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Culture Club Launches Free Beach Classes for Kids

Sep 20, 2021 11:58AM ● By Mb News Staff

Photo via Culture Club South Bay

Culture Club South Bay, an organization that seeks to promote community, diversity, and inclusion across the South Bay, is launching a pilot "youth engagement program" for area children.

The free program will bring a diverse group of youth together from across the South Bay to learn volleyball, surfing, and culinary skills. Kids will have the opportunity to create long lasting friendships while learning the ins and outs of beach sports, ocean safety, cooking, and kitchen safety.

The classes will be held on four consecutive Saturdays at Tower 26 of Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach, beginning Saturday, September 25. Parents can sign up their kids, ages 8 to 13, through the Culture Club South Bay website. The program will include 24 kids on a first come, first served basis.

"After living in Manhattan Beach through the pandemic it was very clear to me that there is a lack of diversity in the South Bay," said Culture Club South Bay Founder Allison Hales. "I want to change that by way of inclusion, bringing youth together from different backgrounds in hopes they will build lifelong relationships though beach activities and cultural programs."

Youth Engagement Program Classes


The classes will take place on Saturday, September 25; Saturday, October 2; Saturday, October 9; and Saturday, October 16.

Sign-in starts each Saturday at 8:00 a.m. at Bruce’s Beach parking lot. Pickup will be at the Manhattan Heights Community Center at 1:30 p.m. The office of Janice Hahn will be providing transportation for the youth from the beach to the Community Center via bus. Lunch will be provided by Lenora Marouani of Barsha Restaurant.

Instructors include Billy Corvalan of Ohana Surf Club and Intrsxtn for surfing; Kashi Walmer,  Rachel Morris, Falyn Fonoimoana, and Alexis Cormier for volleyball; and Lenora Marouani of Barsha Restaurant for culinary arts.

Culture Club South Bay


Culture Club South Bay is sponsored by LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, For Freedoms, Michael Stars, and members of the Manhattan Beach community.

To launch the pilot program, the organization is working a variety of Southern California partners including AVPFirst, Ohana Surf Club, Intrsxtn Surf, The Community Volleyball Academy, Sports 310 Academy, Barsha Restaurant, South Bay for Social and Racial Justice, Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles County, and Hear Her Here.

Culture Club South Bay was founded by Hales in August of 2020 as a way to celebrate different cultures and ethnicities in the South Bay and beyond. Manhattan Beach resident Justin Verbiest serves as the organization's community operations manager.



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