Latest news with #LBCC
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN URBAN PLANNING
LBCC is the First in the State to Offer this Degree Long Beach, CA, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nearly one year ago, Long Beach City College (LBCC) launched the first Urban Planning associate degree in the California Community Colleges system, through a new partnership with Cal Poly Pomona. 'Our new Associate Degree in Urban Planning reflects Long Beach City College's commitment to shaping equitable and sustainable communities,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, Long Beach City College Board of Trustees President. 'By equipping students with the modern tools to address land use, climate resiliency, and urban revitalization, we're preparing the next generation of leaders to design better cities of the future.' 'Our new Urban Planning program underscores how LBCC is a college where lives are transformed and students are uplifted, as urban and regional planners in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Orange County metropolitan area are earning an average salary of more than $111,000 annually,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, Long Beach City College Superintendent-President. 'Graduates from widely diverse backgrounds will be equipped to contribute to sustainable and resilient community planning and are literally building the future.' The program was developed in consultation with the Long Beach Community Design Center, a non-profit comprised of leading area urban planners, architects, and representatives from Cal Poly Pomona. The new curriculum focuses on the skills needed for entry-level roles in planning agencies or consultancies. Those completing the program will have a solid foundation in urban design skills, land use planning, and government policy-making while learning to tackle planning challenges using industry-standard GIS software and understand the socioeconomic aspects of urban development. Among the required courses are Urban Dynamics – American Cities; Urbanscapes & Cultures; Research Methodologies for Design; Intro to Geographic Information Systems; and Urban Design Studies. As part of the new degree pathway, the Urban Planning & Design Internship Program was also launched by the Long Beach Community Design and the City of Long Beach to give students real-world experience in shaping the built environment. Through curated activities, events, and project-based experiences, students engage with professionals in the field, gain insight into urban planning best practices and techniques, build industry-relevant skills, and form meaningful mentorship connections. Interns were hosted across the private sector, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of urban planning and design work. The first cohort included 10 undergraduate students from LBCC, CSU Long Beach, UCLA, UC Irvine, and Cal Poly Pomona, majoring in architecture, urban planning, urban studies, environmental science, geography, and civil engineering. David Salazar, Long Beach Community Design Center's founder and executive director, was among those whose efforts were paramount in developing the new program. 'The ground-breaking Associate of Science Degree in Urban Planning at LBCC, along with a pathway to Cal Poly Pomona, is an exceptional opportunity for the youth of Long Beach to pursue a career in a field that can improve the quality of life in their communities,' Salazar said. 'This unique partnership provides young planners with a clear path to establishing a successful career in urban planning, where their voice and perspective are vital.' Dr. Leslie Forehand, an LBCC architecture professor who played a key role in developing the program, agreed. 'This achievement not only elevates our students' academic journeys but also ensures that our community is shaped by the very minds we nurture,' she said. 'It's a significant step towards a future where our community's growth and planning are driven by its own educated, empowered members.' Dr. Gwen H. Urey, emeritus professor at Cal Poly Pomona's Department of Urban and Regional Planning added, 'LBCC's new Associate of Science Degree in Urban Planning degree is a model for planning education at the community college level. The Department of Urban & Regional Planning at Cal Poly Pomona celebrates this achievement and anticipates welcoming its graduates into our accredited Bachelor of Science program, which they will be able to complete in two years.' The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects approximately 3,700 openings nationally for urban and regional planners each year, on average, over the decade, with many of those openings expected to replace those who retire or transfer to other occupations. More than 2,000 of the nearly 43,000 urban and regional planners working in the United States are employed in the region. # # # About Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of over 35,000 students each semester and serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. LBCC promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information about Long Beach City College. CONTACT: Stacey Toda Long Beach City College 5629384004 stoda@
Business Upturn
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Upturn
