Doing Good in the LBC is an occasional newsletter where we share about giving back in our city. Subscribe at lbpost.com/newsletters.
Close to 1,000 people gathered in the grand ballroom at the Long Beach Convention Center on Friday as part of the YMCA’s nearly six-decade tradition of bringing politicians, businesses, nonprofits and others together on Good Friday.
It’s one of the who’s-who events in Long Beach, with prayer and a praise band.
The Post had a table at this year’s event, and, mindful some may be turned off by a religious gathering, I had hinted to a guest at our table that it was more of a “civically religious” gathering, with homage paid to a generic, lowercased god.
I was entirely wrong.
It’s true that there were a lot of civic people there: Noel Hacegaba, chief operations officer for the Port of Long Beach, was the MC; the keynote was former Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, now sheriff of the nation’s largest county. Luna was introduced by former Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell, now chief of the LAPD.
But the speakers didn’t shy away from the day’s significance in the Christian liturgical calendar. “I am not afraid to say that I believe in Jesus Christ,” Luna told nearly 1,000 people gathered.
Michele Dobson, an attorney I’ve come to know through Rotary, read passages from the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Hacegaba gave an emotional introduction, sharing a story I hadn’t known: Dobson’s father learned to read as an adult by reading the Bible.
Forget milquetoast; this event was honest, genuine and overt — exactly what we need right now.
‘Love thy neighbor’
I think we can all agree that amid the chatter and clamor of forks on porcelain plates, Table 46 was the place to be. I took a bit of a risk in opening an invite to the Post’s table to the 8,000+ readers of this newsletter, with a mandate that no matter who it was, the first five people to respond would have a seat.
Friday morning was a lesson in what can happen when we let go a bit. (To be sure, I also invited a few old friends and a few new friends.)
There were some unexpected connections among the group, from kids’ sports at the Y to common interests. Readers Paul and Susan even brought me a stash of granola from Sconeage, my favorite bakery.
“Love Thy Neighbor” was the theme of the breakfast. Thank you, Table 46, for showing what that looks like.
Strap on your shoes
Speaking of Rotary and Michele Dobson: Rotarians will be fanned across Southern California on May 3 to raise funds and awareness for mental wellness.
The Long Beach walk is being coordinated by Dobson. It begins at 9 a.m. at Granada Beach. If you’d like to participate or learn more, go here.