Long Beach, CA May 2026

The Ladies Issue

LONG BEACH SECRETS

THE LONG BEACH DENTIST

Our practice philosophy has been heavily influenced by Dr. Grella’s grandfather, who was a dentist for 40 years and always followed the Golden Rule: He never recommended dental treatments to patients that he would not believe in recommending for himself, and Dr. Grella upholds this same standard at his practice.

Dr. Grella has been practicing dentistry for over 15 years and he has extensive training from the Navy where he did his residency and active military duty.

Our office also has over 700 Google reviews... our patients LOVE our office and you will never find a dentist who is more passionate about Dentistry than Dr. Grella.

We promise if you come to our office you will love your experience and feel right at home.

This One’s for the Ladies

As a woman — and especially as a woman in business — this is one of my favorite issues we’ve ever put together. Every May, we have the opportunity to shine a light on women — and organizations that support women — doing amazing work in our city. This year, the stories we found left me genuinely inspired. Long Beach is full of people doing extraordinary things quietly, and it is always an honor to be the ones who get to tell those stories.

In this issue, we’re featuring a remarkable entrepreneur whose journey from side hustle to eight-figure enterprise is a master class in resilience — someone who turned personal hardship, unexpected career pivots and a deeply felt community need into one of the fastest-growing private companies in the country.

We also sat down with a local estate planning attorney who is building her practice around a simple but powerful idea: having a document isn’t enough — your family needs to understand it, discuss it and be ready to use it. And on the national side, we’re sharing a conversation with a lifestyle blogger and mom of three who built a brand with an audience the size of Vogue’s — starting with nothing but taste, instinct and the courage to just start.

We’re also celebrating a one-of-a-kind sports bar here in Long Beach that’s doing something that shouldn’t still feel radical in 2026 — putting women’s sports on the biggest screen in the room. Rounding out this issue, we’re spotlighting two nonprofits doing the steady, unglamorous, essential work of supporting women who need a hand up: one focused on breaking cycles of poverty through housing, education and mentorship, and another that has been a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence for nearly five decades — and is determined to reach even more people in the next 50 years.

To all the mothers in our Long Beach community — whether you’re raising children, mentoring young people, caring for aging parents or doing all of the above at once — happy Mother’s Day. This issue is for you. Thank you for the ways you show up every single day, seen and unseen. We hope this month gives you a moment to breathe, be celebrated and know that you are seen and loved.

With gratitude,

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Atira Rodriguez | atira.rodriguez@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Stephanie Perez | stephanie.perez@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Nirav Solanki | mail@niravsolanki.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

David Ross

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

ATIRA RODRIGUEZ, PUBLISHER @LONGBEACHCITYLIFESTYLE

Proverbs 3:5-6

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

Women’s Business Council’s Women’s History Month Mixer, Mar. 10th | 1: Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce VP of Membership Stuart Takehara. 2: Leadership team at Environ Architecture: Alan Burks, President (right), Willeta McCullough, VP (seated), Aimee Mandala, COO. 3: Featured artist Mary Lai stands in front of one of her pieces. 4: Hungry Drea Creations provided a beautiful grazing table for the event. 5: WBC VP of Programs Kathryn Wells and President Cheryl Vargas. 6: WBC board members Dana Buchanan, Cheryl Vargas and Tanya Adolph. 7: Monica Wong, WBC board member and Director of Marketing and Communications, YMCA of Greater Long Beach.

DSF

The

Invest Long Beach Names Courtney Russell CEO

Courtney Russell has been named chief executive officer of Invest Long Beach, formerly the Long Beach Economic Partnership. Russell previously served as vice president of strategic relationships and client relations at Visit Long Beach, where he built partnerships with the mayor’s office, city management, economic development leaders and the Port of Long Beach. He brings experience in international business engagement and conference management and will focus on attracting investment and expanding global economic opportunities.

Marathon Burger Opens Long Beach Location

Marathon Burger opened its fourth location March 1 in downtown Long Beach at 245 Pine Ave., in the former Johnny Rockets space. The burger concept was founded by the late rapper Nipsey Hussle and is now led by his brother, Samiel “Blacc Sam” Asghedom, in partnership with Cordell Broadus and his father, Snoop Dogg. The menu features smash burgers, wings, fries and milkshakes.

