LMB creates new project

By: Symphany Rosario
Staff Writer

Each year a select number of junior and senior high school students join Leadership Manhattan Beach. Leadership Manhattan Beach, or LMB, is a nine month program where students and adults work together to create a better community.

Throughout the program students in LMB are introduced to people that are involved with the politics behind Manhattan Beach. Before their graduation in May, LMB students must carry out a project that benefits the city using the contacts and knowledge that they have gained while in the program.

“Each class, which runs from September to May, does one project to help the community. The size of the project depends on how many donations they raise from the citizens of Manhattan Beach.” a member of the Board of Directors, Michelle Young said.

This year’s class will work with the City of Manhattan Beach’s Environmental Task Force to convert the landscape around the U.S. post office on 15th Street into a water-conserving landscape. The new landscape will include environmentally appropriate plantings, a water-conserving irrigation system, mulch applied between shrubs and trees, and environmentally friendly walking paths composed of decomposed granite.

“Our project is really dependent on how much money we raise. We use a tier system to organize what we will be able to do. Each project has a baseline requirement of $7500. To make this garden truly awesome we hope to make around $20,000.” said LMB student and junior, Noelle Claycombe.

The landscaping will take approximately two weeks to finish depending on how many donations and sponsorships they raise. LMB students use funds that they raise from the community to create these projects. They have had several fundraising events including a fundraising night at the California Pizza Kitchen in the Manhattan Village.

“Each class does different things to fundraise, but most classes have one big function to raise the lion’s share of the funds,” President of LMB, James Gill said, “Typically the event is party that includes ticket sales, silent and live auctions, and perhaps even a raffle. Some classes have raised about $15,000 through these events.”

Last year’s students worked with a cooperative public works department and the City Council to install forty-five custom-made bike racks in various areas of high traffic around Manhattan Beach. The bike racks varied in size, color and design.

LMB’s mission since 1992 has been to, “Develop and Unite Community Leaders”. For twenty years the program has been helping to make Manhattan a better place. Some of the most memorable projects over the years have been a professional promotional video for the city, a time capsule to be opened in 2025, and a “bridging the generations” video project.

The “bridging the generations” video project was a short series of interviews with older Manhattan Beach residents. In the interviews, the citizens spoke of how much Manhattan has changed. The interviews were aired on Adelphia’s local access channel and are now available at the Manhattan Beach Library.

The intense selection process begins in February with student interviews in either April or May. Each year about six students out of the fifteen or sixteen students that apply participate in the program. The group encourages students who are interested in the program to attend the informational meetings on February 29, and March 28.

“Going to the informational meetings will give students extra points during the selection process,” said Gill, “we like to see students who are proactive and go the extra step to be in this group.”

Program leaders look for students who want to give back to their community, work with government, and learn life skills that will help them in their future. Students are also encouraged to join the program to meet people and make new friends.

“Students from Costa, and other nearby high-schools, usually take the class for their college resume and to learn to work collaboratively with adults in their hometown.” said Gill.