day shooting with other people and said, “Normally, if with my friends, we’d come together to the park and made sure we were negative.”

He also said he’d like to see more active engagement from city and park officials when it comes to making park visitors in Long Beach feel safer and more comfortable. “Maybe an app notifying which parks are allowed to open and test centers close to the park can help,” Legaspi said.

For now, it seems many park visitors are taking extra measures to ensure the possibility of contracting COVID-19 at their favorite park is close to zero.

Rally calls to end ICE and captivity

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Rally calls to end ICE and captivity

Protesters and community members gathered together calling for the end of captivity of immigrants during the End ICE rally and march at the Federal Building in Los Angeles on September 25.

The rally was hosted by the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America along with the organizations Idle No More Southern California, Freedom for Immigrants, and SoCal 350 Climate Action.

The rally was focused on the goal of ending the captivity of women and LGBT immigrants as well as abolishing ICE.

Participants are showing signs showing their displease of the treatment of migrants during the End ICE rally and march at the Federal building in Los Angeles on September 25, 2020. The event was organized by the Los angeles Chapter of Democratic Socialist of America which participated and hosted multiple events. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.

Prayers and a performance were held during the rally, including a chant along with Karla Estrada and Paula Kahn performing “El violador eres tu” in front of the building, demonstrating the blame placed on ICE and the federal government.

Protester Carla Duque said that no one should remain quiet, and she hopes there will be more younger voters who can change the fate of this nation and speak up to the situations they face.

“It’s just been too long and we have more time due to COVID-19 and loss of jobs to think about the things that are happening around you and we can’t just sit back and watch,” Duque said.

The rally started to march around the block between Los Angeles St. and Main St., with chants and banners showing displeasure towards the captivity and violence experienced by many immigrants.

Calif. State L.A. professor Leda Ramos was present at the rally, and spoke about sharing the forced sterilizations of women and her hope for change in this nation.

“It was so painful to hear the sterilization and the United States has been doing it since the 1920s. We know what eugenics is like, it’s genocide by sterilizing women without their consent and it’s inhumane,” Ramos said. 

The march concluded peacefully at Fletcher Bowron Square with a musical performance by the band Year of the Crow at the bridge on Temple Ave. 

Duque shared her thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and how she hoped to see change for the better.


“I’m really hoping that there will be more younger voters now, since more people show up than older people, and now with the momentum that’s going on, I hope this motivates more younger people to come out to vote and share their voice,” Duque said.

Participants in the rally is pointing on the federal building for the treatment of migrants during the End ICE rally and march at Los Angeles on march 25, 2020. The event was organized by the Los angeles Chapter of Democratic Socialist of America showing the displease of the treatment of women and LGBTQ migrants. Photo by Jorge Hernandez.

Students learn ways to support mental health through self-compassion

Caitlyn Thiele
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Students learn ways to support mental health through self-compassion

A Self-Compassion session was held as a virtual workshop on September 17 to help students develop positive thinking and self-care techniques.

Deborah Miller-Calvert, the Director of Student Health and Student Life, said that the Healthy Vikings initiative targets both physical and mental health needs for students.  

The workshop presented questions that led to vulnerability and unlocking the true definition of self-compassion, with the ultimate goal of staying positive during tough times. 

“Students balance a lot and work really hard, therefore they need to be compassionate with themselves. Take care of yourself, forgive yourself, and give yourself a break,”  Miller-Calvert said. 

Students can find that even taking 5 minutes out of their day to sit with their breath can be highly beneficial to their mental health. (Photo by Gabby Gliane)

“Be mindful and reflective,” said Miller-Calvert, advising students to take at least 15 minutes out of each morning to just be present and journal. As a journal entry, she recommended students write about five things they are grateful for. 

LBCC student Kathy Taing reflected on her definition of self-compassion and said she appreciates the workshops that aim to help with mental and emotional stress for students.

“Self-compassion means being kind to yourself even on your bad days where you feel like loving yourself a little less. It is important to love yourself fully and never doubt yourself,” Taing said. 

“What keeps me positive as a student are my friends and teachers who are very motivational and helpful when I am feeling down,” said Taing.

Taing said that she finds that workshops are necessary for those who may not have that access at home, and LBCC does a great job at providing those tools.

The workshop also suggested students give thanks and be thankful for anyone who has helped along an individual’s journey of self-love and self-compassion, emphasizing that this is a great tool to practice while uplifting others as well. 

The workshop also said that most importantly, it is best to offer yourself kindness and bring yourself to a peaceful state of mind where you feel the importance of positive words. 

Doing positive activities daily, taking deep breaths and visualizing yourself in a positive state was also advised to get the mind back on track and develop self-compassion.

A Latinx conversation with Gentefied actor J.J. Soria

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A Latinx conversation with Gentefied actor J.J. Soria

Long Beach City College celebrated Latinx Heritage Month on September 23 by hosting a Facebook Live with “Gentefied” actor J.J. Soria to discuss the struggles of Latinx communities in the Latinx culture, personal aspirations, and voting season. 

