The 3rd Annual Public Health Expo, led by the Long Beach City College Public Health Program, is a signature event of LBCC Public Health Awareness Month, held each April to help students and community members better understand public health and how they can improve both their own health and the health of their communities. Drawing over 300 attendees and more than 40 community partner organizations each year, the Expo brings together students, professionals, and community leaders to explore education, wellness resources, and career pathways across the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. Through student research presentations, community engagement, wellness activities, health screenings, and networking opportunities, the event creates a dynamic space where learning, opportunity, and community health come together.

Public Health Expo — Event Snapshot

Event: 3rd Annual LBCC Public Health Expo – Think Globally. Act Locally.

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Location:

Long Beach City College
Liberal Arts Campus – A-Quad (in front of the Welcome Center)

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Hosted By: LBCC Public Health Program

Part of: LBCC Public Health Awareness Month (April)

Who Should Attend:
Students, community members, public health professionals, and organizations across the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

What to Expect:
Community partner organizations, student research presentations, health screenings, wellness activities, career exploration, networking opportunities, free food, and live music.

Expo Highlights

• Free food and Music

• 40+ community partner organizations representing the Health Care and Social Assistance sector

• Student public health research presentations

• Health screenings provided by community health organizations

• Professional skill demonstrations showcasing real-world public health and health care practices

• Career exploration and networking opportunities with public health professionals

• Wellness activities, including yoga sessions and sound bath experiences

• Cheer and Dance Team Performance

Public Health Expo Schedule

• 10:00 AM – Welcome & Event Opening

  • ​Opening remarks from the Long Beach City College Public Health Program and introduction to the 3rd Annual Public Health Expo and LBCC Public Health Awareness Month.

• 11:00 AM – Public Health Expo Begins
  • ​​Community partner exhibits open, providing opportunities to connect with organizations across the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. Attendees can explore wellness resources, career pathways, internships, and volunteer opportunities offered by community partners.
• 11:30 AM – Student Research Symposium & Wellness Activities Begin
  • Public Health Research Symposium: Student research project presentations addressing public health issues affecting communities locally and globally.
  • Wellness Activities: Sound bath and yoga sessions focused on promoting physical and mental well-being.
• 12:00 PM – Free Community Lunch & Networking
  • Free lunch provided while attendees continue networking with students, faculty, and community partner organizations offering career, internship, and volunteer opportunities.
• 2:00 PM – Community Response & Intervention Session
  • Interactive discussion highlighting how public health professionals and community organizations respond to health challenges and implement interventions that improve community health. Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation for attending this session.
• 3:00 PM – Black Student Success Center One-Year Anniversary
  • Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Black Student Success Center, held during Black Student Success Week. This event is hosted by the Black Student Success Center and is separate from the LBCC Public Health Expo.
  • The 2025 theme, “Lift Up, Level Up: The Rise of Black Serving Institutions,” highlights efforts to support the success of Black and African American students.
  • Location: LAC Black Student Success Center
• 4:30 pm - Viking Preview Day
  • Time: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Viking Preview Day, led by the Office of Early College Initiatives, welcomes incoming students and their families to learn about starting at Long Beach City College. Attendees can explore academic programs, connect with student services and clubs, meet faculty and staff, and take a campus tour.
  • Location: LBCC Trades, Technology, and Community Learning Campus (TTC)

Contact Information

Frank Henry-Ala

Public Health Faculty, Long Beach City College

Email: fhenry-ala@lbcc.edu

Phone: 562-938-5516

LBCC Public Health Awareness Month

In Spring 2024, the Long Beach City College Board of Trustees approved a resolution formally recognizing April as LBCC Public Health Awareness Month, highlighting the college’s commitment to advancing public health awareness, strengthening health literacy, and expanding public health education to empower individuals and communities to understand and address health challenges while improving overall well-being.

Purpose of Public Health Awareness Month

Public Health Awareness Month is designed to increase understanding of public health and encourage students and community members to explore how they can contribute to healthier communities.

Throughout April, the LBCC Public Health Program hosts events, learning opportunities, and community engagement activities that highlight public health challenges and solutions while introducing students to education and career pathways in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

Other Events That Support Public Health Awareness

Public health is strengthened through collaboration across many areas that support health, well-being, and equitable opportunities. During April, several initiatives and events take place that align with and support the goals of LBCC Public Health Awareness Month. Students and community members are encouraged to explore these events as part of their learning and engagement in public health.

National Public Health Week

April also includes National Public Health Week, a nationwide initiative established in 1995 and led by the American Public Health Association.

National Public Health Week highlights the importance of public health and raises awareness about health challenges affecting communities across the United States. Universities, health departments, and community organizations host events that focus on prevention, health promotion, and community-based strategies that improve population health.

The week often coincides with LBCC Spring Break, which creates an opportunity for students and community members to participate in public health activities happening throughout the community.

Students and community members are encouraged to connect with the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services to learn about local events, programs, and opportunities to engage in activities that support community health.

Learn more about National Public Health Week: https://www.apha.org/initiatives/national-public-health-week

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Awareness Month

Public Health Awareness Month takes place alongside Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Awareness Month at Long Beach City College. DEIA Month includes events and programming across the college that promote equity, inclusion, and accessible learning environments for all students.

These efforts align closely with public health by addressing social and structural conditions that affect health and well-being.

Black Student Success Week

Public Health Expo may also overlap with Black Student Success Week, a statewide initiative across California community colleges that focuses on supporting the academic success, well-being, and leadership development of Black and African American students.

Events during this week emphasize mentorship, community engagement, and strategies that help create equitable educational opportunities that contribute to stronger and healthier communities.

