PBS SoCal’s LOCAL HEROES Program Dedicated to Those Making a Difference In Communities Across Southern California Now Calling for Submissions from the Public With Entries Due by May 31
Press Contact
Chelsea Grosbeck
cgrosbeck@pbssocal.org
747.201.5202
Los Angeles, Calif. – May 1, 2025 – PBS SoCal, Southern California's flagship PBS station, announced today that the 27th annual LOCAL HEROES program will be accepting submissions from the public for the 2025 season as well as accepting applications for new members of the Community Advisory Board (CAB), an active group of volunteer leaders from around the region that plays an integral part in the planning and implementation of many outreach programs including the LOCAL HEROES initiative. Every year, the LOCAL HEROES program recognizes the accomplishments of those who are dedicated to making a difference in the community: activists, community leaders and visionaries doing critical work that often goes unrecognized in the Southern California region. For the 2025 selection process, the CAB will select two honorees. The deadline to submit names to be considered for the LOCAL HEROES program is May 31, 2025 on the PBS SoCal website at PBSSoCal.org/LocalHeroes
NEW MEMBERS FOR COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
PBS SoCal is also looking for new members to fill vacancies on the Community Advisory Board (CAB). With the goal to have a CAB that represents the rich stories of the communities of the Southern California region and the varied and numerous audiences we serve. This is a volunteer position.
The CAB is an active group of volunteer community leaders, who serve as the stations’ eyes and ears of the community. The CAB serves to advise the governing body of PBS SoCal with respect to whether the programming and other policies are meeting the educational and cultural needs of the various communities served by the station. The CAB members play an integral part of the planning and implementation of many of the stations’ outreach programs.
As a CAB member, PBS SoCal is looking for prospective applicants to:
- Be familiar with public media’s broadcast and digital content
- Have a personal commitment to public service and/or community work
- Serve a term of three-years. Over that term, attend quarterly meetings, which currently take place via Zoom at 3:30pm Pacific Time on Tuesdays and one in-person retreat per year (currently scheduled for August 2025)
Additionally,
- PBS SoCal membership is strongly encouraged -- as an important part of our investment in the station and in recognition the role it plays in the community. More information on membership: pbssocal.org/support/membership
- CAB members are also highly encouraged to join at least one Pillar group (as described here), which meet monthly, to move the CAB’s strategic plan forward.
Applicants are asked to upload a copy of their current resume and bio (if available) and apply online at https://www.pbssocal.org/about/community-advisory-board
Deadline to apply to be a PBS SoCal Community Advisory Board member is Sunday, May 18, 2025.
LOCAL HEROES NOMINATION INFORMATION
Since 1998, the LOCAL HEROES program has paid tribute to exemplary leaders who are making a difference and enriching the lives of others by improving our community, region, and the world at large and whose work addresses underserved or marginalized communities within Southern California. To nominate someone, individuals should have performed exemplary deeds of service outside of their regular jobs, demonstrated a commitment to community service in Southern California and have helped their fellow community members through one or more extraordinary acts. Also considered are individuals whose service relates to addressing a long-term or persistent problem or whose service has had a sustained impact on others in our Southern California region and provided inspiration for others to serve.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A LOCAL HERO HONOREE?
PBS SoCal honors LOCAL HEROES by spotlighting their work across our media platforms. Profiles including complete bios for the 2024 LOCAL HEROES can be found at pbssocal.org/localheroes while a short promotional video featuring the two 2025 LOCAL HERO honorees will run on-air on PBS SoCal. Honorees will also be showcased on the PBS SoCal website, as well as various promotional efforts by PBS SoCal (press release, social media, email marketing, etc.) and will be invited to a variety of PBS SoCal community events over the following calendar year.
RULES & GUIDELINES:
Nominations must be received by Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Nominees must be individuals 13 years of age and older from the Southern California area who have made a significant impact to their profession and community beyond the scope of his/her paid position. Individuals nominating potential candidates are responsible for providing the pertinent information necessary for the application, which may require independent research.
All eligible candidates will be considered and reviewed in order to determine the 2025 LOCAL HEROES finalists and honorees. Selecting the honorees is a multi-tiered process that includes a review by the LOCAL HEROES committee made up of select members from the Community Advisory Board. The entire Community Advisory Board will then vote on the selected nominees to make the final determination of the two honorees.
More than one person can be considered in a single nomination but an organization cannot be considered, as the LOCAL HEROES Program is looking to highlight the work of individuals. PBS SoCal is not able to accept nominations for those that have already been recognized by the program. Elected officials cannot be nominated for the LOCAL HEROES program, as their impact is generally well recognized publicly. A list of those who have previously been honored is here.
2024 LOCAL HEROES PROGRAM
In 2024, two LOCAL HERO honorees were selected from ten outstanding finalists making a difference in the community and were recommended by the organization’s Community Advisory Board. Honorees were named as Stacy Yung and Virginia Nguyen, co-founders of Educate to Empower as well as Dr. Alberto J. Román, Interim Chancellor of Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). All ten finalists were celebrated at the annual private Holiday Community Celebration event hosted by PBS SoCal in early December.
About PBS SoCal
PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, donor/member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal manages 7 channels — including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus as well as 5 digital subchannels. With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal reaches nearly 19M viewers in the region with programming that reflects the diversity of Southern California and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. PBS SoCal programming is available to viewers over-the-air, on all key streaming platforms via the free PBS App and PBS KIDS App. PBS SoCal also sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by bringing bilingual, hands-on learning experiences to the community for free.