Dr. Mike Munoz, Vice President of LBCC Student Services moderated the afternoon discussion by opening with a warm “bienvenidos” or “welcome” to all, signifying a culturally inclusive event filled with Latinx pride.

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month is important to the LBCC community since “More than 56% of the student population identifies as Latinx, Chicano, and Hispanic” said Munoz. Latinx Month highlights the history, culture, and achievements of Latinx communities in the United States and around the world due to many Latinx diasporas.

The term Latinx is used to describe anyone with Latin American origin or descent that prefers to use gender neutral terms. 

According to Aug. 2020 Pew Research, only 3% of Latinos use the term Latinx, and the study estimates that Latinx might replace Latino in the future to represent the community at large. Latin America is considered not as progressive about LGBTQA movements compared to the United States; this is why only 3% of Latinos will use Latinx for now.

Latinx was a controversial subject in the Netflix series “Gentefied,” first released in Feb., and the series did not blur any lines to the realities that Latinos/Latinas face in their own culture. 

A clip reel from the Netflix hit series Gentefied. Source by Netflix 2020

Munoz asked J.J. Soria about Latino stereotypes in the media, and about the importance of diverse personification of Latinos in media besides machismo subculture.

Soria said, “I guess the feedback that I have gotten from the show, it’s really important, and resonates with a lot of males which doesn’t surprise me though. Because we are all human beings. The reason is maybe it’s that characters have been written that way, prior to serving the storyline. So, they don’t talk about the fact that this guy reads or cries.

“Cholos and gangsters are complex people. And I feel that men, Latinx men specifically, were taught to be macho, and you know, suck it up. That’s still part of me too, in my own head, suck it up, you have to be a man. I have to give myself the moments to be vulnerable, and not be ashamed of it. This character gives them permission.” 

Munoz’s daughter, Miranda Munoz further probed Soria in the Q&A panel and asked what ways he went against the machismo subculture in Latinx community. 

Soria said, “I myself, and I go against it by being transparent about it. I think culturally, we have been taught that nothing breaks me. I think breaking the normal is being honest of what fits best for you. There’s no agenda.” 

Mike Munoz replied that people must stop wearing social masks to fit other people’s ideas and create a better person for themselves.

Another Q&A participant by Familia Sanudo Escobedo questioned how Soria felt about being a minority in the entertainment industry versus non-minority actors. 

Going with the flow of things has been his motto to keep pushing from the adversities that he has faced in the industry.

Soria quoted Pastor Charles R. Swindoll by saying “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.” Whenever he feels negative about a situation, like the pandemic, he said he decided to take control of what he can control. Soria said he kept his mind focussed on gratitude, so he can manifest things that he wanted in his life. And that’s how he found himself on major movie sets by believing in himself during adversity.

“Look at life through a lens of gratitude and everything that matters will come into focus. I am not sure if it’s cultural. Traveling showed me that we are privileged, and we just focus on our hardships when things are tough. Because I keep my mind focused on gratitude it keeps me in a healthy mindset,” said Soria.

One of the last questions in the discussion was prompted by Que Beas on how Soria can encourage the Latinx community to vote during this election season. 

Mike Munoz said the election is a consequential time for the Latinx community, and asked what words of motivation would Soria give to those who can vote. 

Soria acknowledged the fact that a lot of people are indifferent about the election, because the news has many divided to think one way about certain topics. He said he agreed that politics can leave many overwhelmed, and that people who have the right to vote should make an impact for those who don’t have the same right.

“I can’t neglect my responsibility, because that’s just showing everyone else that they can neglect it too or thinking about it. I mean who is going to be voting? Well, I have to do my part to keep myself accountable. Read up on everyone and try to make the best decisions that I can,” Soria said.

The discussion had some powerful messages to the Latinx community about the responsibility to vote, how to cope with culture struggles, and personal aspirations. 

Also, Soria verified that “Gentefied” will return to Netflix for a second season, and will begin filming next year. Although the show will take a while to return, Soria said that it will be worth the wait. 

This discussion was only a kickoff event to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, said Mike Munoz, and more information on upcoming events can be found at  https://www.lbcc.edu/latinx. 

The Importance of the Labor Center at LBCC

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The Importance of the Labor Center at LBCC

Long Beach City College celebrated the grand opening of the Labor Center through a virtual ceremony and ribbon cutting on Thursday. The Long Beach Board of Trustees partnered with area labor unions, agencies, employers, and organizations to introduce the LBCC Labor Center. 

A lineup of speakers included labor activists Dolores Huerta, Maria Elena Durazo, Ron Herrera, and Ron Miller. 

The event kicked off with the president of Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees, Vivian Malauulu. 

She shared the significance of LBCC having this labor center. “It introduces our students to the benefits of union jobs. It exposes them to the many opportunities they have to apprentice programs, internships and actual employment,” she said. 

