The following is part of a series on nonprofit news with weekly roundups on updates and upcoming events. Are you a nonprofit with news to share? Email [email protected] with “nonprofit news” in the subject line. 

For the second year in a row, U.S. News & World Report named MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach among the top children’s hospitals for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery in its 2021-22 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings.

“The past year has been a challenging one for children’s hospitals, as many patients delayed care due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said chief medical officer Graham Tse in a recent press release. “In the face of those challenges, our Children’s Pulmonary Institute continues to excel and establish Miller Children’s & Women’s as a regional destination for thousands of children who need specialized pediatric pulmonary care.”

The Best Children’s Hospitals rankings were introduced in 2007 to help families in need find the best available medical care, and the rankings have since become a global authority in assessing hospital quality.

Miller Children’s & Women’s is among 50 pediatric centers in the nation ranked for care of serious respiratory problems in children, and has been ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the Pacific Region.

Additionally, Miller Children’s & Women’s is the only free-standing children’s hospital in California, and only one of 13 hospitals in the nation, to receive the Disease Specific Certification in Pediatric Asthma from the Joint Commission, a health care accreditor.

The hospital is also only one of four hospitals in the Western U.S. to have a clinic treating the rare genetic disorder, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Explore poetry with an accomplished poet

On the third Sunday of every month, the Arts Council for Long Beach hosts a two-and-a-half hour workshop led by an accomplished poet, and will feature Mike Sonksen at this month’s event at 1 p.m. June 20.

The workshop includes a combination of craft talk and writing, with the opportunity to share your new work with classmates.

The virtual class is $35 per person, but need-based scholarships and student discounts are available.

No writing experience is necessary; all you need is a computer or tablet with Internet, a camera/webcam, a mic, and a Gmail address.

Register here.

Join MOLAA for an artist conversation

On June 23 from 11 a.m. to noon the Museum of Latin American Art will host the next chapter of its free Zoom lecture-series, featuring conversations with prominent Latinx artists from around the U.S. and Latin America and the museum’s chief curator Gabriela Urtiaga.

This segment will feature artist Harry Gomboa, Jr., the current co-director of the Photo/Media Program at California Institute of the Arts.

Gomboa has had his work displayed internationally, and he is the founder and director of the international performance troupe, Virtual Vérité (2005-2017), and the co-founder of Asco (1972-1985), the Los Angeles-based performance group.The conversation centers around topics such as the creation of the work, and sources of research and inspiration.

View more information about Gomboa and register here.

Create a yarn LGBTQ+ flag

In honor of Pride Month, the library is hosting a virtual crafting event for teens in grades 7-12 at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 17.

Pick up materials at any of the library’s open locations (all 7 Grab & Go and LBPL2Go locations), and register here.

Learn about African American history

Hosted by the Miller Special Collections Room at the Billie Jean King Main Library, soak in some of Long Beach’s history with local author-historian and retired librarian Claudine Burnett.

On June 26, from 3 to 4 p.m., the lecture will explore the history, culture and contributions of the Black community in Long Beach and Southern California.

Register for the event here. An archived video will also be sent out following the event for viewing at your leisure.

For more information or questions, contact Miller Room staff at 562-570-6729 or by email at [email protected].

‘Cooking for a Crowd’

On June 26 at 10 a.m. this free, virtual event will feature family-friendly fun while discovering the history of the Rancho Los Alamitos and Lydia Shrinkle (1876-1960), who worked as the Rancho’s cook for 23 years.

Then, learn how to make snickerdoodles with the Willmore Baking Company’s Chef Alan.

Register in advance here.