ELEVATED BEAUTY

For Summer

This summer, beauty blossoms into an elevated blend of artistry and wellness, where luminous skin and expressive color take center stage. The season is defined by a dewy glow achieved through skincare-infused makeup, lightweight tints, plumping serums and glow-enhancing balms that blur the line between complexion care and cosmetics.

Eyes are highlighted with soft yet striking pastel liners and iridescent shadows, while lips embrace sheer washes of coral and rose for a fresh, spontaneous feel. Natural textures are championed, encouraging individuals to enhance rather than mask, with subtle freckles,

brushed-up brows and polished nude nails signaling effortless sophistication.

The most talked-about trend is watercolor blush, where color diffuses softly from the center of the cheek outward, like watercolor paint spreading on canvas. The edges are blurred and translucent, creating a dreamy, romantic effect.

Sustainability continues to reign, with clean refillable formulations that honor both personal radiance and planetary well-being. The result? A beauty ethos that feels as rejuvenating as the season itself — radiant, mindful and unmistakably chic.

Celebrity skincare and makeup artist David Ross curates must-have products for a glowy summer look

ARTICLE BY DAVID ROSS

CHANEL POWDER BLUSH IN ROSE BRONZE

Soft, silky powder blush enhances complexion with a touch of color and radiance. Ultrafine texture offers buildable coverage. $56

DAVID ROSS skincare and makeup artist

ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK

Be red carpet-ready with this blurring liquid foundation. Offers 24hour wear, silky texture and natural-glow finish. Enriched with niacinamide; available in 18 shades. $68

PHILOSOPHY ULTIMATE MIRACLE WORKER

Fast-absorbing firming cream replenishes moisture and smooths fine lines and wrinkles on the face and neck. Leaves skin nourished and radiant. $89

David Ross is a celebrity skincare and makeup artist with more than two decades of experience in the luxury beauty industry. He began his career working with fashion houses Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci, developing a reputation for polished, modern glamour. His skin-first artistry was refined through collaborations with Dr. Howard Sobel, blending skincare knowledge with high-impact makeup artistry. Ross has worked with high-profile clients, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Now based in Long Beach, he continues to work with celebrities and brands, and educates on skincare-driven makeup artistry.

BURBERRY HER EAU DE PARFUM

Created by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, this vibrant floral features notes of strawberry, raspberry, jasmine and amber, offering a sweet, youthful scent.

$181

GUCCI L’OBSCUR MASCARA

Delivers lash-by-lash length and volume for a lifted and magnified look. Provides up to 12 hours of wear without clumping. $36

YVES SAINT LAURENT TOUCHE ÉCLAT

Cult-favorite concealer pen with a soft-bristle brush for a crease-proof, radiant, second-skin finish. Wear alone or as a final step.

$40

MAC ROUNDED SLANT FOUNDATION BRUSH

An industry must-have brush that applies, buffs and blends foundation and primer. Synthetic fibers leave a polished finish. $42

A HOME FOR WOMEN’S SPORTS

WATCH ME! SPORTS BAR PUTS WOMEN’S SPORTS FRONT AND CENTER

ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE PEREZ

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY JAX DIENER

Chances are, when you walk into a sports bar, men’s games are on the big screens while women’s sports are on a small TV or muted, if they are even shown at all. A place where women take center stage is rare, but in Long Beach, that place is Watch Me! Sports Bar.

The bar, which opened in July 2024 to coincide with the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, is the first women-focused sports bar in California and was the fifth in the world and the fourth in the U.S.

“I’ve been told that I am considered a founding mother, and I would be on the Mount Rushmore of women’s sports bar owners,” said founder and owner Jax Diener.

The idea was years in the making, starting with Diener watching football every Sunday at traditional bars. Even though she went with a group of friends and bought drinks and food, she left feeling unwelcome.

She kept telling herself, “I’m going to open my own bar one day,” and when the time came to name the place she had envisioned, that same drive led her to call it Watch Me.

“It means proving doubters otherwise,” Jax said. “I always felt there were people out there who were doubting that I could achieve success, but I kind of made that fuel for my fire, and I would just quietly go out and prove them otherwise.”

Instead of women’s sports fading into the background, they now take over the biggest screens and shape the experience. Inside, 26 TVs and a large LED screen that can be split into four games keep women’s matchups front and center, with more screens visible from the dog-friendly patio.

