Long Beach has partnered with a state organization to launch a Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, focusing on creating community networks in the West and Central areas of the city.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor is led by California Volunteers, Office of the Governor and aims to encourage civic action and volunteering in underserved communities across the state. Long Beach’s Office of Climate Action and Sustainability will receive a $500,000 state grant to create the program.
The program is meant to create a network of volunteers and community organizations to identify and address challenges specific to each neighborhood. Additional goals are to mitigate community isolation, increase volunteering and improve social connectedness in neighborhoods.
“We are committed to activating our diverse neighborhoods and empowering our residents – especially local youth – to get involved and make a difference,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “We are proud to partner with California Volunteers and support their mission to build more connected, supportive and resilient neighborhoods and our Neighbor-to-Neighbor program will do just that right here in Long Beach.”
The program’s focus is to expand California’s existing volunteer infrastructure and bolster the statewide Neighbor-to-Neighbor network to recruit, train, equip and organize neighbors to address community needs. Long Beach is one of nine partner agencies selected through a statewide competitive process.
Through the program, the City will host networking and community engagement events, including movies in the park and block parties, and climate action activities such as neighborhood tree plantings and community science events. Additionally, the City will facilitate neighborhood surveys and workshops to set priorities and plan projects within the program’s scope.
“Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor partnership with the City of Long Beach will bring community members together to improve their neighborhoods, build connections and be better prepared for disasters,” said California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday in a public statement. “When neighbors are connected, communities thrive.”
More details on the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program will be posted at lbcity.info/n2n.
