Long Beach Turns Out
For Gene Lentzner
Human Relations Awards
On October 20, Long Beach civic leaders joined members of the community at the offices of Keesal, Young and Logan as the California Conference for Equality & Justice (CCEJ) celebrated this year's Gene Lentzner Human Relations Award recipients. Porter Gilberg,
Heather Green, and Mary Zendejas were each
honored for their tireless work as grass roots community leaders. Gems Uncovered founder Mary White was presented with the City of Long Beach Human Dignity Award, and CCEJ Board Chair Drew Gagner paid special tribute to Past Board Chair Dr. Minnie Douglas and outgoing CCEJ Executive Director Wende Nichols-Julien.
Highlights of the evening included remarks from keynote speaker Dr. Sabrina Sanders, Director of Student Affairs Projects & Initiatives, CSULB Office of the Chancellor, and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.
Gene Lentzner brought the evening to a close by offering his own poignant thoughts on the current state of human relations across the United States, imploring each attendee to have the courage to speak up and object any time they found themselves in conversations which unfairly denigrated, defamed, or otherwise marginalized any group of people.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia visits with Ann and Gene Lentzer