Pictured left to right are Long Beach Community College Board of Trustees President Vivian Malauulu, Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council Ron Miller, and Interim Superintendent Lou Ann Bynum / Photo Source by LBCC

The labor center aims to help teach students the value of labor, the history of the importance of being engaged in the collective bargaining process of this country and a great center for information.

The Board of Trustees along with interim Superintendent Lou Anne Bynum shared the benefits the students will have with the new labor center, such as introducing students to union pathways and informing students of the union application process. The labor center will also provide workshops about labor related topics. Topics include women in trade, history of labor and workshops that highlight a variety of industries that LBCC teaches. 

Maluulu then introduced Dolores Huerta, a civil rights activist and labor organizer. She is well known for building the United Farms Workers Union with Cesar Chavez in 1962.  Today, she is the Founder and President of the Dolores Huerta Foundation. 

She said she was excited for the labor center because of the importance of unions. 

Huerta said, “The working people are the majority of the people in the country,” explaining why the labor center is such an important part of our society. Working people need organizations like labor unions to represent them, not only on the job, but at the state capitol in Sacramento and at the U.S. Congres, to fight for legislation that will help working people, working families, and their organizations which are labor unions, said Huerta. 

Senator Maria Elena Durazo spoke about her work as a labor and union activist. “We need to protect our essential workers. If we’re gonna call them essential, let’s treat them as essential,” Durazo said. 

Durazo said she was thankful for the opening of the new labor center. She reminded the LBCC community that without unions there wouldn’t be eight-hour workdays, weekends off, paid vacation, health work insurance, and paid holidays, as just some of the benefits that unions have accomplished. 

Lastly, she said, “It is our duty to provide an equal playing field. With the union, the likelihood of that happening is greater.”

Ron Herrera, a labor union member for more than 40 years, spoke more about the importance of labor unions. Herrera is the President of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor. The organization represents more than 800,000 men and women in Los Angeles County. 

“Having a union is having a democracy in the workplace,” said Hererra, explaining that this helps to bargain for better wages and working conditions. Lastly, he said it is of importance to have the youth as part of organizing labor movements in their communities. 

The last speaker was Ron Miller, Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. This council is made up of 140,000 skilled and trained men and women of the affiliated locals. He said the LBCC Labor Center is just what the trades council needs to supplement their program. For example, the Joint Labor Management Apprenticeship program. Both labor and contractors decide curriculum for the program and working conditions. 

The Labor Center is available to help guide and educate students in the many industries of labor unions in California, such as a farm, sea and merchant labor, mechanists. 

Stay tuned for more updates on the Labor Center at Long Beach City College located at the Pacific Coast Campus. 
To watch the grand opening ceremony, click here.

Barbershops under pressure

connerrobbins
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Barbershops under pressure

Due to state government restrictions from the coronavirus, barbershops have been forced to shut down their establishments or follow new regulations, leading to serious financial struggles. 

How much longer this will continue for is a question still lingering in the inbox of policymakers and in Americans’ thoughts.

Hygiene is considered by most to be an especially crucial element to daily life, and getting a haircut is just as important for many.

One of the barbers still working under these conditions is 20-year-old Edwin Ocampo. Ocampo has been working for the past three years at New Generation Barbershop, located near the corner of Willow St. and Dawson Ave. in Signal Hill. 

Even though business has been great for New Generation, Ocampo has had financial troubles during the pandemic. He had a close encounter with unemployment due to regulations surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. State policies have already shut down their establishment once before due to health guidelines, Ocampo said.

Ocampo explained the fear and uncertainty he experienced and said, “[It] was scary not knowing if we would be able to pay rent or any other bills. Like I said, only if we got unemployment, but I mean that wasn’t a given so it was just scary, you know.”

When New Generation Barbershop reopened, it was surprising but welcome news for Ocampo and coworkers.

Another individual that was affected is Ebaristo Hernandez, who owns a barbershop in Cambodia Town called PELUQUERÍA Ebaristo’s SALA DE BELLEZA. The barbershop is compact, so they have had to do business outside of the shop. Outdoor haircuts like these have become commonplace for barbershops in Long Beach.

Outside view of Evaristo Hernandez’s closed barber shop building. Photo by Edgar Jimenez

Hernandez and his family have managed to survive off of credit cards while trying to keep his business afloat. Hernandez has had difficulties trying to get out of this situation, even being demanded by his bank to make the minimum payment for his credit cards.

Hernandez has been forced to adapt to the pandemic, with other shops in the area being closed down.

Recalling his typical workday under the new rules, he said, “Guidelines that the city gives us are to use alcohol as well as antibacterial sanitizer, constantly changing the layers the customers use during cuts and so forth. 100 percent of my customers have not had any problems in my shop. No one has expressed fear to me. That is because the proper equipment to keep my business clean and required by the city are always kept and used. What the law requires of us, what the beauty department requires of us.”

Because he’s following the state and local guidelines for his business, Hernandez said he thinks he doesn’t have much to worry about. 

Owner, Everisto Hernandez, is forced to cut customer’s hair in the parking lot of his barber shop. Photo by Edgar Jimenez
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