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Kids and pets have a lot in common: they need patience, consistency and someone who shows up for them every single day. This month, we celebrate the people in Long Beach who do exactly that.
Wendi McLendon-Covey, the actress and comedian best known for her roles in “The Goldbergs”, “Reno 911” and “St. Denis Medical,” has quietly called Long Beach home her entire life with zero plans to leave. She sat down with Long Beach City Lifestyle to update us on what she’s been up to, but mostly to talk about her motley crew of rescue cats. Her philosophy on animals is simple and surprisingly universal: animals, like people, don’t like to be forced into things, and consent matters.
That philosophy finds a powerful echo at Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), a thoughtfully designed learning center for children on the spectrum. Through assentbased care, clinicians and behavior technicians at AST pay close attention to the signals children send and stop therapy the moment a child withdraws their comfort. Letting the child lead the way builds trust, the first and most important step to real progress.
In this edition, we explore what it looks like to love an animal without making a forever commitment — at least not right away. Our foster feature on Long Beach Animal Care Services reveals how a two-week break from the kennel can change an animal’s life, and occasionally the foster’s life right along with it. LBACS covers the costs for food, toys and any medical care, so the barrier to entry is low — and the rewards are anything but.
We also celebrate Westerly School of Long Beach, a private school that holds equally high standards for academics and personal development for its students and has built a community where every child is genuinely seen.
Finally, Alexander Fearing, a Long Beach Poly High School grad, closes out his childhood chapter with us as he heads to Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, carrying his family roots, music and Long Beach pride with him to Boston.
This issue is full of heart. We hope you feel it!
ATIRA RODRIGUEZ, PUBLISHER
August 2026
PUBLISHER
Atira Rodriguez | atira.rodriguez@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Stephanie Perez | stephanie.perez@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Nirav Solanki | mail@niravsolanki.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kate Karp, Alexander M. Fearing
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Ben Cope
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler Proverbs 3:5-6
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Women of Excellence & Small Business Grant Dinner, May 21st | 1: Kathryn Wells planned a beautiful evening in partnership with Tre Watson of Events on Pine. 2: Four “Women of Excellence” were honored and participated in a panel discussion moderated by Cheryl Vargas. 3: Outstanding Community Leader: Natalie Hale, founder and CEO of Media Partners Worldwide. 4: Women of Excellence is presented annually by the Women’s Business Council (board members pictured here). 5: Dr. Krushangi Patel presented Amanda Parsons Derosier (The Barre) with the City of Hope Small Business Grant. 6: Outstanding Woman in Education: Honoree Jerlene Tatum celebrated the evening with her four children. 7: Outstanding Woman in Business: Monica Goel, managing partner at TLD Law.
Congrats to Wendy Brown, who received the Ron Miller Service Award from the Estate Planning & Trust Council of Long Beach on June 4! The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated dedication and service to the estate planning industry, particularly through supporting older adults and their families. Recipients are honored for their professionalism, expertise and commitment to helping people navigate estate planning and related legal and financial matters.
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Bacari opened its Long Beach location in June at 5620 2nd St., taking over the former Michael’s on Naples space. The Venetian-inspired restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced small plates created by Chef Lior Hillel, along with wine, craft cocktails and beer. The new restaurant marks the 10th location for the family-owned restaurant group.
The Long Beach Amphitheater was rebranded as the F&M Bank Amphitheater of Long Beach on May 28 following a multi-year naming-rights agreement with the 119-year-old financial institution. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held June 4, ahead of the waterfront venue’s opening to a sold-out crowd of 11,000 on June 6. Snoop Dogg, the headliner, was presented with the Key to the City by Mayor Rex Richardson during the concert.
The actress and comedian sits down with us to talk about her rescue cats and why Long Beach remains home
ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE PEREZ | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Long Beach City Lifestyle: Where did your love for animals and pets begin? Did you have pets growing up, or did that come later in life?
WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY: I’ve always been an animal lover — I hated playing with dolls. It used to irritate me when people would give me dolls as a present because I preferred stuffed animals.
A cat wandered into our yard when I was in the first grade, and we took it in. The cat had kittens. We had to deal with the trauma of giving them away. We never bought a pet. We have never gone looking for a pet. They always just wander in with the cat distribution system.
I would love to have a dog at some point, but right now we’re doing what the universe is clearly telling us to do, which is take care of kitties.
LBCL: Can you tell us about some of your cats?
WENDI: Personality-wise, they’re all very different. One of our seniors is Harvey. He was chipped, and when we took him in to read the chip, he was 17. I think he came from a hoarder’s house nearby, and the woman died. He has a wonky eye and all this stuff, and it’s like, “We’re gonna take you in. No one’s gonna take this ancient kitty. So we’ll let him live out his days here.” He’s a love bug.
We have a tripod … one that was found on the freeway, and she is a cuddler and fighter. She lost her leg early; I don’t think she misses it. She can still climb on things, and she’s real feisty, and she can defend herself too against the others. She just sits on the bed with her queen energy and is like, “You can come to me. I will not go to you.”
My most dominant one, Butters, is quite a celebrity. He is very handsome and very photogenic, and loves people and loves compliments. So when we have people over, he plays host while the rest of them hide under the beds. But Butters is just like, if he could wear a smoking jacket and carry a glass of brandy around.
LBCL: How do you integrate them with your schedule?
WENDI: If my husband and I aren’t together and I’m at work, either he’s here or we have an assistant to take care of them, and so they’ve always got someone around. And if we’re gone for more than four hours, we’ll leave the TV on. They’re my whole heart. And yes, I have a trunk full of costumes for them. Do they like it? No, so I don’t push it, but sometimes a couple of them don’t mind it.
“We never bought a pet. We have never gone looking for a pet. They always just wander in with the cat distribution system … right now we’re doing what the universe is clearly telling us to do, which is take care of kitties.” “
LBCL: What’s something you’ve learned about caring for animals that’s really stuck with you?
WENDI: Animals, like people, don’t like to be forced into things. Consent is a big thing with animals as well, says the woman who just told you that I have a trunk full of costumes for them.
You need to treat them pretty much the way you want to be treated. If you pick up an animal and they’re actively pushing you away, put the animal down. Don’t try to force a connection that isn’t there.
Sit with the animal and just pick up on their vibes … and you know when you’ve met your soul animal too.
LBCL: Shifting from your animals to your roots, you were raised here. What are your earliest Long Beach memories?
WENDI: I love Long Beach so much that I’ve just never left. I didn’t go away to school. I literally never lived anywhere else.
We moved here from Bellflower when I was three. A realtor just knocked on my mom’s door one day and said, “I have a buyer for this house, and I have a house for you in Long Beach if you want to come look at it.” My mom wasn’t looking to move, but she was a young mom, and she said, “Okay.” They went, bought the house, and my parents still live there.
I went to Keller Elementary for three years, then my parents put me and my sister in private school. I went to Millikan High School and Long Beach City College … and dragged my college career out for a decade, finally graduating from Long Beach State.
I have such good memories of driving my convertible down Ocean Boulevard at sunset, blasting my music, thinking, “Boy, it just doesn’t get better than this,” going to Shoreline Village, taking field trips to the Queen Mary.
LBCL: You said you never left Long Beach. What keeps you rooted here instead of moving closer to Hollywood?
WENDI: I’m not gonna pretend that nostalgia doesn’t have a big impact, but I know if I need to blow off some steam, I can just go to Marine Stadium and walk a little stretch of beach.
My dad was a big water skier, so in the ’70s we’d go there rain or shine every weekend. I have such good memories of being on the water and having so much fun, literally five minutes from my house. It felt like a little vacation.
