Local NAACP

The port director referred to Gatlin as a friend, mentor, and guide.

Seroka noted that the port has supported Juneteenth celebrations while creating jobs and opportunities before referencing the goods movement training campus the port announced in 2021.

Anyone unfamiliar with this town’s history, politics, and political figures could be forgiven for not knowing the person of the hour was Gatlin, a native of San Pedro, whose parents set down roots in this town more than 80 years ago. His grandparents arrived in San Pedro at least a decade prior.

Gatlin has been focused on increasing the number of Black workers on the Waterfront for at least 15 years, working behind the scenes, leaning hard on relationships forged and strengthened over six decades.

The day’s celebrations took place against the backdrop of Black History Month banners on Mesa Street from Third to Seventh Streets, which were put up on light poles ahead of the plaque unveiling. The inspiration for the idea came from Tyris Hatchett, a long-time crisis intervention worker at Toberman Neighborhood Center.

“We see banners put up for events relating to the Italian and Croatian American communities, we see banners for Dia del Muertos and we celebrate Juneteenth, but I would like to see us celebrate the contributions of Black people in San Pedro,” Hatchett said a few days before the Black history month festivities on Feb. 11. Hatchett was instrumental in organizing a resource fair at Toberman along with the Rev. Adam Stevenson and the San Pedro Committee Network.

Hatchett noted that many people don’t realize

News that more than 25 businesses and nonprofit organizations have confirmed to participate in the fair as of Feb. 2.

Restaurateur and civic leader John Papadakis; Mike Lansing, longtime director of the Boys and Girls Club; Retired Army general Peter Gravitt; Retired Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Douglas Barry; Port of Los Angeles executive director, Gene Seroka; Port of Long Beach executive director, Noel Hacegaba; County Supervisor Janice Hahn; Sherry Lopez, Juneteenth 400 committee board member; public safety emergency management deputy executive director and Los Angeles Port Police Chief Thomas Gazsi; LAPD Harbor Division, Captain Brett McGuire; Rev. Leo Thomas of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church; Julie Huerta and Sonia Bailey of the YWCA Harbor Area; and LAPD Chief Michel Moore, were among the honorees at the unveiling.

Community Announcements: Harbor Area

Details: https://tinyurl.com/business-improvement-grants

Two LB COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Clinics to Relocate and Expand Operations

As of Monday, Jan. 30, the City of Long Beachoperated COVID-19 testing and vaccine sites at both Long Beach City College locations (Veterans Stadium and Pacific Coast Campus) relocated and expanded operations to El Dorado Park Rec reation Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Park Central Facilities Center, offering additional pedi atric clinics and indoor services to be more ac commodating of the community’s current needs. Details: https://tinyurl.com/LB-COVID-clinicsexpand

Cal OES Released 2023 Funding Opportuni ties for Listos California Campaign

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services or Cal OES Feb. 9 released more than $15 million in local resilience grants. Through the Listos California program, Cal OES funds peer-topeer public education and outreach activities de signed to ensure communities can better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

The funding opportunities prioritize grants to communities that are both socially vulnerable and at high risk of being impacted by a fire, flood, earthquake, drought or extreme heat.

There are four grant types available:

Statewide Grants ($8 million), Target Grants ($6 million), Tribal Government Grants ($1 mil lion) and Community Emergency Response Teams Grants ($500,000).

Cal OES has developed a Frequently Asked Question document here: https://tinyurl.com/ Listos-CA-Grants-FAQ

Details: https://tinyurl.com/CA-grants-portal https://www.listoscalifornia.org/