Rancho Los Cerritos is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary “the Long Beach way” and they’re inviting residents to take part through Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach.
While the historic rancho’s current exhibit “Seeds of Resilience,” on display for the remainder of the year, focuses on the historical contributions and resilience of the Mexican-American community, this activation will open that history up to all the communities who call Long Beach home. From the various Indigenous tribes that are native to the land, to refugee communities that built their own strongholds in the city, all are invited to participate.
Much like their exhibit, Rancho Los Cerritos wanted to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. However, they opted to look into the past “through a Long Beach lens,” allowing them to go beyond “a single starting point in American history,” said public relations consultant Sylvana Uribe.
“We ultimately want Long Beach residents to see themselves as part of telling these enduring histories and carrying these cultural practices and histories forward,” Uribe said.
Residents, artists, historians and organizations with ties to Long Beach can share the history of their family or community through a method of their own choosing such as performance, oral storytelling, art and more.
“Everyone has their history and a story to tell and maybe some communities weren’t in Long Beach 250 years ago; it doesn’t really matter,” said Rancho Los Cerritos Executive Director Alison Bruesehoff. “It’s about what their history is and what they stand for, where they came from, what it means to be their culture, their people, and to bring them all together.”
Those who want to submit an application to Rancho Los Cerritos can do so until July 10. If chosen, the person or group will share their presentation on Sept. 22 at the Civic Center Plaza in downtown Long Beach during Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach, an amalgamation of various cultural sounds, sights and stories. Participants must be available to present their historical project on Sept. 22 if chosen.
The decision to swap a Fourth of July celebration for a September event was not only to make the event more accessible to students, libraries and families, but to create distance from the holiday itself, Bruesehoff explained. July 4 highlights a specific period in American history that she said is often shared with a limited perspective.
“From some points of view, it was a really good moment in history, but other cultures are totally wiped out,” Bruesehoff said. “We’re a conquering country, and [when] we became the U.S., it didn’t exactly spell freedom or celebration for everyone 250 years ago. And so it’s a one sided history in our minds, from a historian point of view … There’s a lot of cultures, there’s a lot of people that make up America and everyone has made some contribution to what this country is. And all of those histories need to be recognized.”
Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach will also provide residents the opportunity to learn about other cultures from their own neighbors, and perhaps to see themselves in others’ histories. It’s the latest in a series of events tied to the “Seeds of Resilience” exhibit that has invited the community to learn their history hands-on, which so far has included a cooking demonstration and an archival image workshop.
This initiative is led by Rancho Los Cerritos and bolstered by partnerships with the Office of Mayor Rex Richardson, Rancho Los Alamitos, the Historical Society of Long Beach, the Ti’at Society, Long Beach Public Libraries, Long Beach Unified School District and the Arts Council for Long Beach.
Those who are interested in presenting at Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach can apply here through July 10. Participants may receive grant funding between $500 and $1,500. Funding for the grants comes out of a one-time $50,000 allocation that the City set aside to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America.
Seeds of Resilience: The Story of Long Beach will take place Sept. 22 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza (411 W. Ocean Blvd.).
