PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – This fall, the Long Beach Public Library (Library) will host Khmer, Come All – a program series celebrating the local Cambodian community featuring a variety of in-person programs at the Mark Twain Neighborhood Library (1401 E. Anaheim St.) and one virtual event. Each program will highlight different aspects of Cambodian culture, including history, food, craft traditions, a cultural workshop and a film screening. Khmer, Come All will take place on select days beginning Saturday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022.

“We welcome everyone to attend the Library's Khmer, Come All program series celebrating Cambodian heritage,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “One of the best things about Long Beach is the chance to experience the history and traditions of our Cambodian and immigrant communities."

Khmer, Come All events celebrating Cambodian heritage will take place in November into the first week of December and will feature the below highlights:

• Why Long Beach? Nov. 5 at 12:30 p.m. – Dr. Susan Needham from California State University Dominguez Hills and Dr. Karen Quintiliani from California State University Long Beach will discuss their book “Cambodians in Long Beach” and explain how Long Beach became home to the largest Cambodian community in the United States.
• Voices of a New Generation, Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. – Dr. Christine Su will discuss her book “Voices of a New Generation: Cambodian Americans in the Creative Arts” and moderate a panel conversation with composer PraCH Ly, film director Caylee So and Chef Tarak Ouk.
• The Donut Princess with Mayly Tao, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. – Mayly Tao will share her experience being a part of the documentary “The Donut King” and will also discuss her book “American Dream, with Sprinkles.”
• Virtual Event with Bunkong Tuon, Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. – Bunkong Tuon is a poet and professor who will share how the city of Long Beach helped him discover his voice in the 1990s and inspired him to share the story of his family. This event will be offered via Zoom.
• The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing Ngor with Arthur Dong, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. – Director Arthur Dong will show then discuss his film “The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing Ngor,” a singular documentary on one of the most well-known survivors of the Cambodian genocide.

“One of our primary goals is to offer programs that are inclusive and make people of all backgrounds feel at home,” said Library Services Director Cathy De Leon. “Khmer, Come All will celebrate the history and heritage of the Cambodian community that is a vital part of the Long Beach experience.”

Khmer, Come All is made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities that produces, funds, creates and supports humanities-based projects and programs, eye-opening cultural experiences and meaningful conversations.

A complete list of Khmer, Come All events is available on the Library's website at lbpl.org. All events are free and open to the public.

About the City of Long Beach 
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program. 

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Watch us on LBTV. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

About Long Beach Public Library
Long Beach Public Library, founded in 1896, serves a diverse urban city of close to half a million people. The Long Beach Public Library system includes the Billie Jean King Main Library and eleven neighborhood libraries and a vibrant online presence. In summer of 2017, the Long Beach Public Library was awarded the National Medal for Library and Museum Services in recognition of successful community-collaborations, innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and literacy-focused programs to the residents of Long Beach. With an emphasis on providing free and equal access to information and support for learning for a lifetime, the Library offers books, media, databases, Internet access, Family Learning Centers, makerspaces, and a variety of events ranging from story times to educational and cultural programs.

For more information, visit lbpl.org, “Like” the Long Beach Public Library on Facebook, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram.