Our History
In 1989, some of the City’s most influential and visionary stakeholders founded Leadership Long Beach. These founders envisioned the formation of a civic improvement program that would serve the community by educating and motivating leaders on issues important to the future and sustainability of Long Beach.
The alumni produced by the Leadership Long Beach program have shared experiences, a common network and a set of leadership principles that enable them to set imaginative, yet realistic goals, and meet them through coordinated and effective strategies.
Leadership Long Beach has four principled leadership programs
In 2014, Leadership Long Beach celebrated its 25th anniversary showcasing to the community the value and importance of its principled leadership programs and recognizing the contributions made by alumni. The organization increased its public visibility through participation in parades and festivals, demonstrated community service, and shared our history and the story of our alumni through multiple media outlets and platforms.
In April 2018, Leadership Long Beach accepted the prestigious Key to the City from Mayor Robert Garcia (LLBI ’03) and became the first nonprofit organization to receive the honor. Through 2018 and 2019, Leadership Long Beach celebrated its 30th Anniversary highlighting the inaugural class (1990), revived the popular ‘Putt Putt’ event in Bixby Knolls, and continued our principled leadership programs with full capacity cohorts with the Institute, Youth and Executive programs. With over 1,800 alumni, Leadership Long Beach continues to have its alumni serve the community through visible leadership positions in all sectors and at every level.
Leadership Timeline
May 1
Task Force Urges New Source for Leaders
Members of the Leadership Long Beach task force discuss their proposed training program with Long Be... Read more
August 10
Leadership Long Beach Class of 2005
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August 10
Leadership Long Beach Class of 2008
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October 10
Leadership Long Beach Class of 2009
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November 10
Leadership Long Beach Class of 2010
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December 10
Leadership Long Beach Class of 2011
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August 25
25th Institute Class
2013: Leadership Long Beach kicks off its 25th year and will welcome its 25th Institute Class, its 15th Youth program and will host a 25th year celebration in Spring 2014. Read more 
March 2
2016 Long Beach Elections Forum
For the April 2016 City of Long Beach elections, Leadership Long Beach once again hosted a Citywide ... Read more 
August 29
2016 LLB 'Amazing Race'
The Leadership Long Beach Class of 2017 participated in this year's LLB 'Amazing Race' through the s...Read more
August 29
2016 Community Welcome Reception
The community came for the introduction to the LLBI Class of 2017 at the Community Welcome Reception... Read more 
January 16
2017 MLK, Jr. Day of Service
Click here for event photos. For the city of Long Beach, the MLK National Day... Read more 
March 9
2017 Leadership Connections - March
With more than 75 people in attendance at the Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant on Monday, the Lead... Read more 
April 5
LLB Experience for Long Beach Rotarians
Past President Jill Rosenberg (LLBI '92) brought together a group of LLB alumni to lead a 'mini' LLB... Read more 
April 6
Executive Leadership Series 2017
The 2017 Executive Leadership Series began with nine executive leaders from business, civic and nonp... Read more 
April 29
RoboBowl V
On Saturday, April 29, Youth Leadership Long Beach Class of 2017 coordinated RoboBowl V, the fifth a... Read more 
May 11
Executive Leadership Series 2017 Graduation
The Executive Leadership Class of 2017 completed their six week program with a closing session and ... Read more 
June 5
2017 Project Presentations
The Leadership Long Beach Institute and Youth programs presented their projects to a gathering of 10...Read more
June 19
Institute Class of 2017 Graduation Celebration
On Monday, June 19th, Leadership Long Beach added 31 more participants to its alumni family with the...Read more
July 31
2017-18 LLB Board Induction
The 2017-18 LLB Board of Directors were inducted on Friday, July 28 at the home of the Honorable Jud... Read more 
August 28
2017 Amazing Race
With the sponsorship of Long Beach Yellow Cab, the LLBI Class of 2018 began first experience of Lea... Read more 
August 28
2017 LLB Community Welcome Reception
On Monday August 28 at Rancho Los Cerritos, the Leadership Long Beach Institute Class of 2018 was in... Read more 
October 8
