The "strum-mittee" agrees that our guests rocked Ukulele Night this past Monday! We are UKE-fully grateful for a UKE-tastic evening! The UKE jokes were hilarious...UKE-n’t make this up!

It was such a joyful evening! Thank you to everyone who joined us. We sang Christmas carols, learned the basics of playing, and shared a lot of laughs. There was a wonderful mix of friends, neighbors, and families, and the sense of community in our backyard was incredibly strong. It was the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. We are especially grateful to Dr. Victor "Ukulele_dad" Thompson for generously sharing his gift of music and teaching us the foundations of the ukulele. His talents truly made the evening memorable. Here are a few UKE-nique photos:

Now, let's turn the page to our next event which is very special and means a great deal to me.

This Saturday, I’m hosting a Book Signing Brunch for author David McGill-Soriano, who was born and raised right here on the West Side of Long Beach. David grew up in a single-parent household and faced tremendous challenges, including living in a neighborhood deeply affected by gang violence. He has been open about the realities he survived on the very blocks many of us know well.

I first met David about eight years ago while we were volunteering at a community event, and I’ll never forget the impression he made. He was young but carried himself with a maturity well beyond his years. He connected easily with people, stayed calm under pressure, and organized others with a natural ease. When I eventually learned the hardships he had overcome, I was honestly blown away by his strength, perseverance, and purpose.

Against the odds, he went to college, excelled, and—most importantly—made the intentional choice to come back home to uplift the very community that shaped him.

David went on to found a nonprofit that uses basketball as a pathway to keep kids safe, connected, and inspired to change the trajectory of their lives. His new book shares that journey in a powerful way, offering a blueprint for resilience, leadership, and hope.

This brunch will give guests the chance to meet him, hear the story behind the book, take photos, and get a signed hard cover copy.

This event is especially meaningful for anyone who works with youth or has young people in their lives—parents, coaches, teachers, mentors, aunties, uncles, or anyone supporting a child who may be struggling in school, facing difficult environments, or simply searching for direction. David’s message speaks directly to them.

While this is technically a campaign event, the focus is not fundraising. The suggested contribution is $100, but if someone is experiencing hardship or simply unfamiliar with the political process, please reassure them they are absolutely welcome to attend without donating. My priority for this event is getting the right people in the room to hear an important and inspiring story — one that could truly make a difference for a young person.

EVENT DETAILS

Book Signing Brunch with David McGill-Soriano

📍The Malauulu Residence (address provided with RSVP)

📅 Saturday, December 6, 2025

⏰ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Brunch will be provided

Even if someone can only stop by briefly for the book signing portion, that alone would mean a lot. We already have about 15 RSVPs, and after hosting nearly 40 neighbors at Ukulele Night, I would love to fill the backyard again for David. He deserves a full audience.

If you can help me share this with parents, mentors, teachers, youth leaders, or anyone who might benefit, I would be truly grateful. I’m including the flyer, and here is the direct RSVP link:

Thank you again for your support and for always helping build community. This event has the potential to impact families in a meaningful, lasting way.

Blessings and love,

Vivian Malauulu

Candidate for Long Beach City Council District 7

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