More information about Black Student Success Week: https://www.lbcc.edu/black-cultural-heritage

Who Should Attend

The Public Health Expo is open to anyone interested in learning more about public health and how individuals and communities can work together to improve health and well-being.

This event is especially valuable for:

• LBCC students interested in careers in public health, healthcare, or social services
• High school students exploring education and career pathways
• Community members interested in improving their own health and supporting healthier communities
• Public health, health care, and social assistance professionals interested in connecting with students and community partners
• Community organizations and nonprofits working to address health and social challenges

Why Attend the Public Health Expo

The Public Health Expo provides a unique opportunity to learn how public health improves the well-being of individuals and communities.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Learn how public health initiatives address real community health challenges
• Explore career pathways in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector
• Connect with organizations offering career, internship, and volunteer opportunities
• Discover wellness resources that support physical and mental health
• Participate in health screenings and professional skill demonstrations
• Engage with student research focused on real-world public health issues

The event brings together learning, community engagement, and opportunity in one place.

Opportunities & Resources

Community partner organizations participating in the Public Health Expo provide a variety of opportunities and resources for students and community members.

Participants can explore:

• Wellness resources and health promotion programs
• Career pathway information in the public health and community health fields
• Internship opportunities with community organizations and health agencies
• Volunteer opportunities supporting community health initiatives
• Networking with professionals working across public health, healthcare, and social services

These opportunities help attendees take the next step in learning about public health, gaining experience, and contributing to healthier communities.

Wellness Activities & Health Screenings

Public health focuses on promoting physical, mental, and community well-being. During the Expo, attendees can participate in wellness experiences and health services offered by community partners.

Activities and services may include:

• Health screenings provided by community health organizations
• Yoga sessions focused on relaxation and movement
• Sound bath wellness experiences
• Health promotion and wellness education activities
• Resources that support mental health and overall well-being

These activities highlight how public health supports healthy lifestyles and stronger communities.

Public Health Research Symposium: Student Poster Presentations

Students from Long Beach City College and local dual enrollment high schools will present projects exploring public health issues affecting communities locally, nationally, and globally. Reflecting the Expo theme “Think Globally. Act Locally.”, students examine how broader public health challenges connect to the experiences of individuals and communities in their own neighborhoods.

Using a systems thinking approach, students explore how multiple factors—such as social conditions, environmental influences, policies, and community resources—interact to shape health outcomes. This perspective helps students understand how complex public health challenges are interconnected across local, national, and global contexts.

Students select topics that are most meaningful to them, allowing them to investigate issues that impact their communities and reflect their interests and lived experiences.

The Public Health Research Symposium will take place as a gallery walk of student poster presentations, where attendees can move through the space, explore projects, and engage directly with students about their work. This interactive format encourages conversation, knowledge sharing, and collaboration between students, faculty, community partners, and public health professionals while helping students develop research, communication, and professional presentation skills.

Community Partner Booth Registration

Organizations are encouraged to register early to secure a booth and connect directly with students exploring careers in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

Registration Information

Registration Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2026
Registration Form: https://forms.office.com/r/eMtwj4MpaT

This registration form is for organizations interested in hosting a community partner booth at the Expo. All organizations will be reviewed and verified prior to participation to ensure alignment with the event’s focus on public health, health care, and social assistance services.

We welcome participation from community-based organizations, health systems, public agencies, nonprofits, and workforce partners working to improve health and well-being in our communities.

Organizations are encouraged to register early, as space is limited. Confirmation of participation will be sent during the week of March 23–27, 2026.

Community Partner Schedule

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Location: LBCC-LAC-A-Quad (in front of Welcome Center)

Setup: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Active Tabling: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Complimentary Lunch: 12:30 PM

Cleanup: 2:00 PM

Each registered organization will receive a standard 6–8 ft table, chairs, access to a shared canopy space, complimentary parking, and lunch for participating representatives. Organizations are responsible for bringing their own materials such as brochures, signage, tablecloths, and promotional items.

Opportunity to Engage with Students & the Community

Organizations working across the Health Care and Social Assistance sector are invited to participate in the 3rd Annual LBCC Public Health Expo – Think Globally. Act Locally. by hosting a community partner booth. This event connects organizations directly with students exploring health careers, internships, volunteer opportunities, and community health resources.

Why Organizations Participate

Participating in the LBCC Public Health Expo allows organizations to engage directly with students, faculty, and community members interested in improving community health and exploring careers in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

Community partners benefit by:

• Increasing awareness of their programs, services, and community initiatives
• Connecting with students interested in careers in public health, healthcare, and social services
• Identifying potential interns, volunteers, and future employees
• Building relationships with the LBCC Public Health Program and faculty
• Exploring opportunities to collaborate with the Public Health Program on student learning, internships, community engagement, and future events
• Networking with other organizations working to improve community health
• Demonstrating real-world public health and health care practices to students and community members

Ways Community Partners Participate

Community partners have the opportunity to:

• Share information about programs, services, and community initiatives
• Provide health screenings and wellness resources
• Demonstrate professional skills used in public health and health care settings
• Offer internship, volunteer, and career pathway opportunities for students

Booths may include informational outreach, interactive activities, or guided skill demonstrations that highlight real-world public health and health care practices.

Community Partner Directory

During registration, organizations will provide details about their program or initiative, booth activities, organization sector, populations served, and student opportunities such as internships, job shadowing, volunteer roles, or employment pathways.

Community Response & Intervention Session

Organizations may also indicate interest in leading a Community Response & Intervention Session, a 45–60 minute applied learning session that introduces students to real-world public health, health care, or social service response strategies.