(May 21, 2009) On Monday evening, Assemblymember Warren Furutani recognized the NLB Community Action Group for their achievement in being named 2008 Neighborhood of the Year by Neighborhoods USA.
Dan Pressburg accepts award from Assemblymember Warren Furutani. Photo Credit: Jim Lewis.
Dan Pressburg, CAG Vice-President, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The award was presented by Furutani at a dinner hosted by the Long Beach Chamber during an advocacy trip to Sacramento. Attending along with Chamber members and guests were Senators Rod Wright and Alan Lowenthal, and Assemblymenber Bonnie Lowenthal.
CAG received the 2008 Neighborhood of the Year title for their NLB History Project focusing on documenting and archiving the history of North Long Beach. The recognition by Assemblymember Furutani capped a busy year, during which the group has also been recognized by the City of Long Beach and LA County Supervisor Don Knabe.
NLB Community Action Group named Neighborhood of the Year.
(May 28, 2008) The volunteer North Long Beach Community Action Group (NLB CAG) on Friday, May 23rd won the national "Neighborhood of the Year" Grand Prize for documenting the history of North Long Beach since 1924, when the area was annexed to the City of Long Beach.
The NLB CAG was the first Long Beach neighborhood organization to win the Grand Prize, the highest honor awarded by Neighborhoods, USA at its annual conference, held this year in Hampton, Va. In addition, the NLB CAG also won first prize in the "Social Revitalization" category. A total of 15 finalist cities in three categories vied for the Grand Prize award.
"I am very proud of North Long Beach for several reasons, and now the whole community as well as future generations will have this wonderful opportunity to experience the ‘Top of the Town’ from such a unique perspective," said Councilmember Val Lerch, who represents the 9th District and helped found the NLB CAG in 1992.
"This prestigious award is a shining example of how neighborhoods are strengthened when the community comes together to preserve its heritage," said Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who represents the 8th District. "Historical projects like this have the added benefit of laying the groundwork for the future of this great City. I'm extremely proud of our Eighth District residents who represented the City with honor."
The history project collected and preserved historical and cultural elements, newspaper articles, photographs, oral history interviews and family stories from longtime members of early families. Celebrations are being planned in North Long Beach to allow the community an opportunity to see NLB CAG present its project.
"ItÂ’s the most incredible feeling for our neighborhood to be recognized in Long Beach, much less nationally," said Laurie C. Angel, NLB CAG President and a North Long Beach resident since 1989. "Maybe weÂ’ll help to set an example for neighborhoods throughout the country to undertake history projects to bring pride and recognition to their community."
Working with Ms. Angel on the project were Dr. Kaye Briegel, T. Beth Hall, Linda Ivers and Dan Pressburg.
The History project created a North Long Beach Archive for integration into the collection of the Historical Society of Long Beach (HSLB), which recently moved to Bixby Knolls. The projectÂ’s ongoing focus is to document the history, people and important cultural elements of the North Long Beach community, to create and sustain a more fulfilling and positive sense of community and interest in North Long Beach.
In March 2006, Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association awarded NLB CAG a $10,000 grant to fund a historical survey of the targeted redevelopment sites in NLB and to create a NLB Archive for HSLB. (The LBNMHA exists for the purpose of historic preservation as a result of the federal government relinquishing control of the Long Beach Navy Base, and its subsequent demolition.)
Neighborhoods, USA is a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations.