Volunteering at the 2017 Long Beach Marathon
Thanks to the 50+ volunteers who came out early Sunday morning to help Leadership Long Beach at the ... Read more 
November 27
Fireside Chat with Dr. Lourdes Ramos
On Monday, November 27, Leadership Long Beach held a Fireside Chat with Dr. Lourdes Ramos, President... Read more 
January 15
2018 MLK Day of Service
Long Beach residents, family and friends of all ages made it a “Day On, not a Day Off,” on Mond... Read more 
February 15
LLB at 2018 CSULB Basketball Game
Nearly 100 people supported the fundraising event for Youth Leadership Long Beach by purchasing tick... Read more 
April 3
LLB Receives Key to the City
With nearly 100 alumni, friends and supporters in attendance, Leadership Long Beach became the first Read more 
May 22
2018 YLLB Graduation
Youth Leadership Long Beach Class of 2018 completed their program year with their graduation ceremon... Read more 
June 4
2018 Projects Presentation
The Leadership Long Beach Institute and Youth programs presented their projects to a gathering of 10... Read more 
June 20
2018 LLBI Graduation Ceremony & Dinner
On Monday, June 18 at the home of Pat Murphy (LLBI '03) near Virginia Country Club, alumni, family, ... Read more 
August 27
2018 Community Welcome Reception
On Monday August 27 at Rancho Los Cerritos, the Leadership Long Beach Institute Class of 2019 was in... Read more 
August 31
End of the Summer BBQ - LLB 30th Anniversary Experience
Over 70 people joined us for our End of the Summer BBQ at the home of Long Beach City Councilman Rex... Read more 
September 20
2018 Putt-Putt in the Knolls
Putt-Putt in the Knolls brought 150+ mini golf players to the 20 business locations in Bixby Knolls ... Read more 
October 25
2028 Summer Olympic Games preview by Mayor Garcia
On Thursday, October 25 at the Long Beach Petroleum Club in Bixby Knolls, Leadership Long Beach host Read more 
December 17
2018 Holiday Party
Great time at Looffs Lite-A-Line! Over 100 LLB alumni, family and friends attended the 2018 LLB Hol Read more 
May 9
2019 Executive Leadership Series Program
The 2019 Executive Leadership Series had the largest group of executives in the program's history. ... Read more 
June 8
30th Anniversary Celebration - Night of a Thousand Lights
Click here for full recap. On Saturday, June 8, 2019, Leadership Long Beach celebrated its 30th A... Read more 
August 28
2019 Community Welcome Reception
The Community Welcome Reception kicked off the 31st year of Leadership Long Beach with the introd... Read more 
October 13
Volunteers at the 2019 Jet Blue Long Beach Marathon
Nearly 50 volunteers showed up and served at the 7.5 Mile Water Station of the 2019 Jet Blue Long Be... Read more 
January 20
2020 Long Beach MLK Day of Service Morning Rally
For the 10th year, Leadership Long Beach has coordinated with city officials and sponsors to hold th... Read more 
March 11
2020 Leadership Connections - March
The Wine Bar was packed and event got crashed by a late arriving alumnus! After a successful class... Read more Leadership Projects
Each class forms project teams as part of the Leadership Long Beach experience. Class projects are an especially exciting aspect of Leadership Long Beach because it provides an opportunity for class participants to learn about group process. In the process, past classes have developed many beneficial community projects, some of which continue today.
The following Leadership Long Beach class projects are examples of success:
Midnight Basketball League (Class of 1994), an alternative sports program for young adult males, now under the auspices of the City of Long Beach’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine
Bricks by the Sea (Class of 1997) was a commemorative walkway built at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. The project team raised over $150,000 for youth educational programs at the Aquarium.
New Beginnings (Class of 1999), a seminar on life skills for women in recovery at the Flossie Lewis Recovery Center.
The “Enough is Enough” Community Dialogue on Youth & Gang Violence and its prevention in Long Beach (Class of 2005).
Healthy Kids Summit (Class of 2009):Team Awesome produced a Healthy Kids Summit to discuss the epidemic of childhood onset diabetes and obesity in our city.
Idea Fest (Class of 2014): Orizaba Park become a thriving “campus” for residents and businesses to exchange ideas, enjoy live music, sample foods from local restaurants and food trucks, and celebrate our city’s diversity. LLB created the opportunity for people to learn how they could activate their city in a new way with IdeaFest:LAB. Each IdeaFest:LAB is facilitated by local thinkers, creators, and community builders to allow discussions by all attendees on a specific subject.