“I wanted to create something where anybody could come watch anything they wanted to at any time and feel completely okay about it,” Jax said. “And I feel like we’ve done that.”

Inclusion also extends to the food menu, offering vegan and gluten-free options. Guests can order items like homemade hummus and fried pickles, plus a “girl’s dinner” that pairs a martini or margarita with a Caesar salad and cheesy

fries. The bar also features signature cocktails, some created by visiting athletes.

“Our sporty celebs having their own cocktail on the menu is a very unique thing, and we’ve got their photos up on the walls here, making their drinks behind the bar,” Jax said. “That’s really special to us.”

Upstairs, a podcast studio provides athletes, students and guests with a place to share their stories, and a party bus program transports fans from the bar to the game.

“We’ll be going to Sparks games, Angel City games and probably go to Long Beach Coast [games],” Jax said. “People can park here and pregame with us, and we’ll take them over…so exciting things to come with that program.”

In addition to offering a safe and welcoming environment, the bar fills most nights with events such as live music, speed jigsaw puzzles, trivia and karaoke.

Jax said there are moments when she looks down from upstairs and sees people of all ages, races and genders. “They’ve chosen us to watch women’s sports or any sports, and it’s just been incredibly fulfilling.”

PLANNING FOR what FAMILIES can’t predict

A Long Beach native brings both heart and logistics to estate planning

ARTICLE BY ATIRA RODRIGUEZ

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BY

WENDY BROWN

When Wendy Brown’s father died in 2023, her family had a trust. On paper, they were prepared. In practice, they were anything but.

“There were no instructions, no conversations — nothing prior,” she recalls. “Just a document that no one really knew how to read except the attorney.” The trust protected her mother from capital gains taxes when the house was sold. But what to do with her father’s antiques collection, what he wanted done with his remains — none of that had ever been discussed.

“It’s important to have the document,” Wendy says. “But it’s also important to understand how to execute it.”

She built her practice around that gap. This year, Wendy opened Brown Legacy Law, PC on Orange Avenue in California Heights — a return to the Long Beach neighborhood where she grew up and across the street from where her grandmother’s realty firm once stood.

After graduating from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2019 and being admitted to the State Bar of California in 2020, her legal career path wound through criminal defense and veterans’ advocacy before settling into estate planning.

“Once I did argue for a living, I was like, I’m way too burnt out for this.”

Estate planning, she realized, was closer to what she already did as a logistics officer in the California Army National Guard — projecting scenarios, building contingencies and guiding people through situations they’d rather not think about. She has served since 2013, including two deployments to the Middle East and is currently transitioning to the Army Reserve as a JAG officer.

Wendy is direct about why people procrastinate with estate planning. “It’s uncomfortable to think about your mortality. My dad was that way — which is exactly why we never had those

conversations.” She says it with warmth rather than bitterness, but the point lands: his discomfort cost the family in ways no trust document could fix.

She also pushes back on the idea that estate planning is just for the wealthy. In California, a home left through a will alone goes through probate — a court process with fees of about 5% of the estate’s value. On a $1 million Long Beach home, that’s roughly $50,000 off the top before an heir sees a dollar.

A trust bypasses probate and preserves the step-up in basis, a tax provision that can save heirs tens of thousands more on a future sale. “Trusts are one of the only ways the middle class has to pass on generational wealth right now,” she says.

Beyond the mechanics, Wendy focuses on the human factors that an attorney is uniquely positioned to catch. Co-trusteeships between siblings that seem fine today can collapse into deadlock when parents are gone. “Equal” distributions between children aren’t always fair.

“Trusts are one of the only ways the middle class has to pass on generational wealth right now.”

“When family members die, people start acting weird,” she says. “Parents say, ‘My son would never do that.’ Well, he’s never experienced you dying. We have to prepare for that.”

Outside the office, Wendy is an active member of the Estate Planning and Trust Council of Long Beach. She is also an avid hiker and enjoys camping in scenic places like Yosemite National Park. At home, she shares her schedule with Donner — a 4-year-old Doberman-husky-cattle dog mix who, she says, is firmly in charge.

Asked what her father would think of Brown Legacy Law, she laughs. “He wasn’t sentimental. He’d probably just say, ‘I knew you’d do that.’”

And that, for Wendy, is enough.

