LBCEI Update
April 12, 2022
Year 2 of growing inclusive
economic opportunities for Long Beach
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk
LBCEI Managing Director
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk is a seasoned community and economic
development practitioner of more than 20 years with both non-profit and private sector experiences. Her strengths range from community advocacy to asset and real estate development around neighborhood revitalization.
Tunua was just named this month as the President / CEO of The Center by Lendistry. She previously served as the Executive Director of LISC-Los Angeles for the past 7 years. Before that Tunua served 10 years as Executive Director of West Angeles Community Development Corporation.
Tunua is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she earned her Master’s in City Planning as well as an alumna of UC Berkeley where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
LBCEI built on ‘Everyone In’ Implementation Plan and the City’s Blueprint for Economic Development
Increase access to
economic opportunities in
low-income communities to
advance economic equity.
A VISION FOR ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR LONG BEACH
Create a Community
Development Corporation
with focus areas outlined
by Everyone In
Implementation Plan
A VISION FOR ECONOMIC EQUITY IN LONG BEACH
MISSION
FOCUS AREAS
● Small Business & Entrepreneurship
● Workforce & Youth Development
● Housing & Home Ownership
● Economic Resiliency & Connectedness
COMMUNITIES SERVED
Historically
underserved
communities in
North, Central and
West Long Beach.
The mission of the Long Beach Center for Economic Inclusion is a community development corporation that expands inclusive economic opportunities to build and sustain wealth for all communities in Long Beach.
City of Long Beach investment has resulted in over
$2 Million in resources for the Long Beach Community.
A VISION FOR ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR LONG BEACH
LBCEI BOARD of DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
● Business Navigators – help direct more than $500K in
resources and provides ongoing support to more than 150 Long Beach small businesses in North and West Long
Beach
● North Long Beach Independent Restaurant Owners
Association– established this business group that meets monthly to share resources, make connections and support one another
● Other - Kiva Loans, CEO Small Business Forum, GO Digital! collaborative, etc…
FINANCIAL LITERACY
FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS
● Workshops on topics such as Credit
Building, Financial Freedom and First-
time Home buyer courses
● Partnered with F&M Bank to provide
training and access to local banking
institutions
● Classes provided in English and Spanish
● Provided $500 stipends to residents to
help establish savings or repair credit
ECONOMIC RESILIENCY
VACCINE / COVID EDUCATION
Many of the underserved communities in Long Beach continue to lag behind in vaccination rates. VA-58 has contracted LBCEI to continue providing information and vaccine education and promotion to resident in Long Beach.
HOUSING / HOME OWNERSHIP
Black Wealth Initiative
● Home Buyer Education Course – held the
first of 5 HUD certified Home Buyer
Education Courses last weekend. More than
25 local residents completed 8-hour
training and received certification on their
way to first time home ownership
● Local Nonprofit Partners– contracted with
4 local nonprofits that focus on serving the
black communities in Long Beach
● Workforce Connections - meeting with
local anchor hiring institutions to help
create pathways to good, sustainable jobs
LONG BEACH FOOD SUPPORT NETWORK
LONG BEACH FOOD SUPPORT NETWORK
● Led a collaboration of more than 25 local
nonprofits and community organizations
that provide free food to the community
● Secured more than 600,000 lbs. of fresh
produce and food boxes last year that
served more than 4,500 households a
month
● The Network provided free food to more
than 25,000 people – over 5% of LB
population
● Directed more than $100K in resources to
Food Partners serving underserved families
and residents
Our Food Network Leader – Julie Lie
Built partnerships and helped support
the great work of…
• Grant AME church
• Christian Outreach in Action
• Church One Ministries
• Light and Life Christian Fellowship
• Pools of Hope
• North Long Beach Ministry Center
• Long Beach Community Table
• Fountain of Life Covenant Church
• AOC7
• Collins Neighborhood Assoc.
• The Church of LDS Long Beach
• …and more than 20 other agencies
LONG BEACH FOOD SUPPORT NETWORK
Julie joined the team at the
beginning of the pandemic and
brought her more than 30 years
of experience serving those in
need to the food security crisis
brought on by COVID-19.
Her passion, commitment and
tireless energy helped build a
coalition of more than 25 local
nonprofits and community
organizations that together
provided more than 1 Million
pounds of food to over 4,500
households a month.
THANK YOU!
www.lbcei.org