Our vision is to see a GLBTQ culture in Long Beach, CA reinvented as one that embraces meaningful relationships, community partnership, and resident ownership of the city. Our mission is to catalyze a culture of trust, leadership, and life among the diverse communities of this city. Journey with us as we try to "connect and affect" with each other and our world!
Long Beach Pride has come and gone this past weekend as thousands of people came for the festival and parade. There were about 30,000 people who came on Saturday and about 40,000 - 50,000 people who came on Sunday (according to the Press Telegram).
posted by Eric @ 12:55 PM
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Pride weekend is going to be an awesome time of connecting with old and new friends. We're all going to celebrate at Hank's place this Saturday night, May 20th at 5:30pm to ?? so be sure to come on by! You'll get to hear more about Catalyst's vision for Long Beach, learn about how you can be a "community catalyst", and meet up with people from other groups! Bring some kind of potluck goodie, appetizer or dessert for everyone to munch on and if you like bring a beverage of your choice. We'll have a BBQ grill too if you want to bring some hot dogs.
posted by Eric @ 8:45 AM
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This month's 30 minute beach clean up at Belmont Shore is this Saturday, May 20th at 10:00am. It's the Saturday of Pride weekend so what better way to affect our community than to help clean it up! Everyone can spare a quick half hour to pick up some trash and connect with other kewl people who also care about the community. Get your trash bag and glove at 1 S. Granada, Long Beach, CA 90803. That's at the parking lot in front of Ripples at Ocean blvd. and Granada ave. We'll most likely go to brunch afterwards too at Royal Cup Coffee House and Gourmet Sandwiches at 10th & Redondo at around 11:00am. Be sure to connect with us!
posted by Eric @ 8:24 AM
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The Shoreline Frontrunners is having a Pride Run on Saturday, May 20th. It will start and finish at Junipero Parking lot beneath the Long Beach Museum of Art. They've got a 5K/10K run and walk. If you'd like to register or want more info, check out their site here.
posted by Eric @ 8:14 AM
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This year's Long Beach Pride theme is "I am. I belong." There's a packed schedule for the Festival on Saturday, May 20th and Sunday, May 21st so be sure to get your tickets ahead of time. Tickets are $20 and I got mine at the Center Long Beach. If you get it there, $1 will go towards the Center. There will be several stages at the Festival. You can check out the Festival Entertainment schedule and a map at Long Beach Pride's Web site.
posted by Eric @ 7:47 AM
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Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!
posted by Eric @ 9:49 AM
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Brad Shore sent word out that the next Champagne Sunday Brunch Bunch will be this coming Sunday, May 7th from 11:30am - 2:30pm at Gary Urban's house located at 326 Orizaba Ave. here in Long Beach. It'll be a great way to meet new friends (and everyone will be wearing nametags indicating 'partnered' or 'single' - *ahem* nice idea!). It's open to all men and women and there is typically well over 100 people that attend. Bring a hot/cold entree and champagne (or drink of your choice).
posted by Eric @ 12:51 PM
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It's finally up! The official Catalyst Long Beach Web site is up and running. I'll continue working on the site, adding photos here and there, but the information about the organization on each of the pages is pretty much up.
posted by Eric @ 10:41 PM
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I'm the founder/Executive Director of the Catalyst Network of Communities, a 501c3 non-profit social impact organization helping people and groups to connect, collaborate, and share resources. I established it in 2006.
Before that, in 2002 I was a co-founder of a faith-based non-profit called Kingdom Causes helping churches, church and lay leaders, and people of faith of diverse denominations to serve their city together. Then I began the journey of reconciling my faith and sexuality and eventually came out of the closet.
I've worked in the gay community. I've worked in the Christian community. I've worked in the gay Christian community. Now I work in THE community - helping to build bridges between diverse people and hopefully encouraging people along the journey of their own lives.
It's never about the answers we think we're seeking. It's always about the questions we are bold enough to ask ourselves. That is what truly shapes us.