ARTICLE BY ATIRA RODRIGUEZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NIRAV SOLANKI

SHE GoesFORTH

From Poly High to Inc. 5000 Powerhouse: How Leslee Deanes-Bryant Is Building Her Legacy

There is a phrase cast above the entrance of Long Beach Polytechnic High School that Leslee Deanes-Bryant still carries with her every single day: Enter to learn. Go forth to serve.

She walked through those gates for the first time in 1987 as a 14-year-old girl who had arrived in Long Beach four years earlier. She could not have known then that those seven words would quietly define the arc of her entire life.

Today, Leslee is the founder and CEO of UltraCare Services, a nonmedical in-home care agency that has served over 1,600 clients in the last five years and employs more than 800 actively working caregivers across Los Angeles County. She has appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation not once, not twice, but three times. She has earned a host of additional accolades, including a nod from the Women Presidents Organization’s 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies, a spot on the Inc. Veteran 100 list and recognition from CEO Today magazine’s Healthcare Awards. By any measure, Leslee is a success story. But success, she will tell you, is rarely the whole story.

CHICAGO MADE HER, LONG BEACH RAISED HER

Leslee was born in Chicago, but her mother, Clarice, made the leap west first. A pharmaceutical sales representative for Sandoz, she landed in Long Beach after a chance encounter on a work trip. She married into a family that, as Leslee describes

it, was “a pillar in Long Beach” — a family she still considers her own to this day, even after the marriage ended within a year.

“Nothing bad happened,” she says simply. “I just think they didn’t know each other.”

What followed was a childhood defined by family and community. A beloved stepfather, James Kavanaugh, entered her life and became a cornerstone. When he and her mother later divorced during her high school years, he didn’t disappear. “He [was] always still my father,” she says.

Her biological father, Lester C. Deanes, based in Chicago, was an equally influential force in her life. A serial entrepreneur, Leslee credits him with her business acumen.

“I was very fortunate,” she reflects. “I had two fathers.”

“Chicago made me,” she says. “Long Beach raised me.” If Long Beach raised her, Poly High forged her. A proud Jackrabbit, Class of 1991, Leslee played basketball and ran track, participated in school clubs, threw the best parties in the neighborhood and built many deep, cross-cultural friendships that still hold today. Schoolmates included Cameron Diaz, Snoop Dogg and NFL standout Willie McGinest. Tyus Edney, a close friend, was in her wedding; she was in his.

“We were friends before people knew who they were,” she says with a laugh. “My house was the hangout house.”

Leslee wasn’t just a party girl — she also excelled academically. So when it came time to choose which college to attend, her

“Who you are when no one’s looking is who you are.”

school counselor questioned why she would choose Southern University in Baton Rouge over UC Santa Barbara, suggesting it might “ruin her career.”

Leslee wasn’t deterred. Safe to say, her counselor was, as Leslee puts it, “100% wrong.” She headed to Baton Rouge — and never looked back.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE FAST LANE

After graduating from Southern University in 1995, Leslee had her sights set on Atlanta. What she found instead was a $35,000 corporate job at Hallmark Cards in California — complete with company car, corporate credit card and annual bonuses in the thousands. It was perhaps destiny that two years later she would follow her mother into pharmaceutical sales — a move that would define the next quarter-century of her life.

Calling exclusively on specialty practices — cardiovascular, endocrinology and gastrointestinal — she was never the typical rep. At 25, she was earning $60,000 base with bonuses pushing her well past six figures. She spent a decade at Abbott Laboratories, then five years at Merck.

She experienced one of the more surreal moments of her career at Merck: a layoff notice received while standing in line for Space Mountain at Disney World — a trip she had paid for, her kids and a friend in tow, after a record-breaking year. With five days remaining on the trip, “I had to pretend like everything was okay,” she recalls.

She landed quickly at a third company, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, where she thrived — until June 1, 2020, the exact date she had been hired, ten years earlier. COVID-19 had arrived, and she found herself laid off again. 25 years in pharmaceutical sales was over.

“That was a hard pill to swallow,” she said quietly. “When you’re strong, people say you’ll bounce back. We check on people. But who checks on the strong people?”