I love all the Duffy boats on the water. I love Naples at Christmas. I love the restaurants. It’s just home, you know. I love the different neighborhoods. I love that you can go from a real upscale neighborhood to a real artsy neighborhood to a real urban-looking neighborhood to, I mean, there are horses here too. So much that doesn’t go together, or shouldn’t go together, but it totally does. Yeah, I love it here. I’m never leaving, I hope. And I know some Hollywood people are figuring out how awesome this is, but I hope they stay away — this is our secret.
LBCL: What projects are you currently working on?
WENDI: Right now I’m on a show called “St. Denis Medical”, and we’ve been picked up for season three.
But I’ve also started a production company with my manager, who also lives in Long Beach, and we called it Strong Beach. We’re actively pitching projects, meeting writers and other producers and just trying to build a community of reliable people we can work with. We’re learning a lot right now.
LBCL: You’ve also had the opportunity to work with animals on set. What has that experience been like?
WENDI: On “The Goldbergs,” we had quite a few critters. We had a couple of snakes, which wasn’t my favorite, but you deal, and there were a couple of mini horses. We also had the family dog, Lucky. Any time you see something with an animal in it, trust and believe there is a stuffed animal that looks just like it that also sits in sometimes.
On “St. Denis Medical,” we had a stunt kitty that allegedly carried the plague — that was part of the storyline. I’m such a goon because I just want to snuggle everything, and it’s not appropriate when the animal is working.
On the corner of Willow Street and California Avenue, Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST) has turned an office space into an inviting learning center for autistic children.
This past March, the center expanded to a newly remodeled second floor, adding more areas for children to play and learn. The space now includes eight themed rooms, such as ocean and space, along with group areas so sessions feel fun and inviting.
For Brandon Whitfield, senior regional director who started working at AST in 2009, the heart of this work is in stories like his first client. The boy arrived wearing gloves to protect his hands, which he bit relentlessly. With time and many sessions, he no longer needed them.
“Being able to work with him and build a relationship and see that progress,” Brandon says, “[It] was really the selling point for me to say, hey, this is the career that I really want.”
For more than 20 years, AST has supported autistic individuals and their families, providing applied behavior analysis (ABA) in homes, schools, communities and centers across the country.
He notes that while the staff has different backgrounds, they share a strong connection to Long Beach.
ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE PEREZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIRAV SOLANKI AND PROVIDED BY AST
“Everybody that works here is local,” he says. “So there’s a local touch and care that goes to the treatment here because we are from the neighborhood, and so we care about the patients that we treat because they’re our neighbors.”
He believes a mix of experience, neighborhood roots and evolving practice is what sets AST apart from other providers. The organization shifted from traditional ABA therapy, which focused on drills and compliance, to more person-centered, assent-based care.
The staff pays close attention to how children show comfort and choice, especially when they do not use spoken language.
“It’s a level of, you know, making sure that the child is comfortable with what we’re doing, and making sure that we’re being very mindful of the various signs that a child may display to make sure that we know that they’re comfortable with us moving forward,” he says.
Therapists look for signs such as eye contact, leaning in, or reaching for a toy as cues that a child wants to keep going. He also emphasizes that this includes knowing when to stop.
“The moment that a child withdraws their assent, we stop with our treatment and we work to regain assent,” Brandon says.
This approach relies on regular check-ins and open conversations between families, supervisors and the behavior technicians who work with the children each day.
“It’s really the communication — I think it’s very important to go back and forth between all of us in like a little circle, and we try to keep each other updated as much as we can,” says Edith Dinarte, lead behavior technician.
Cristina Contreras, center director, joined AST in 2019 as a behavior technician (BT) and realized the job felt like a calling.
“I was able to figure out that this is what I loved to do, and I stayed,” she says.
The center’s culture is built on compassion for staff, children and families, and ABA therapy helps children build the skills for greater independence. Cristina points out that many parents share a simple goal for their children: independence, friendships and a happy life.
One of her favorite parts of working at the center is seeing that growth happen in real time.
