A Long Beach grassroots organization will host a 5K run/walk this weekend to help bring the community together — and raise money to support youth in Long Beach.
The second annual Peace & Unity 5K Run and Walk will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way. Proceeds from the event will support We Got This LB Cares’ youth scholarship program, according to organizers.
We Got This LB Cares, which is hosting the run, is a community organization that is dedicated to outreach, education, and promoting and fostering the welfare of the Long Beach community, according to its website. Part of its mission is to engage, teach and promote healthy, supportive community interaction.
“For us, this walk is more than just a one-time event,” Lillian Parker, cofounder of the organization, said in an interview. “The meaning for us is to show unity and collaboration with the community.”
The run/walk also honors We Got This cofounder Darryl Smith and his death, Parker added. Smith started intervention work in 2010 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Central Long Beach and the organization is committed to continuing his work of supporting youth and families in the city.
We Got This invites the entire city to participate in the free event and make a donation that will help support the community. It has invited local youth from Washington Middle School and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach to participate and hold the torch for the race, Parker said.
As a grassroots organization, We Got This has partnered with Partners of Park as its financial partner to ensure donations get to local youth.
Last year, Long Beach grassroots organization We Got This LB Cares sponsored afterschool care and homework support for Long Beach youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, using proceeds from its inaugural Peace & Unity 5K. (Photo courtesy of We Got This LB Cares)
Last year, Long Beach grassroots organization We Got This LB Cares sponsored afterschool care and homework support for Long Beach youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, using proceeds from its inaugural Peace & Unity 5K. (Photo courtesy of We Got This LB Cares)
Long Beach grassroots organization We Got This LB Cares is hosting its 2nd annual Peace & Unity 5K on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Photo courtesy of We Got This LB Cares)
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Last year, Long Beach grassroots organization We Got This LB Cares sponsored afterschool care and homework support for Long Beach youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Long Beach, using proceeds from its inaugural Peace & Unity 5K. (Photo courtesy of We Got This LB Cares)
Last year, the organization donated the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, which helped about 40 families and youth access afterschool care and homework support, Parker said.
“We chose Boys & Girls Clubs to sponsor directly within our community; children to have memberships there,” Parker said. “This year, we have not selected the sponsorship yet, but those are the types of things we look at, how we can maximize whatever we’re giving to make an already proven resource even better.”
While people could donate directly to such organizations, Parkers added, the intention of the run/walk event is to also build community and continue growing the strength of collaboration throughout the city.
“We’re hopeful that the walk continues, honors the legacy of Darryl and continues to strengthen families,” she said. “We hope that it will spark others to collaborate to maximize resources for our city and for the families that live here.”
Participation is free, but online registration is required to attend the Peace & Unity 5K. Those interested can register at wegotthislbc.org/peaceandunity5k.