THE SIDE HUSTLE THAT BECAME AN EMPIRE

The seeds of UltraCare Services had been planted years before the layoff — not in a boardroom, but in a hospital corridor and a worn copy of the Yellow Pages. When Leslee’s

“I guess my retirement plan started early. I went from six figures to seven figures to eight figures within four years.”

grandmother became seriously ill following a medical mistake during surgery, Leslee found herself doing what so many families are forced to do: scrambling to find reliable, compassionate in-home care for a proud woman who needed help but refused to ask for it.

The search for care was exhausting, and the industry was largely invisible.

But Leslee saw an opportunity — as a pharmaceutical representative, she had spent years watching elderly patients cycle through specialty practices. She began researching late at night, filling notebooks with plans. “I didn’t know what was next,” she says. “I just knew I needed to make it something.”

In 2010, she bet on herself, spending her entire savings to purchase a Home Helpers franchise in Beverly Hills as a side hustle. But she was still short. Enter Julius Bryant. The two had known each other for barely a year when he stepped up and provided the remaining funding she needed to get UltraCare off the ground. It was an act of belief that, in hindsight, would prove to be one of the best investments either of them ever made.

UltraCare got its first client in February 2011, earned $40,000 to $50,000 in its first year and grew to around $160,000 annually after five years — still secondary to her full-time salary. Leslee planned to retire from pharma in 2025, but COVID-19 hit in 2020 and derailed those plans.

“I guess my retirement plan started early,” she recalls. UltraCare became her Plan A, and she never looked back. “I went from six figures to seven figures to eight figures within four years.”

THE REFUSAL TO BREAK AMIDST ADVERSITY

What the awards and rankings don’t show — and what Leslee shares with the unguarded honesty of someone with nothing left to hide — is that the years she was building UltraCare were also among the hardest. She was navigating a divorce, raising two children alone and facing a financial reckoning that would have stopped most people cold.

“I had to file bankruptcy,” she says plainly. The consequences were swift and severe: in pharmaceutical sales, damaged credit is disqualifying — companies fear reps might steal and sell samples. Leslee had to appear before a review board to keep her job.

“Imagine having to go before a board of people who control your whole career, while your whole life is falling apart,” she says.

She steadied herself with her father’s words: “You’re a Deanes — you know how to make money. You’ll be fine.”

She kept her composure. She kept her job. She kept building. Through it all, her children kept her grounded. Her daughter NiyaRae studied ballet for 10 summers in New York at American Ballet Theatre intensives, which included training from Misty Copeland, while her son Nolan played basketball and ran track. Both were straight-A students. “They were my inspiration,” she said.

In 2019, Leslee remarried. Julius stepped into the family with quiet steadiness, and when her daughter was presented at the Links Cotillion — one of the most prestigious debutante events on the West Coast — he escorted her across the floor with pride.

GOING FORTH, FULL THROTTLE

The break from the franchise came in 2021, after 10 years, and not one client delivered by Home Helpers despite years of royalty fees. The final catalyst was a text message sent to Leslee by mistake — revealing exactly what the franchise thought of her. The company moved to address it, but it wasn’t enough. That asymmetry was all Leslee needed to walk away.

“As soon as I closed that chapter, I took off,” she says. Free and fully independent, she turned her full attention to UltraCare. Her strategy was not to sell — it was to educate.

“I didn’t sell a service,” she says. She filled a need. I [let] people know you don’t want to be in what I call the crisis gap, by not having those uncomfortable conversations with your family members before it’s too late.”

Enter to learn was never just a tagline. For Leslee, it is a method.

To this day, Leslee personally conducts every initial home visit. She arrives not to pitch, but to listen — learning the client’s daily rhythms, preferences, fears, and the layout and feel of their home. She assesses safety, reads the environment and begins the process of finding the right caregiver match, not just on paper, but in person.

“You cannot teach compassion,” she says. “I assess a potential caregiver as someone I would trust in my own family’s home. That is the most important thing.”

The numbers reflect exactly that. A 636% growth rate earned her a first-time Inc. 5000 ranking of No. 927 in 2023. The following year, a 3,109% growth rate shot her to No. 103 — top 10 in health services nationally. By 2025, she was back at No. 288, her third consecutive appearance, with a 517% increase in her employee base along the way.

A LEGACY BUILT ON COMPASSION AND FORTITUDE

Leslee’s two children from her first marriage are thriving on their own terms. Her daughter NiyaRae, 25, graduated magna cum laude from Louisiana State University in biomedical engineering and holds multiple patents, including an oral thermometer designed for use during cardiac ablation surgery and redesigned surgical scissors engineered to cut tissue more efficiently.