“When we have goals around social skills or engaging with peers, you get to see them create friends and see them blossom as little humans — and it’s so wonderful,” she says.
Some of her most meaningful memories are what AST calls graduations, when a child and family no longer need services.
“I have had the luxury and the pleasure of having graduated a few clients,” she says. “... we have worked on their plan, we have met their goals, and the family and us have come to an agreement where we don’t believe services are needed anymore, and it’s such a wonderful experience.”
Each child gets a certificate of completion and a final session.
“We say, you know, we work to put ourselves out of work because our goal is that you don’t need us anymore,” Cristina says.
For BTs who have walked alongside those families for months or years, little moments can be just as powerful.
“A small moment would be seeing a child light up after months of radio silence and not wanting to see me, to then lighting up when they see me,” says AshleyTailor Thomas, a BT at the center. “Anything I do, I do it with love, and I know kids can read love.”
For more information on services offered at AST or to explore career opportunities, visit autismtherapies.com
FOSTERING MIGHT WORK FOR YOU AND AN ANIMAL NEEDING A SHELTER BREAK
Are you thinking about getting a dog but aren’t sure whether you can make any commitment other than unconditional, forever love? Fostering one might be a way to find out if you’re ready.
Dogs stuck in a kennel for weeks or months often experience kennel stress, which manifests in barking at passersby, wallto-wall pacing and jumping or spinning in the kennel. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) volunteers lovingly deal with the stress: they take the dogs to the play yard or the pup pool for socializing and playing; take long walks with them for stimulation, exercise and leash training; cuddle with them; and sometimes take them on one-to-one Fido Field Trips. These involve a car ride to the volunteer’s home, the dog beach, the Zoom Room, or anywhere that dogs can have fun. The trips often end with a stop at In-N-Out for a Pup Patty.
But at the literal end of the day, the dogs go back to the kennels, and it’s more waiting unless someone gives them a two-week break from the monotony. LBACS has a foster program whose purpose is to give the dogs the happy experience of knowing — or remembering — what it’s like to live in a loving home for a couple of weeks.
“Shelter environment isn’t the best for dogs, and they get generally stressed,” LBACS superintendent Alma Vera-Lima said. “So, the idea is to get them out for a time, especially the long-stay legends—dogs who have been in the shelter over a year.”
Vera-Lima said that besides giving the dog a vacation from the kennel, shelter staff and volunteers will get a better picture of what a dog is like in an actual home compared to life in the shelter. The dog’ll learn, too!
A kennel break isn’t the only benefit that a fostered dog gets. Recently, a big guy named Berkely was at Rosie’s Dog Beach with his foster and met a family from Arizona who fell in love with him. They came to the shelter shortly after to adopt him. Berkely’s now enjoying his day in the sun — lots of them.
Shelter staff and volunteers also foster animals. LBACS manager Dr. Melanie Wagner fostered “an Australian cattle dog with a splash of street mutt” and fell madly in love. Wagner adopted the dog, named her Maple, and now takes her to sheep-herding training to keep her busy. That dog is the maple of “Dr. Wags’” eye.
That’s called foster failing, in the most loving sense of the word. Maple herself may have her own foster failure — a shelter cat whom Wagner renamed Mumble. Mumble had a red bacterial deformity on his nose, but it’s healing nicely. The deformity is gone, but Mumble’s still there.
“I don’t know if he’ll ever leave because he and Maple are BFFs!” Wagner said.
Speaking of cats, LBACS also has a foster program for newborn kittens. Fosters bottle-feed newborns, monitor growth and save their little lives.
LBACS covers costs for food, toys and any medical care. Dogs need to be in the shelter for a minimum of 30 days to qualify for fostering. This doesn’t include puppies and popular purebreds such as French bulldogs, as they get adopted quickly.
