On the warm (let’s call it hot!) evening of Tuesday, Aug. 25, Confluence Rising (formerly the California Conference for Equality & Justice) hosted its annual Humanitarian Awards “Meet & Greet” get together at the home of Joyce and Hank Feldman. The heat didn’t dampen the spirits of the 30 or so attendees.
The Meet & Greet precedes the 62nd Annual Humanitarian Awards Celebration, which will take place on Nov. 5, at the Reef, where the organization hopes to raise $50,000 to support its mission to educate and empower youth and adults “to lead change for equity and justice in our communities.”
Speakers spoke briefly on the goals and past achievements of the organization.
This year’s honorees were also introduced: Long Beach City College Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz will receive the Confluence Rising Humanitarian Award; Sharon Diggs-Jackson, executive director of Elite Skills Development, will receive the 2026 Gene Lentzner Award; and Ralphs/Food 4 Less will receive the 2026 Building Bridges Award.
The intimate evening was attended by approximately 30 past honorees, past and current Board and Advisory Board members, donors, supporters, and community partners.
For more information, go to confluencerising.org/humanitarian.
Seen at the Scene: Confluence Rising Board members Jessica Pandya and Shireen Pavri; advisory board members Rosecarrie Brooks, Rashida Crutchfield, Rich Lipeles, Jim Zehmer, Mike Muñoz (honoree) and the evening’s host, Hank Feldman; and Julie Meenan, Michele Dobson, Keith Curry, Darick Simpson and Katrin Grauer.
News of Social events with charitable purposes may be sent to Shirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net. Please include a contact phone number. Send high-resolution jpeg photos, by attachment, to spwild@verizon.net and include group name and identification of individuals from left. Call Shirley at 562-594-9468 for more information.