Her son Nolan, 21, is finishing his degree in business marketing at Southern University — Leslee’s alma mater — and the door is wide open. “If he can master AI,” she says, “he can come work for my company and go from there.”

When Leslee married Julius, she gained something she hadn’t planned for but embraced wholeheartedly: two bonus children. Jazmyn, 26, holds a degree from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree from UC San Diego. An extraordinarily talented artist, she is currently working at the Getty, carving out her own path in the art world.

And then there is Jaya, 13 — whom Leslee has been raising since she was just one year old. “She is my child,” Leslee says simply. Jaya’s easygoing spirit belies the way she fuels her mother’s fire. “She tells me I could be president,” Leslee laughs. “She hypes me up.”

When asked about legacy, Leslee doesn’t hesitate. “I don’t want it just to be about the company that I built,” she says. “I wanted it also to be about the families I supported, the jobs I created and the dignity I protected for people who deserve to age with respect in their home.”

She has earned a spot on the Inc. Veteran 100 list, a recognition carrying deep personal weight. Her father, a Vietnam veteran, earned a Purple Heart for his service. “I am beyond grateful to help veterans who are in need,” she says, “especially since they gave their lives for our country.”

But perhaps the truest measure of Leslee Deanes-Bryant comes down to something simpler than any ranking or revenue figure — a line she lives by that explains why she built a company rooted in compassion and still pours into the community that poured into her: “Who you are when no one’s looking is who you are.”

Protect Your Legacy

SUPPORTING WOMEN to break the cycle

PATHWAYS PROVIDES STEADY SUPPORT WITH HOUSING, HEALING, MENTORSHIP AND GUIDANCE

ARTICLE BY STEPHANIE PEREZ | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE

A strong support system is essential to succeed. When it is missing, especially for women in early adulthood, building a stable and secure future becomes significantly more difficult.

Pathways to Independence is a local nonprofit serving unmarried, unaccompanied women ages 18 to 35 in southern Los Angeles County and northern Orange County. Often from adverse backgrounds with little to no safety net, they turn to Pathways for help navigating work and college.

Stable housing in Pathways-owned buildings, which can shelter up to 31 women at a time, allows clients to focus on the program. Their required routine includes attending school full time, working 20 hours weekly and regularly meeting with a mentor, therapist, academic success coach and coordinator who acts as a case manager.

“We really consider what we do complete wraparound services, and so it’s really important we become the support system that our clients don’t typically have,” said Diana Hill, executive director of Pathways to Independence.

Many clients grow up without much structure. Hill explains that by setting expectations around school, work and regular check-ins, the program offers women a steady, supportive day-to-day structure.

One of the key requirements Hill identified for becoming a client is having completed at least 12 successful college units.  Once enrolled, the nonprofit assists program participants with everything from school and mental health services to health care and car insurance, so they no longer have to handle all of it alone.

The program started more than 30 years ago when its founder, Dave Bishop, helped a young woman pursue higher education and independence. Since then, it has grown as more women have needed the support they provide.

“Women can, inside of who they are, be incredibly strong and powerful,” Hill said. “And I think sometimes women need a little bit more help finding that power and not being taken advantage of out in society.”

One woman joined Pathways very young and struggled with the program’s rigor. She left before graduating and later joked she had been “loved right out of there,” Hill recalled. Years later, she returned as a pre-licensed therapist with a master’s degree, eager to support current clients.

“She told me, ‘All of what I learned at Pathways never left me, and it never left me believing that I could graduate from college and be something,’” Hill said.

Another former client, who was recently honored by the One Vine Foundation, entered Pathways about 25 years ago, and now she has a career in medical sales, a supportive husband and two sons. Seeing healthy relationships among mentors and volunteers, Hill said, helped that alumna “break that cycle” in her own life.

“Their past doesn’t dictate who they are or who they should be in the future.”

— Diana Hill

Pathways connects with new clients through its long-standing ties with the 12-step recovery community. Others come through nearby colleges like Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach, as well as foster youth programs that support students who have aged out of the system.

80% of women who join Pathways graduate from college and the program, Hill said.

