Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill with 30,000 issues every Friday
VOL. XLII NO. 40 SIGNAL HILL CITY COUNCIL
22 individuals apply to Signal Hill’s new diversity committee Anita W. Harris Senior Writer
The Signal Hill City Council discussed next steps in forming a new Diversity Coalition Committee (DCC) during its Sept. 22 virtual meeting. Deputy City Manager Scott Charney said the City received 22 applicants for the volunteer committee from among its residents, plus one non-resident business representative. The City accepted applications from Aug. 8 to Sept. 7, with “interest in this subject matter and passion for community engagement” as the only requirements. The council began discussing potential systemic racism in the city’s polices after the May 25 killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd at the hands of that city’s police and subsequent worldwide protesting against police brutality and racism. The DCC is part of the City’s Race and Equity Framework, which stems from a Standing Up for Equality and Against Racism resolution the council passed in mid-July, championed by Councilmember Edward Wilson. The DCC’s role will be to “examine the City’s current policies and engage the community on
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
September 25, 2020
COMMUNITY
Bel Canto Books has stories for everyone Long Beach bookstore centers stories that reflect diversity Kristen Farrah Naeem
J
Staff Writer
hoanna Belfer, owner of Bel Canto Books, has lined its shelves with the stories she didn’t see as a young reader, featuring main characters of color that the children of Long Beach can see themselves in. “I think for me, that’s kind of number one on our mission,” Belfer said, “To make sure that we are offering books for our community that reflects our community. You know, I grew up as a Filipino American in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and we didn’t have a lot of money so we didn’t go to the bookstore. But the books that I remember reading as a child, either at the library or that we’d pick up at a garage sale were almost always [by] Caucasian authors– which I loved E.B. White. ‘Trumpet of the Swan’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web’ are two books I absolutely adore– and a lot of the children’s books that I read when I was a kid featured white characters,
Courtesy @belcantobooks via Instagram
Jhoanna Belfer, owner of Bel Canto Books holding a book stack of stories highlighting Latinx authors in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month.
and I think that was just a function of the times. But now with so many authors and illustrators of color who are out there, I just feel like if we don’t do it, who else is going to?” Children’s picture books at
Bel Canto Books include “Cora Cooks Pancit” by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore; “Ways To Make Sunshine” by Renee Watson; “I Am Every Good Thing” by Derrick Barnes; “My Papi Has a Motorcycle” by Isabel Quintero
and many other titles with Asian, Black and Latinx children as main characters. “We’ve heard so much positive feedback from our customers and people who will literally say to me, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve never seen this many books for Asian kids in one place. I’ve never seen this many books for Latino kids in one place,” Belfer said. “And so that’s really important to us. I don’t think it’s something that you can quantify or measure, but I think that when you’re able to see yourself on the cover of a book or in a TV show, or as a president, it reinforces the idea that you can be that, you can do those things. You know, even if you’re a poor kid from a bad neighborhood.” Belfer arrived in the United States when she was four years old, after a year of being separated from both her parents as they established themselves in California while she remained in the Phillipines. She noted that her family actually had an easier time with the immigration process when compared to other Filipino families because her grandfather had been an Irish American soldier who went to the Philippines to fight in the Spanish American see BEL CANTO BOOKS page 4
see SH COUNCIL page 7
Inside the Issue
COMMUNITY
A real life superhero: Yuri Williams helps communities with A Future SuperHero and Friends
OPINION A future for a sustainable industry CULTURE Cambodia Town Cultural Festival and Parade to take place fully online, honoring women and fostering cultural pride
Karla Enriquez Online Editor
Courtesy @AFutureSuperHero via Instagram
Yuri Williams, dressed as Deadpool, gives away supplies to children in April.
To a regular bystander, Yuri Williams is a Long Beach local, but to thousands of others, Williams is a real-life superhero. Donning the signature scarlet costume from Marvel’s popular anti-hero, Deadpool, Williams has been giving back to the community for over a decade with his nonprofit A Future SuperHero and Friends. And like every superhero, Williams has an origin story. “This idea came about in 2009 after losing my mother to an eight-year battle with cancer, Williams said to the Signal Tribune. “I was in a dark place for five years and realized I needed to do something before it was too late. I have been a giver all of see SUPERHERO page 5