One Roof, Many Resources: Lighthouse Fair Delivers Big Impact
The CSULB Village program was created to drive change in the community. It continues to pursue this mission through bridging relationships between the university and faith-based organizations. Today, we highlight the successful 2025 Resource and Empowerment Community Day, executed by our valued liaisons Adrienne Jones and Myesha Gaines from the Lighthouse Center church, located at 180 E. 57th Street in Long Beach.
The Lighthouse Center Church operates a nonprofit that specializes in serving the community and remains committed to the annual liaison volunteer training conducted by the CSULB Village program.
On August 16, 2025, Adrienne Jones and Myesha Gaines hosted their very own Empowerment Center’s Resource Fair in Long Beach, California. This event embodies what it means for churches to be the cornerstone of community connection. Youth and community have always been the driving force behind the creation of the “Back-to-School Resource Fair,” at Lighthouse Church. In fact, this has long been part of the church’s foundation.
The history of Lighthouse Church goes thirty-one years back, founded by Pastor Adrienne’s father. Its legacy is deeply rooted in a vision of serving the community. In its early days, services went beyond Sunday worship to include tutoring, food assistance, youth programs and more. Adrienne Jones, now the pastor of the church, continues this legacy through the many events they host today.
Myesha led and coordinated the event, which is expected to grow each year with more vendors. The resource fair went beyond information, it included jumpers for kids, free meals, free glasses from the LA Clippers, medical insurance flyers, and free blood tests. Participants were thrilled to help children overcome barriers, especially, those with vision issues. It was a great turnout.”
Not including the overall sign-ups, Myesha says, “... over 170–175 backpacks were distributed.” Beach Shops from California State University Long Beach contributed a generous donation of Long Beach merch, pens, pencils and swag gear to add this.
What was the process like to receive this kind of successful outcome?
Adrienne reflects, “Before the success comes the not-so-fun part, the planning and budgeting was the hardest to get down, especially since it was done solely by the church.” Adrienne emphasizes that focusing on the outcome made it worthwhile. Especially seeing the happy tears from mothers and children from the event. “Their faces of appreciation, and then the follow-up of, ‘When will your next event be?’”
Myesha emphasizes the importance of unity: “Knowing how to come together, and sharing talents, is all a part of the process of loving one another. Even if you’re just good at passing out backpacks, no matter what, you can do something to give back, it matters. Planning outreach events takes teamwork, and it will be taxing. But when you know the vision, you can work toward the purpose.”
Some partnerships flourished while others did not, but the ones that did were truly remarkable. These included collaborations such as Bringing Vision to Life (LA Clippers), New York Life Insurance, Southern California Edison, Epiphany (free counseling), Keller and Williams (wills and trusts), Medi-Cal, West Medical Care Team, dental services, and Care Access (free blood tests with $45 gift cards). Families often traveled from far away, asking, 'Is it free?' While these services weren’t entirely free, the church made sacrifices to ensure they were accessible, driven by their faith in Jesus.
Why should other faith-based organizations consider becoming a volunteer liaison?
When you become a volunteer liaison, the biggest benefit is establishing those relationships. From the students to the faculty, liaisons really feel assisted with the knowledge needed to go through the college process at CSULB and sharing that among students. The faculty and student assistants put in effort to show up at the community events that Lighthouse holds, such as poetry nights, volunteering for the vocational bible school and working to spread the information to other students who might also attend. It is a two-way relationship that is built when you become a volunteer liaison. The Village Liaison training is to help members learn but it also helps lower income students gain a greater circle of confidence with someone they’ve known for years that has access to the tools that will help them succeed in the college.
The village training is for any nonprofit, congregation, or community member who is interested in stepping up to help give support to the youth, in order for them to succeed in their - higher education journey. Liaisons also get invited to the school’s events like ours, “Gospel Concerts, Financial wellness workshops, and Alumni gatherings.”
Pastor Adrienne and Myesha deeply value the life-changing relationships they have formed as liaisons at CSULB Village. They appreciate how the program equips them to guide their youth in pursuing college without fear, and they never hesitate to reach out to representatives with questions.
“It helps when students see how they can come to us, and when they call on us, we respond. That’s how we build a true two-way relationship. When students deliver information to young people, it makes a huge difference, and Myesha always shares her testimony, encouraging them to pursue education, a trade, or some form of college so that they have something under their belt. The greatest benefit of becoming a volunteer liaison is establishing those meaningful connections.”
How does your faith tie into your foundation of serving?
At Lighthouse Church, they lean on the gifts of their members to coordinate tasks. Community work is never separate from ministry. Adrienne says, “People don’t care how much you know until they see how much you care.”
Their long-term goal is to offer resources for free, without charging vendors for space. Each event strengthens their vision for growth and community. From weekly sign-ups for Women’s Fellowship, Extravaganza, Sunday Services, and children’s field trips, to hopes of inviting the Jordan High School band, Black faculty, or even the mayor, their plans keep expanding. With December’s event offering raffle prizes and gift cards, they remain committed to creating meaningful connections and lasting impact.
Words of Encouragement:
Myesha: “Start small but just start. Use your talents, organize your ideas, and it’s okay if you don’t finish everything. Use what you already have, publicize it, and ask for help...Share what you know.”
Adrienne: “Make sure people who are good with people are delegated to the right tasks. Attitude matters.”