If this sounds good, visit longbeach.gov/acs and click on the little circle that says foster. You’ll get all the information you need and an application link. The foster team will contact you and schedule an orientation. Once approved, the team will let you know when an animal that corresponds with your request is available. Then, get ready to give a doggie a break!
And if the dog asks real nicely to stay forever, yes, you may adopt them.
“Fosters have first dibs!” Vera-Lima said.
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HOW WESTERLY SCHOOL OF LONG BEACH CREATED A COMMUNITY UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Walk onto the Westerly School of Long Beach campus during one of its community events — say, the annual Holi Celebration, where students arrive in white and leave in color — and something becomes immediately clear. This is not your typical school gathering.
ARTICLE BY ATIRA RODRIGUEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY WESTERLY SCHOOL OF LONG BEACH
At Westerly, the sense of community extends well beyond the students — parents are just as much a part of the Wildcat family.
“It’s like a big family reunion,” says Amber Dickens, director of admission and enrollment. “Not all the people know one another, but by the end of the event, everyone is exchanging numbers and wanting to get together again.”
That feeling — vibrant, joy-filled and deeply intentional — is not accidental. It is the result of a school that has spent years building something most schools only talk about: a place where every family belongs, every culture is celebrated and every child is truly seen.
That vision is baked into the school’s core values, known by the acronym RISE: Rise to the Challenge, Imagine the Possibilities, Stand Together, and Every Voice is Heard.
Westerly draws families of diverse backgrounds from more than 30 zip codes across the greater Long Beach area, so its student body demographics reflect the full breadth of the city it calls home. But Head of School Rebecca Geary is quick to point out that diversity here runs deeper than numbers.
“I think that sometimes when you think about a small, close-knit community, you assume that you’re not going to be reflected,” Geary says. “What I see is that because we have such a diverse community — of all lived experiences — people know and see themselves. They also are exposed to and get to know a lot of different types of people, different types of families, which is very reflective of Long Beach but isn’t always reflective of other situations that you may find yourself [in].”
That standard of inclusivity and belonging doesn’t stay within the school’s walls. According to Dickens, the high schools their students go on to consistently report that Westerly graduates are the ones raising their hands, going to office hours and advocating for themselves and others. In a very real sense,
Westerly doesn’t just prepare students for what comes next. It sets the bar for how they expect to be seen, heard and valued for the rest of their lives — and perhaps more importantly, for how they see, hear and value others.
High standards apply equally to academics at Westerly. The program is built around inquiry-based learning, an approach that prioritizes curiosity and critical thinking over rote memorization — challenging students to ask questions, investigate problems and draw their own conclusions.
“The kids who would normally fly under the radar don’t,” Geary says. “Because we see that they’re either struggling or need more challenge and enrichment.”
Dickens echoes that sentiment. “It’s not just approaching every child the same — it’s knowing what they need and creating an environment for them to learn that is meeting them where they’re at.”
From a Latinx Heritage Month assembly where mariachi musicians greet arriving families to a Diwali celebration where students explore traditions behind the
CONTINUED
Hindu festival of lights, Westerly’s calendar reflects its commitment to belonging. During the school’s immersive Black History Month celebration, Dr. Michaelyn Thomas, a Black female rocket scientist, spoke to the students at the morning assembly. It was a moment Tiffany Starr, director of development, found particularly powerful.
“If they don’t see it, it’s harder for them to imagine it,” Starr says on the importance of representation.
The school’s production of “Legally Blonde” offered its own revelation. Starr was moved to tears watching a quiet eighth grader — a girl she rarely heard speak — take to the stage and deliver her lines into a microphone with confidence.
“At Westerly, every voice is heard,” Starr says. “And up until that point, I hadn’t really gotten a chance to hear hers.”
The moment that perhaps best captured the year, though, came at its very start. Another eighth-grader named Madison opened the school year performing Andra Day’s “Rise Up” — first for faculty and staff, then for the entire community at the opening assembly. She closed the year on stage with her fellow graduates this past June.
