ameliaOn Thursday, April 25, the Long Beach Post hosted an event to honor young people from around the city who are doing great things to better their community and beyond. Out of hundreds of nominations from our readers, judges chose 40 winners who run the gamut from educators to artists to business owners to community activists, all of whom represent just a selection of those who are today contributing to the betterment of Long Beach.

Locally famous for introducing herself as someone who “lives, loves and works in Long Beach,” Amelia arrived from Tonga–near Samoa in the South Pacific–with her family when she was four. Her own struggle, including almost being evicted, forced her to become a steward for those who immigrate. She has become deeply involved in passing a Language Accessibility Policy that offers governmental forms and 911 assistance in Khmer, Samoan and Spanish. In addition to her work as an immigrant advocate, she is the first contemporary artist to have her work featured at Long Beach’s Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum.