Long Beach Youth Dance for Peace

Jan. 20, 2013 / By

Dance For Peace youth hip-hop dancers from Homeland Cultural Center blessed the community with some fresh break dancing and pop locking last Monday. Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Week, on Jan. 14, Homeland Cultural Center held an event called “Dance For Peace.” Councilman Dee Andrews of the 6th District came and shared some words of inspiration for the Central Long Beach community about Martin Luther King and continuing the tradition of self-expression through art.

Also at the event was some positive and conscious poetry by Felicia Cade, a volunteer staff at Homeland. Youth from the surrounding areas and neighborhoods of Central Long Beach come to this space almost every day to express themselves through different art forms– whether it be from writing/poetry, hip hop dance, graffiti art, and also promoting unity within the different ethnic communities and self identity. Homeland is seen as a safe haven for youth who want to get away from outside influences and the negativity that exists on the streets of some parts of Long Beach.

For more information about the space, go HERE.

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Joshua Jimenez

Joshua Jimenez is a 21 year old Filipino-American, born and raised on the Eastside of Long Beach. Growing up on the Eastside was rough, especially for Joshua. Growing up in gangs, drugs, and seeing struggle with his close friends and family. It wasn't until he started getting involved with the Filipino community that he was getting in touch with his culture. He now educates and organize the Filipino youth and his peers about their culture and the issues we all face in our community. Joshua wants to use his passion of film-making and making documentary films about the stories of working class people in his community, especially giving voice to the working class Filipinos in the city of Long Beach.