“I believe that everybody who needs a hand up should be given a hand up,” she said. “...I think many times with women, it’s hard for us to ask for help. We think we’re supposed to do it all on our own.”

Hill sees Pathways as a social impact organization that balances compassion with financial responsibility, using donor dollars thoughtfully to make as much impact as possible. She hopes the program will continue this essential work for many decades.

“Their past doesn’t dictate who they are or who they should be in the future,” she said. “Their pasts are their pasts. What we want to do is to keep them looking forward to what that bright future is.”

For more information on Pathways to Independence, including how to donate, volunteer or apply to the program, visit pathwaystoindependence.org

WOMENSHELTER OF LONG BEACH IS DEDICATED TO REACHING MORE SURVIVORS AND BREAKING HARMFUL CYCLES

NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

For 50 years, WomenShelter of Long Beach has been a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence — available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who needs it. And despite what its name might suggest, that means everyone. Regardless of gender, background or circumstance, WSLB’s doors are open.

As the organization approaches its golden anniversary in 2027, its leadership is focused on one thing: ensuring more people know they’re there.

“We’re more than the name,” says Executive Director Kent Wallace-Meggs. “People look at our name and don’t know that we’re more than a shelter. They don’t know that we serve people of all backgrounds.”

MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

One of the nonprofit’s most pressing priorities is reaching populations most in need of its services. Long Beach’s Cambodian community — the largest outside of Cambodia itself — is one of those populations. Last October, WSLB was awarded a federal Health and Human Services demonstration grant to develop a peer-to-peer youth education program specifically within that community — one that accounts for generational trauma, immigration hardship and cultural barriers to seeking help.

“...they bring the [trauma] and all of that with them,” WallaceMeggs explains. “And then also so many other untold stories — just [in] the journey to get here.”

This holistic philosophy is at the core of how WSLB approaches its mission. For Wallace-Meggs, serving the whole person begins with the environment he creates for his staff and clients alike. “What do I feel when I walk through the front door? What’s the vibe? Are people glad to be here? Are they feeling supported?”

THE YOUTH CONFERENCE — AND A SURVIVOR’S STORY

WSLB recently held its ninth annual youth conference, which Board President Mike Vela called the best one yet. Student performers from Interact, a social justice drama troupe at Cal State Long Beach, roleplayed real-life scenarios — how to say no firmly and recognize red flags — while parents sat in the audience learning alongside their teens.

The keynote speaker was April Hernandez-Castillo, an author, speaker and actress best known for her role in the movie “Freedom Writers.” Hernandez-Castillo brought a rare authenticity to the room: the woman who once portrayed a trauma-laden Long Beach high school student in a story many in the audience could identify with was now sharing her own survivor story with them.

“There weren’t very many dry eyes in the house,” Vela recalls.

WHY COMMUNITY SUPPORT MATTERS NOW

Prevention and education are only part of the picture. For those already in crisis, WSLB serves clients from intake through case management, with stays typically ranging from 30 to 45 days. A new transitional housing program is in development to address one of the biggest barriers survivors face in moving forward.

“Give them more time to come up with a solid long-term game plan,” Wallace-Meggs says, “instead of feeling rushed to figure your whole life out in 30 to 45 days.”

With federal funding uncertain and demand for services growing, the mission has never been more urgent. “The need is not decreasing,” says Vela. “More people are becoming aware that we’re here — and we have to have the money to be able to serve them.”

The gala honoree this year? A 6-year-old boy who donates his lemonade stand earnings to the shelter. It’s that kind of community spirit — across generations and backgrounds — that WSLB is counting on as it heads into its next 50 years.

To learn more or get involved, visit womenshelterlb.org. If you or someone you know needs help, call the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at (562) 437-4663

ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”

She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s, she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.

Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?

A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.

Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?

A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.

Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.

Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?

A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.

This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle Podcast.

