Five community leaders were honored this week with Long Beach’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Maker Awards.
The city presents the peacemaker awards each year to those who have promoted compassion and created unity in Long Beach’s diverse communities. The council office for the Sixth District – which hosts the city’s annual MLK Day parade and celebration – selects the Peace Maker recipients each year.
The recipients were honored during the Tuesday, Jan. 22, City Council meeting.
“Thank you for joining us as we continue to honor the life, legacy and enduring vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro. “While we commemorated MLK Day just yesterday and had our celebration on Saturday, the call to live out Dr. King’s values does not end with one day of remembrance; it’s a responsibility we carry forward together.”
This year’s recipients were Marcus Hobbs, Dan Knapp, Venerable SaoSamkhan Ngim, Pat Dixon and James Suazo.
Long Beach honors the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Maker awardees during the Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, city council meeting. (Photo credit: Office of Council District 6)
Long Beach honors the grand marshals of the 38th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration during the Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, city council meeting. (Photo credit: Office of Council District 6)
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Long Beach honors the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Maker awardees during the Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, city council meeting. (Photo credit: Office of Council District 6)
Hobbs is a community leader, educator, and founder and executive director of Project X LB, a nonprofit dedicated to meeting people where they are and creating pathways toward healing, dignity and belonging. Project X LB began by providing free community laundry access through its Loads of Kindness initiative, supporting families experiencing financial hardship. Hobbs is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach and is getting his master’s degree in social work at Howard University, where his training is grounded in the Black perspective, emphasizing cultural wisdom, collective care and community-led solutions, said Saro, who read outloud Hobbs’ and the others’ biographies during the presentation.
Knapp has dedicated more than a decade to the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, where he currently serves as executive director and CEO, Saro said. Guided by a deep commitment to equity, service and community empowerment, Knapp leads a diverse and experienced team that ensures the organization remains mission-driven and responsive to community needs. His leadership helped the Conservation Corps of Long Beach reach and deepen its impact, particularly with young people from communities that need support and care to be on a pathway to success.
Ngim, who has lived in Wat Khemarak Buddhikarama, on Willow Street, since 2019, is a highly respected Buddhist monk and community leader whose lifelong dedication to spiritual practice exemplifies peace, compassion and service, Saro said. Through disciplined monastic practice and compassionate spiritual leadership, he has worked to uplift communities and foster harmony, justice and mutual respect. Ngim, who is committed to preserving Khmer Buddhist traditions, also extends his service beyond cultural and religious boundaries, promoting peace, nonviolence, intercultural understanding and social responsibility.
Dixon has more than 30 years of experience in the private foundation and nonprofit sector, and she has served for 27 years as executive director of California Aquatic Therapy and Wellness Center, better known as Pools of Hope. Under her leadership, the organization’s revenue has increased by more than 500%, while client participation has grown significantly beyond therapeutic aquatic programs. Pools of Hope now offers a wide range of wellness services, including a weekly food pantry, asthma screenings and education for thousands of children, and back-to-school and holiday events. Dixon’s leadership has positioned Pools of Hope as a premier provider of wellness services for underserved communities, advancing health, dignity and access for all, Saro said.
Suazo is a writer, organizer and abolitionist who has lived in Long Beach since 2011, and has dedicated more than a decade to grassroots organizing and community power building, the councilmember said. Suazo began organizing at the age of 18, advocating for public transportation access, and has since worked in housing, education, racial equity, racial justice, transit and justice reform for more than 11 years. Since 2021, he has served as the executive director for Long Beach Forward, leading community fundraising, leadership development and strategic planning.
During Tuesday’s meeting, grand marshals for the parade were also honored, including Bruce Brown, a community leader and recreation specialist with the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department; Local Hearts Foundation founder Tito Rodriguez; community leader and event producer Kimberly Benoit; community leader Erroll Parker, the cofounder of the African American Cultural Center of Long Beach; Equity and Human Relations Commissioner Robbie N. Butler; grassroots organization The SIX; Darick Simpson, president of the Miller Foundation; Asian and Pacific Islander community leader Mariko Kahn; and Vice Mayor Roberto Uranga and the Honorable Tonia Reyes Uranga.
Saro also thanked the MLK Advisory Committee, whose countless volunteer hours and behind-the-scenes work made this year’s parade and celebration possible.