“To see how she’s grown,” Dickens says, “and to see how she’s taken those lyrics — she has risen.”
At Westerly School, the community doesn’t clock out at 3 p.m. After school hours, the Westerly Parent Association (WPA) serves as the connective tissue between families, with a network of WhatsApp groups organized by class, activity and committee, giving parents a real-time channel to stay connected.
Parents share homework photos, coordinate rides and organize group outings. When a parent can’t make it to a performance, someone else in the chat will offer to zoom in on their child’s face and capture the moment for them.
“It’s not just taking a picture of the whole performance,” Starr says. “I’m taking a picture like your mom would. You can lean on the community and know that we have you, and we have your child.”
Starr knows this community from both sides. She joined Westerly as a parent, rose through the WPA from room parent to president, then joined the staff as director of development in December 2024 — a testament to the gravitational pull this school has on the families it draws in.
What sets Westerly apart may be the small moments — the moments when faculty and staff help students solve everyday problems and remove barriers to their learning.
Students often wander into Dickens’ office not because they’re in trouble, but because they need someone. One day, a student told their teacher they needed to see Ms. Dickens. The reason: her hair was messed up and bothered her to the point that she couldn’t concentrate.
“In that moment, all she could think about was, I can’t get through the rest of my day.” Dickens sat her down and fixed her hair. “That was the way I was able to show up for that student,” she says.
Then there’s tea time — born when a couple of students spotted Dickens’ tea stash and asked if they could share it. Now it’s
a regular gathering for her middle school advisory groups — small cohorts of sixth- and seventh-graders come together to talk about friendships, feelings and navigating conflict. Dickens provides the tea and, more importantly, a safe space for the children to express themselves.
“They always ask for snacks,” Dickens laughs.
For parents standing at the threshold of this community, that’s exactly what Westerly School of Long Beach is asking them to do. Imagine what school could look like for your child. Imagine them walking into a place where they are welcomed for all of who they are, challenged to grow, and surrounded by a community that shows up for them in all the ways that matter.
Every voice, every role, every bow. Westerly’s Middle School production of the “Legally Blonde” musical was a showcase of talent, hard work and pure joy.
“From almost immediately when they start, the children are seen for who they are,” Geary says. “They’re welcomed and affirmed for all the gifts, talents and challenges they bring as individuals. And it is a sense of connection and community that not only the students feel, but the families feel.”
Trey Kennedy makes a living finding comedy in regular life. Marriage. Toddlers. Yoga pants. The Thursday-night scramble between school dropoffs, soccer practice, and whatever has to be done by morning. Twelve years in, it shows: millions of followers across every platform, three stand-up specials, a sold-out Relatable Tour, and a style of humor fans send each other captioned, “Are you watching me?” He delivers the kind of comedy that travels because everyone’s living some version of it.
Katie, his wife of six years, is a former biomedical engineer who also built a modeling career. She’s now raising their kids and co-hosting Correct Opinions alongside Trey — the show where the two of them swap takes on marriage, parenting, and whatever came up that week.
Trey has been at this longer than people realize. An Edmond, Oklahoma kid who grew up playing basketball described himself as a “shy kid who never thought he’d be an entertainer.” He started making videos while attending Oklahoma State University. After building millions of followers on Vine before the platform shut down, he gave himself six months on Instagram and Facebook to see whether he could rebuild from zero. He did. Stand-up soon followed. His first special, Are You For Real?, streams on YouTube; the second, Grow Up, on Amazon Prime; the third, built around the Relatable Tour, wrapped earlier this year. “I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now,” he says. A slow climb, made one bit at a time.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
JANIE
“I’ve been trying to be funny every week for like twelve years now.”
Most of what Trey writes lately starts in his own kitchen. Thomas is three and a half, and he is, in his father’s words, “a movie.” He narrates his own life from the moment his eyes open and mispronounces words in ways his parents now repeat to each other because no one else would believe them. His younger sister, Eva, is what Katie calls “the calm one.” With a third now in the mix, the Kennedys are officially outnumbered.