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Long Beach, CA, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Long Beach City College (LBCC) Visual & Media Arts Co-Department Head and Professor of Drawing and Painting, Carolyn Castaño, has been awarded the highly prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for 2025, which marks the program's 100th anniversary year. She was recognized in the field of Fine Arts for her prior exceptional achievements as well as her future promise. 'This recognition is a powerful reminder of the caliber of faculty we are fortunate to have at Long Beach City College,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. 'Professor Castaño's selection as a Guggenheim Fellow reflects the high level of talent, dedication, and scholarly excellence within our teaching ranks. Her achievements demonstrate what's possible at a community college and shine a national spotlight on the incredible work at LBCC.' 'It's not often that a community college faculty member receives this kind of national recognition, and that's exactly why Professor Castaño's Guggenheim Fellowship is so meaningful for our students,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President. 'Her achievement sends a powerful message that excellence knows no boundaries — and that students at Long Beach City College are learning from some of the most talented, visionary educators in the country.' First awarded in 1925, Guggenheim Fellowships offer support to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form. Each Fellow receives a monetary stipend up to $90,000 to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions. This 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows includes 198 distinguished individuals working across 53 disciplines, chosen through a rigorous application and peer review process from a pool of nearly 3,500 applicants. Professor Castaño was one of just 32 recipients awarded in Fine Arts. 'I'm very honored to have received the 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship Award and thrilled to be in the company of my thoughtful and talented colleagues in the arts,' said Professor Castaño. 'I'm looking forward to bringing the fruits of my research and the subsequent work to my Long Beach City College students, who continue to inspire me to stretch as an artist and a teacher.' Professor Castaño is a Colombian-American visual artist based in Los Angeles whose practice focuses on painting, drawing, video, and mixed-media installations with themes and images originating in Latin and South America. Her work, exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, uses eco-feminist frameworks in painting, installation, video, and artist books to explore the landscape, migration, female and family identities in works that juxtapose drawing, photography, and performance with patterns found in textiles, design, and geometric abstraction. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master's in Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Art and Architecture. She became a full-time instructor for LBCC in 2015. In addition to this fellowship, Professor Castaño is also the recipient of the 2013 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting and Drawing, the 2011 California Community Foundation Getty Fellow Mid-Career Grant, and the 2011 C.O.L.A.-City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship. To learn more about the Guggenheim Foundation and to see the full list of 2025 Fellows, please visit # # # About Long Beach City College Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education program's primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information on Long Beach City College. Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE PROFESSOR RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP
Professor Carolyn Castaño Joins the 2025 Centennial Class of Fine Arts Fellows Carolyn Castaño Long Beach, CA, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long Beach City College (LBCC) Visual & Media Arts Co-Department Head and Professor of Drawing and Painting, Carolyn Castaño, has been awarded the highly prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for 2025, which marks the program's 100th anniversary year. She was recognized in the field of Fine Arts for her prior exceptional achievements as well as her future promise. 'This recognition is a powerful reminder of the caliber of faculty we are fortunate to have at Long Beach City College,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. 'Professor Castaño's selection as a Guggenheim Fellow reflects the high level of talent, dedication, and scholarly excellence within our teaching ranks. Her achievements demonstrate what's possible at a community college and shine a national spotlight on the incredible work at LBCC.' 'It's not often that a community college faculty member receives this kind of national recognition, and that's exactly why Professor Castaño's Guggenheim Fellowship is so meaningful for our students,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC Superintendent-President. 'Her achievement sends a powerful message that excellence knows no boundaries — and that students at Long Beach City College are learning from some of the most talented, visionary educators in the country.' First awarded in 1925, Guggenheim Fellowships offer support to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form. Each Fellow receives a monetary stipend up to $90,000 to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions. This 100th class of Guggenheim Fellows includes 198 distinguished individuals working across 53 disciplines, chosen through a rigorous application and peer review process from a pool of nearly 3,500 applicants. Professor Castaño was one of just 32 recipients awarded in Fine Arts. 'I'm very honored to have received the 2025 Guggenheim Fellowship Award and thrilled to be in the company of my thoughtful and talented colleagues in the arts,' said Professor Castaño. 'I'm looking forward to bringing the fruits of my research and the subsequent work to my Long Beach City College students, who continue to inspire me to stretch as an artist and a teacher.' Professor Castaño is a Colombian-American visual artist based in Los Angeles whose practice focuses on painting, drawing, video, and mixed-media installations with themes and images originating in Latin and South America. Her work, exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally, uses eco-feminist frameworks in painting, installation, video, and artist books to explore the landscape, migration, female and family identities in works that juxtapose drawing, photography, and performance with patterns found in textiles, design, and geometric abstraction. