Long Beach Post's 40 Under 40

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On April 26, 2012, I had the distinct honor of being named one of the Long Beach Post's 40 Under 40.

I had received an email about a week and a half before the event saying I had been nominated and I was invited to attend the event, free of charge. I was floored. I do alot of charity work, and I have won awards in high school and college. But usually I just go about my business of giving back. To be recognized, even if I didn't win, was an honor.

When they called my name, I was literally in shock. I looked at a woman I had been chatting with and said "That's me." She started screaming and cheering, which broke me from my trance LOL

This honor means the world to me. I am beyond proud to receive this award, and I plan to live up to the description of the winners.

Here's a link to my bio on LBPost.com: http://www.lbpost.com/presents/9-uncategorised/2000000300-heather-crow-nelson

In Their Words

This is how the LBPost.com describes the 40 Under 40 event:
"If there is a cohesive belief that runs through all those that contribute to the Long Beach Post, it is the mere fact that in order to build a distinct, dynamic community, we must recognize those who contribute to its betterment. The power of recognition cannot be relegated to the given and apparent, but must dig deeper in order to find the voices that are not only continuously recognized, but those perhaps not quite heard, the faces who are perhaps not much seen, and the hands that are perhaps not quite shaken enough...It is not just a list nor is it a simple posting of younger people we feel are changing our city. It is a celebration and gathering, a vis-à-vis of recognizing the unrecognized. It is sharing a special space, complete with an environment built to put those often on the side finally on a pedestal. It is about partaking in the efforts occurring now to make us more connected and -- a word we will use often -- more recognized. It lacks pretense and harbors uniqueness, sheds typicality while embracing dynamism."

The Judges


Judges for this amazing event included:
* Erin Gruwell (former Wilson High English teacher who eventually transformed the lives of her marginalized students and helped create the national bestseller, The Freedom Writers Diary)
* Justin Rudd (founder and director of the non-profit organization Community Action Team, is a long time philanthropist and community organizer in Long Beach, his events and activities have been featured in every major publication from the New York Times to U.S. News and World Report.)
* Wayne A. Cheney, Jr. (pastor, Antioch Church of Long Beach, co-founder of the Long Beach Gospel Fest); Susana Gonzalez (oversaw the California State Student Association, one of the nation's largest non-profit student advocacy groups)
* Diane Ripley (owner, Kirste Ripley Public relations, a national award winning Public and Government Affairs and Strategy company)
* Kristi Allen (manager of Hotel Maya, member of the board of Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau, International City Theatre, Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Board, and Downtown Long Beach Associates)
* William A. Bedrossian (social worker; His work across North Long Beach is being recognized not only amongst the lives he has directly effected, but by his peers and fellow professionals in the fields of psychology, social work, and policy)
* Michael DuRee (deputy chief of the Long Beach Fire Department)
* Randy Gordon (president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, serves on the boards of the YMCA, the California Conference for Equality and Justice, St. Mary Medical Center, the Long Beach City College Foundation Board of Governors, California State University of Long Beach Advisory Board for the School of Engineering, Miller Children’s Hospital Advisory Board, Long Beach Grand Prix Board and the Salvation Army Board of Advisors, and the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House Board)
* Jamie Mulligan (chief operating officer of the Long Beach Virginia Country Club and an award-winning PGA professional golfer)