After six years of marriage, Trey and Katie have learned that the partnership runs best when it gets its own time on the calendar. So once a week, they leave the kids with a sitter and go out for coffee. “You need a system,” Katie says. “It’s about taking time to look each other in the eye. Not the kids. Not the cameras. Just each other.”
The same instinct shapes the work. Most of Trey’s trial and error happens onstage or on Instagram, but the first read is always Katie’s. “There’s only been one time ever I’ve had to be like, ‘you’re not doing that,’” she says. The rest of the time, she just laughs first.
FEATURING TREY & KATIE KENNEDY
Trey and Katie talk about marriage, parenting, and the moments that don’t make the Instagram feed.
Watch or listen to the full conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
How family, community and music shaped my journey from Poly High to Berklee College of Music
ARTICLE BY ALEXANDER M. FEARING PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
This spring, I graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School and made one of the biggest decisions of my life. I chose to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston after receiving a full tuition scholarship. I was also accepted to UC Berkeley, and I feel incredibly grateful for both opportunities.
“My family, my community and everything I have learned along the way will always be part of my story.”
In the end, music has always been my passion, and Berklee felt like the place where I could keep growing as a musician and as a person.
It is hard for me to remember a time when music was not part of my life. I started playing by ear when I was very young and would spend time at the piano trying to figure out songs I loved. Before formal lessons, I was already exploring melodies on my own. I began classical piano studies at age 11 and later added jazz piano at 17, which opened up a whole new way of thinking about music.
Music has always been close to my family. My father, Charles Julian Fearing, is a professional guitarist whose career includes recording on more than 250 gold and platinum records. He began touring at 17 with Barry White and learned from some of the world’s best musicians. At home, he was my first mentor. Even though he never formally taught music,
he guided me with patience, honesty and a focus on listening and discipline. A lot of what I know started with those moments at home.
One of the biggest moments for me this year was auditioning for Berklee with a Chopin Polonaise. When I found out I had been accepted and received a full scholarship, I felt a mix of excitement and gratitude. It felt like years of practice and support from my family had led to that moment.
At Poly High, I worked hard in school, served as captain of the tennis team and helped win a Moore League Doubles Championship. I also performed in jazz band, earned music honors and participated in the Jackrabbit Pageant, where I performed “Dizzy Fingers” and was named Most Talented.
I also grew a lot through the YMCA of Greater Long Beach’s Youth and Government program.
That experience helped me understand how to think about bigger issues, listen to different perspectives and feel more confident speaking up for what I believe in. It also helped shape how I see the world beyond music and sports.
Outside of school, I work at Long Beach Creamery with my older brother JJ. We also play basketball together and spend a lot of time with family.
My Puerto Rican heritage is also a big part of who I am. I have been able to travel to the island and connect more deeply with my roots. Family gatherings often turn into music sessions where we play everything from classical to jazz to Bad Bunny songs. Those moments mean a lot to me.
In our family, we talk about SFC, which stands for Strength, Family, and Connection. Those words really describe how we got through both the good times and hard times together.
My mom, Andrea Marisol Sulsona, often reminds me of that. She is a cancer survivor, a UCLA graduate, and vice president of development at the YMCA of Greater Long Beach. She has always shown me what strength and perseverance look like.
She says, “We have leaned on strength, family, and connection through everything life has brought us. Music has always been the thread that ties it together. Watching Alex pursue his dream at Berklee is the realization of years of dedication, perseverance and love.”
As I get ready to leave Long Beach for Boston, I know I am carrying all of that with me. My family, my community and everything I have learned along the way will always be part of my story.
BY
Looking for a fun, easy and creative way to help those in need celebrate their special day? Put together a Birthday in a Box! The main element is a birthday cake, and the best part is that no perishable items are needed; all you need is one can of lemon-lime soda to take the place of the oil, water and eggs.
