The City of Long Beach has invited residents to attend the Safe Long Beach Harvest Fair, an event geared toward strengthening and promoting safety throughout the city.

Set for Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 4:00PM at Jane Addams Elementary School, the event will bring together various city departments, the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), community-based organizations, non-profit organizations and residents, highlighting the resources available to help families lead safe and healthy lives.

“Building safe neighborhoods and preventing crime requires the efforts of all,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a statement. “The Harvest Fair will further showcase ways residents can help make Long Beach the safest big city in California.”

Highlights of the event include community safety, health and wellness information booths in addition to a Kids’ Zone, face painting, photo booth, crafts and games. A Literacy Fair will be held concurrently, and music, entertainment and food will be provided free of charge.

“The Safe Long Beach Harvest Fair will empower residents in the Addams neighborhood and throughout the community with great information on a number of topics including jobs, safety, street improvements, recreation and more,” said Councilmember Al Austin in a statement. “This is a unique partnership, with numerous city and community resources coming together for families in the neighborhood.”

Safe Long Beach is a product of the Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan, which was approved by city council in May of 2014 and addresses a broad safety agenda aimed at reducing all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, hate crimes, bullying, gang violence and violent crime.

The city’s designation to the forum last fall allowed the city to apply for federal grant awards to implement its Safe Long Beach Violence Prevention Plan. Long Beach established Safe Long Beach and its anti-truancy programs to be in line with My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), President Obama’s 2014 initiative that encourages communities to implement a “cradle to college-and-career strategy.” Long Beach’s Safe Long Beach program was a direct response to the President’s MBK Community Challenge.