On 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.

Julie’s job is not only difficult but essential–after all, what is a city to do for its future if it is not properly documenting its past? As Executive Director of the Historical Society of Long Beach, she has undertaken over the past year one of the groups most ambitious projects: an entire exhibit dedicated to the history of Long Beach’s LGBTQ community. Her work will not only provide locals access to documents and photos that will help them understand a huge part of Long Beach, but will also help the national LGBTQ community connect its history to its present.

Learn more about the Historical Society of Long Beach at hslb.org