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute and a Master's in Fine Arts from the UCLA School of Art and Architecture. She became a full-time instructor for LBCC in 2015. In addition to this fellowship, Professor Castaño is also the recipient of the 2013 Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Painting and Drawing, the 2011 California Community Foundation Getty Fellow Mid-Career Grant, and the 2011 C.O.L.A.-City of Los Angeles Individual Artist Fellowship. To learn more about the Guggenheim Foundation and to see the full list of 2025 Fellows, please visit # # # About Long Beach City College Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education program's primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information on Long Beach City College. Attachment Carolyn Castaño CONTACT: Stacey Toda Long Beach City College 5629384004 stoda@ in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
‘Earn and Learn' Skilled Trades Programs for L.A. High Schoolers
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hundreds of L.A. area high school students will get paid and earn valuable industry credentials in construction, welding and other skilled trades this summer through support from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools' L.A. County Skilled Trades Summers program. The education and training can help meet the region's enormous workforce demands to rebuild communities devastated by January's wildfires and address the shortage of housing and other infrastructure needs. More than 600 students, a nearly 50% increase over last summer, are set to benefit from the program. Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, the flagship program of The Smidt Foundation, aims to increase opportunities for high school students to learn the skilled trades. Building on four years of success, the L.A. County Skilled Trades Summers program has grown to include 10 partners in 2025 and deepened existing relationships with schools, community organizations and industry. 'There is a strong and growing demand – from students, parents, industry, and Angelenos overall – to give young people the opportunity to graduate from high school with the necessary skills to begin careers in the skilled trades,' said Danny Corwin, Executive Director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. Over the last few decades, skilled trades classes have largely been removed from most L.A. County high schools. Today, fewer than one in five public high schools in the county offer any type of skilled trades education. To help address the near elimination of these classes locally, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools launched L.A. County Skilled Trades Summers in 2021. The program, which has supported over 1,500 high school students, aims to introduce high schoolers to rewarding careers in high-demand industries and give them foundational skills for success before they graduate from high school. Starting June 2, students will participate in programs, up to eight weeks in duration, with hands-on instruction in welding, construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, auto service, advanced manufacturing, solar installation, building inspection or industrial fabrication. For the first time, community colleges – Pasadena City College (PCC) and Long Beach City College (LBCC) – are partnering with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools and delivering new skilled trades programming for high school students. PCC is establishing its program following the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Sierra Madre, and Pasadena, jumpstarting the training of 80 local high school students with skills that are critical to the rebuilding effort. LBCC is partnering with the Port of Long Beach and IBEW, the electrical workers union, to offer 25 high school students an eight week-long course. The LBCC program expands Harbor Freight Tools for Schools' footprint in the port communities, where longtime partners Port of Los Angeles High School and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor have established the two largest summer programs. After a successful 2024 pilot program at the Jordan Downs affordable housing community in Watts, BRIDGE Housing is more than doubling enrollment in its program this summer to 40 high school students from Jordan Downs and its new Evermont community, also in South L.A. The program now includes industry certifications upon completion. Other new developments for summer 2025 include the addition of a program at Bell High School, the first Los Angeles Unified School District site. Fifteen students will complete a construction pilot, refurbishing a clubhouse on school property, and receive high school credit towards graduation. At Artesia High School, this returning summer partner will collaborate with the Southeast L.A. County Workforce Development Board to offer the 40 students in its automotive technology and welding programs connections to internships and jobs. 'We're investing in building a bridge between students looking for career pathways and a workforce that is losing carpenters, plumbers, and electricians faster than they can be replaced. L.A.'s urgent infrastructure needs, including fire recovery, further exacerbated this issue,' said Belen Vargas, Senior Director of L.A. County Programs at Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. 'The summer programs offer unique and inspiring opportunities to acquire career skills thanks to our growing network of teachers, community groups, employers, unions, and local government agencies.' 'We are excited to partner with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools,' said PCC President Jose A. Gomez. 'The summer program is a vital effort that will help train the next generation of skilled trades professionals. We are fulfilling our vision of creating a state-of-the-art regional Career and Technical Education hub, providing a meaningful way for local high school students to help their communities rebuild.' A recent independent evaluation of the summer programs conducted by the FDR Group found a high level of enthusiasm and support for the programs among participating students and parents. Notably, 90% of student participants and parents from last summer's programs would strongly recommend their summer program to others, saying it taught life skills as well as career skills. Nine in 10 student participants surveyed believe their summer program was valuable even if they never work in the skilled trades. 'I would have done [the program] for free, for the experience and to know what we can do…I could be one of the people trying to change my community,' said Qur'an Hendrix, a student in last year's Jordan Downs program. 'It is life changing to be a part of it; even getting taught to do it is life changing.' For the full list of L.A. County Skilled Trades Summers partners and skilled trades programs offered at each site, visit here. About Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is a program of The Smidt Foundation, established by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt, to advance excellent skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. With a deep respect for the dignity of these fields and for the intelligence and creativity of people who work with their hands, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools aims to drive greater understanding of and investment in skilled trades education, believing that access to quality skilled trades education gives high school students pathways to graduation, opportunity, good jobs, and a workforce our country needs. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program. For more information, visit: HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS is a registered trademark licensed by The Smidt Foundation.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE OPENS LARGEST E-SPORTS LAB IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The New State-of-the-Art Classroom is Celebrated with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony LBCC E-Sports Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Long Beach, CA, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long Beach City College (LBCC) Board of Trustees, students, and employees officially celebrated the opening of the largest e-sports lab in Southern California with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, February 27. The $2.3 million state-of-the-art classroom features cutting-edge technology to support students interested in the rapidly growing e-sports industry. 'Long Beach City College is proud to lead the way in providing students with access to this rapidly growing multi-billion-dollar e-sports industry with well-paying jobs,' said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, LBCC Board of Trustees President. 'This cutting-edge facility is more than just a gaming lab—it's a gateway to future careers in technology, broadcasting, and game development. Our investment in this state-of-the-art space reflects our commitment to innovation, workforce development, and student success in the digital era.' 'As technology evolves, so do the opportunities for our students,' said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC President. 'The new LBCC E-Sports Lab not only provides state-of-the-art equipment but also ensures our students gain hands-on experience in an emerging industry. By expanding our programs and staying ahead of industry trends, LBCC is empowering students with the skills they need to launch careers in gaming, digital media, and other technology-driven fields.' By 2030, the e-sports industry will be worth $6 billion and careers in gaming technology are steadily increasing. Long Beach City College is proud to be at the forefront of providing students with access to this innovative field of study by building the brand-new e-sports lab. The project renovated an existing room and computer lab in Building M at LBCC's Liberal Arts Campus. The new e-sports lab includes: 47 Alienware gaming stations, with a teaching station for an instructor or coach to interact with students Optimized lighting system to enhance player comfort and reduce visual fatigue during extended gaming sessions An independent operational infrastructure that ensures uninterrupted network and power capabilities for seamless gaming experiences Fully equipped casting booth that supports live professional-grade broadcasting of gaming competitions over the internet Construction began in March 2024, completed in July 2024, and opened to students during the 2024 Fall semester. The renovations were funded by Measure LB and LBCC's capital outlay fund. Cordoba Corporation was the construction manager, and the architect was HPI Architecture. LBCC currently offers a certificate of achievement in Digital Media: Multimedia Interaction & Game Design which provides students with the foundational skills to work in the gaming industry. LBCC also offers a variety of programs for students looking to pursue careers in robotics, computer office studies, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and more. # # # About Long Beach City College Long Beach City College consists of two campuses with an enrollment of more than 35,000 students each semester. The education program's primary purpose is to prepare students for transfer to baccalaureate-granting institutions, entry into work or career development, and to support businesses in economic development. Long Beach City College serves the cities of Avalon, Lakewood, Long Beach, and Signal Hill. Long Beach City College promotes equitable student learning and achievement, academic excellence, and workforce development by delivering high-quality educational programs and support services to our diverse communities. Visit for more information on Long Beach City College. Attachment LBCC E-Sports Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony CONTACT: Stacey Toda Long Beach City College 5629384004 stoda@