And what is a birthday celebration without decorations? Get the kids to help decide what fun party decorations to include – think candles, banners, confetti, ribbon and more. These are great to make in batches when items are on sale at the grocery store. Stock up and make someone’s day!
Collect all materials. Makes one Birthday in a Box.
• 1 Box of cake mix
• 1 Container of frosting
• 1 Can of lemon-lime soda
• 1 Disposable 9x13 aluminum baking pan with lid
• Cardstock or heavy paper, for baking directions and note (printed or handwritten)
• Party decorations of choice, including candles
Gather cake mix, container of frosting, can of lemon-lime soda, aluminum baking pan with lid and party decorations. Carefully place each item in the bottom of the baking pan, ensuring everything fits snugly.
Print or handwrite the instructions on cardstock, letting the recipient know to replace the oil, eggs and water with the can of lemon-lime soda, following the directions on the back of the cake mix box. You can also include a birthday wish.
Once all the items are in the pan, secure the lid and tie the package with a ribbon for an added festive touch. Deliver to your favorite food pantry.
Include candles; balloons; a birthday banner; noisemakers; a blank card for friends and family to sign; a small, gender-neutral gift or a gift card; birthday-themed paper plates and napkins. You don’t have to make each box the same –choose a different cake mix and frosting flavor for each box!
Collect your essentials and special decorations
2. PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Place each element in the baking pan, including directions, and cover with the lid
3. TIME TO DELIVER
Collect your birthday cake boxes together and drop it at your favorite food pantry
AUGUST 4TH
Paws on the Promenade
Dog Haus Biergarten | 6:00 PM
This dog-friendly meetup takes place the first Tuesday of every month, inviting guests to bring their pups for a group walk through Downtown Long Beach. It’s a fun way for dogs to socialize, meet new friends and for owners to connect with fellow dog lovers in the community.
AUGUST 7TH – 9TH
Midsummer Scream
Long Beach Convention Center
A summer weekend brings a full lineup of Halloween chills and thrills. Shop 350 vendors, preview upcoming events and attractions, and enjoy panels, presentations and performances from horror entertainment companies. Guests can also explore more than a dozen haunted attractions in the massive Hall of Shadows. For tickets, visit midsummerscream.org
AUGUST 13TH
Cool Crafts Roundup
Rancho Los Alamitos | 1:30 PM
At Cool Crafts Roundup at Rancho Los Alamitos, kids and adults can hear stories and create crafts inspired by the environment around the Rancho. The activities encourage creativity and offer different perspectives through art and storytelling. Admission is free, reservations are not required, and guests may drop in at any time.
AUGUST 16TH
Autism Families Morning
Aquarium of the Pacific | 7:00 AM
Join the Aquarium of the Pacific for a special morning designed for families with children or adults with autism. Opening at 7 a.m., the event offers guests an opportunity to enjoy the Aquarium’s exhibits in a quieter setting and meet more than 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean. Lorikeet Forest will be closed during the event.
AUGUST 19TH – 20TH
2nd Street | 5:30 PM
Belmont Shore’s popular summer Stroll and Savor features more than 30 restaurants offering menu samples, along with deals and discounts from local retailers. Guests can walk along Second Street while enjoying food, shopping and live music from local musicians. The family-friendly event also welcomes dogs, with treats available for pets. Tickets may be purchased beginning at 4 p.m. on the day of the event.
AUGUST 23RD
Shoreline Aquatic Park | 7:30 AM
The inaugural Shoreline Park Half Marathon takes place Aug. 23 along the Long Beach waterfront, with half marathon, 10K and 5K races beginning at Shoreline Aquatic Park. The mostly flat, walker-friendly course features ocean views and sights of the Queen Mary, creating a scenic backdrop for runners of all levels. Participants receive finisher medals, event swag and post-race snacks, with awards presented across multiple divisions.
