6:15am | In its 22nd year, local noprofit organization Leadership Long Beach celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th participant Monday night during a commencement ceremony for LLB’s Class of 2011.
Selected by her classmates, Karissa Selvester was chosen to be honored as the 1,000th graduate. She is the second person ever to complete both the youth and adult leadership training programs offered by LLB; Selvester completed the Youth Leadership Long Beach program in 1997 when she was a student at Wilson High School.
Selvester works for Long Beach Transit as a government relations representative. She formerly worked as an urban planner after obtaining her bachelor’s degree in urban studies and planning from UC San Diego. After college, she worked for six years as an urban planner prior to moving back to Long Beach, her hometown
“Graduating our 1,000th principled leader is a very significant milestone for our community and for Leadership Long Beach,” LLB board President Tom Farrand said in a statement. “Karissa embodies the kind of leadership qualities our community needs. Her work at Long Beach Transit, in the Junior League of Long Beach and her return to the city of her parents and grandparents to work and live show her strong commitment to bettering our community.”
The 31-year-old woman said she’s “incredibly honored” to represent the 1,000th graduate.
“The strengths gained through this program have helped me in all aspects of my life,” Selvester said in a statement. “I feel so grateful for my classmates’ encouragement and for nominating me for this role. I’m looking forward to seeing what fantastic things we do next and to seeing Leadership Long Beach continue to positively impact the city.”
The well-attended June 20 commencement event was held at the Museum of Latin American Art and featured a reception, the presentation of class projects, dinner and the graduation ceremony.
The organization, founded in 1989, aims to “develop and connect principled leaders to strengthen the community.” It accomplishes this with two main program offerings: Youth Leadership Long Beach and Institute, Executive Quick Start, according to information provided by LLB spokesman Oscar Cosby.
Additional information about Leadership Long Beach can be obtained on its website, LeadershipLB.org.