CLIMB Central Long Beach, a community-based organization, is working to strengthen its namesake through leadership development, education, and neighborhood action.
Organizers bring residents, local organizations and partners together to address everyday challenges in their Central Long Beach neighborhoods, from safety and access to community connection and civic participation, according to its website. Their vision is for residents to feel safe, connected and empowered to shape the future of their community, which historically has been underserved.
“We’ve been around since 2011,” said Rocio Torres, president of CLIMB Central Long Beach, in an interview. “We operated under the name – that’s still our official name – AOC7 Organization.”
The official name came from the organization’s original boundaries – Anaheim Street, Orange Avenue, Cherry Avenue and Seventh Street. The group evolved and now does work across Central Long Beach, which is why they recently changed their name and rebranded, Torres said.
CLIMB stands for community, leadership, impact, movement and belonging. This new name reflects the organization’s commitment to community-led programs, neighborhood action, and inclusive engagement in central Long Beach, organizers said when they announced the new name in January.
This group of volunteers started with neighborhood cleanups and evolved to advocating for investments at MacArthur Park and even gun violence prevention.
They continue to work to make their neighborhoods safe and clean. Torres emphasized that beautification of their neighborhoods does not mean gentrification.
“We’re really trying to change our community, to be clean and safe and not push people out,” she said. “Our big thing is we can have beautification without gentrification. I grew up in this neighborhood; I’m in the house that I lived in my entire life. I chose to stay here, but it doesn’t mean that it’s easy for other people to stay if we’re pushing people out.”
CLIMB Central Long Beach is hosting a book drive through April 10 for its annual Literacy Fair, providing hundreds of children and families with free books. (Photo by Patrick Strattner, courtesy of CLIMB Central Long Beach)
CLIMB Central Long Beach is hosting a book drive through April 10 for its annual Literacy Fair, providing hundreds of children and families with free books. (Photo by Patrick Strattner, courtesy of CLIMB Central Long Beach)
CLIMB Central Long Beach is hosting a book drive through April 10 for its annual Literacy Fair, providing hundreds of children and families with free books. (Photo courtesy of CLIMB Central Long Beach)
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CLIMB Central Long Beach is hosting a book drive through April 10 for its annual Literacy Fair, providing hundreds of children and families with free books. (Photo by Patrick Strattner, courtesy of CLIMB Central Long Beach)
CLIMB Central Long Beach supports its community by providing programs and events that work to create pathways for residents to get involved, learn, and take action in their community. This includes monthly neighborhood cleanups focused on building community pride and safer public spaces, and community markets where families can select fresh produce and essential items at no cost.
The organization also recently held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Symposium, with workshops that focused on leadership development, advocacy, financial literacy, and community engagement, Torres said.
Another major event that CLIMB Central Long Beach hosts annually is its Literacy Fair, which promotes reading, learning and access to educational resources for youth and families. This year’s Literacy Fair will take place on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St.
“I wanted to make sure that we can bring the love of literacy and books to our community, and that’s how the Literacy Fair started,” Torres said. “If our youth have three books in their households, their mini-library in their household, books don’t become a foreign object, but they become a part of their lives.
“If you can read a book, then you can travel the world, learn about other people,” she added. “To me, reading is fundamental but it also opens up so many doors, and it gives you an understanding of other people and cultures.”
The group started with a couple of boxes of books but now expanded to receiving hundreds of books each year – thanks to community donations from community members and local organizations.
Last year, they received more than 30,000 books for the Literacy Fair and sent children home with bags of books that they hand-picked with their families. This year, they’re hoping to do the same with help from the Long Beach community.
Community members can help by making donations of gently used or new books to CLIMB Central Long Beach’s book drive now through April 10. The group has five drop-off locations throughout the city. Donated books will go to children aged 0 to 18 years old.
People can drop off book donations at Chase Banks at 3901 Atlantic Ave. and 5200 Second St.; Good Time, 1322 Coronado Ave.; Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion, 6509 Gundry Ave.; or at Cal State Long Beach’s Psychology Building, room 145.
Organizers have also partnered with Long Beach’s local bookstore, Casita Book Store, where community members can order books off their wish list. Not only can people support youth literacy, but they will also be supporting a local business, Torres said.
CLIMB Central Long Beach has also partnered with Centro CHA, Port of Long Beach, and the Community Development Department, which has provided the group grand funding to purchase books as well.
“It’s just a wonderful time to see the joy of a child’s face when they’re getting their first book,” Torres said.
If people are not able to donate books, there will also be other opportunities to volunteer with CLIMB Central Long Beach, from sorting through donated books to helping distribute books at the Literacy Fair.
People interested in making a difference in their community of Central Long Beach can also volunteer for the organization’s other events and programs, Torres said. More information can be found on their social media pages or by visiting their website at climbcentrallb.org.
“I truly believe, if people knew how much power they have in their own voice and that they’re not alone – if we work together, there’s more power,” Torres said. “Our voices are stronger when we really come together and advocate.”