“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”

— Becky Hillyard

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

MAY 1ST – 3RD

Breathe Long Beach

The Cove Hotel

Long Beach City Lifestyle presents Breathe Long Beach — a three-day retreat experience at The Cove Hotel. Rooted in intentional movement, nourishing food, and restorative connection, this retreat offers yoga, sound baths, curated meals and meaningful community experiences. Choose your own journey through a self-guided flow. The Elevated Experience includes cabana massage, floating sound bath and Sunday brunch. Space intentionally limited. Tickets and details at bit.ly/breatheLB

MAY 7TH

Breakfast BLAST 2026

Long Beach Yacht Club | 7:15 AM

Long Beach BLAST hosts Breakfast BLAST 2026, a community event in support of its mission to transform lives through mentoring. Guests will hear inspiring stories of impact, connect with others who share a passion for supporting youth and help pave the way for a brighter future. Attendees play a vital role in empowering the next generation and ensuring transformative mentoring opportunities continue to thrive. Together, the community honors the past and invests in the extraordinary potential of the future.

MAY 10TH

City Cruises Mother’s Day Premier Brunch Cruise

Rainbow Harbor, Dock 6A | 10:30 AM

Celebrate aboard the Premier Long Beach Mother’s Day Brunch Cruise, featuring a chef-prepared buffet with sweet and savory dishes, bottomless mimosas and cocktails. Guests can enjoy live music, harbor views and quality time with family while taking in the skyline from indoor and open-air decks, with plenty of opportunities for photos along the way.

MAY 16TH

4th Annual Ladies High Tea and Lunch

Hotel Maya | 11:00 AM

Hosted by Long Beach Rescue Mission and benefiting their Lydia House, join us for a lovely afternoon by the waterfront at the Hotel Maya’s Lagunita Pavilion! Enjoy a “High Tea” luncheon, beautiful program, spring raffle and entertainment — all while hearing about the exciting expansion of Lydia House, a new 60-bed safe haven for women and children. Keynote speaker Chrystal Evans Hurst, daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, will share an inspiring message. Ladies, wear your finest tea hats!

MAY 21ST

Women of Excellence & Small Business Grant Dinner

Events On Pine, 140 Pine Ave, 3rd Floor | 5:30 PM

The Women of Excellence & Small Business Grant Dinner is an evening dedicated to honoring standout women shaping Long Beach through leadership, service and innovation. Hosted by the Women’s Business Council of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, the event brings together community leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers for a meaningful program featuring a moderated panel and recognition of this year’s honorees and the small business grant recipient.

MAY 22ND

Nonprofit Community Breakfast: Forward Together

The Grand | 8:30 AM

Join The Nonprofit Partnership for the Nonprofit Community Partnership Breakfast, a morning of connection, collaboration and community. The event celebrates organizations making a difference while bringing together leaders and change-makers to build new partnerships and strengthen collective impact. Attendees will connect with peers and explore opportunities to advance community work across the region. RSVP at go.tnpsocal.org/community-breakfast

BERRY BRUSCHETTA

A RECIPE FROM A CUP FULL OF SASS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY TINNIN

This Berry Bruschetta is a delightful twist on the classic bruschetta that we all love. This version uses fruit, bringing a sweet element to the traditionally savory dish. With the use of fresh berries, cream cheese, delicious fruit spread, crumbled cheese, and fresh rosemary, it is the perfect addition to your next spring event. This simple, yet beautiful appetizer could be enjoyed at your next brunch, shower or Mother’s Day celebration. But let’s be honest—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy this delectable dish!

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 baguette slices

• Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)

• 4 oz cream cheese

• 1/4 cup Fruit and Honey Triple Berry Spread (or any fruit spread of your choice)

• 1/3 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries

• 2 oz fruit cheese (such as Wensleydale with Autumn Fruit), crumbled

• Fresh rosemary for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Lightly brush the front and back of the baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

3. Toast baguette slices in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.

4. Once the baguette slices are cool, spread a generous layer of cream cheese over each slice.

5. Add the fruit spread on top of the cream cheese.

6. Add sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, allowing the vibrant colors to pop. (A great place to find fresh fruit is our local staple, Crystal & Rich’s Produce.)

7. Crumble the fruit cheese over the top for an added layer of richness and depth.

8. Garnish with fresh Rosemary if desired.

9. Serve and enjoy!

Long Beach

BREATHE A community retreat experience

May 1 - May 3

Three days to slow down and breathe. It’s the reset you need and the luxury experience you deserve, without the travel.

Save $50 with this exclusive discount code for Long Beach City Lifestyle readers: Yoga | Meditation | Sound Baths | Connection LBCLIFESTYLE

Presented by: In partnership with:

Retreat. Rest. Reset.

Scan the code or visit bit.ly/breatheLB to reserve your space.