Long Beach City College Honors Jenni Rivera with New Arts Center

Long Beach City College (LBCC) has officially named its new performing arts center after the iconic singer and alumna, Jenni Rivera. The decision was unanimously approved by LBCC’s Board of Trustees last week, marking a significant tribute to the beloved artist who inspired many throughout her career.

Uduak-Joe Ntuk, the president of LBCC’s Board of Trustees, expressed the importance of this recognition. “This naming recognizes not just an extraordinary performer, but a daughter of Long Beach whose voice and spirit transcended borders,” he stated. “Jenni Rivera inspired millions through her music, resilience, and advocacy. We are proud that future generations of artists will learn and create in a space that bears her name.”

To further cement this legacy, Jenni Rivera Enterprises will contribute $2 million over the next ten years to the LBCC Foundation. The majority of this funding will support scholarships and educational programs, according to the Long Beach Post.

Jacqie Rivera, the artist’s daughter and CEO of Jenni Rivera Enterprises, voiced her family’s gratitude for the honor. “Our family is deeply honored that Long Beach City College has chosen to memorialize Jenni in this extraordinary way,” she said. “Long Beach shaped who Jenni was — as an artist, a mother, and a woman — committed to her community. Knowing that young performers will grow, train, and find their creative voice in a center that carries her name is profoundly meaningful to us.”

Upcoming Arts Center and Rivera’s Legacy

The Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center is scheduled to open in spring 2026. This new facility is the second tribute to Rivera from LBCC, following her induction into the LBCC Hall of Fame earlier this year. Rivera was honored alongside actor and activist Jennifer Kumiyama and attorney Norm Rasmussen for her contributions to the arts and her community.

Rivera, born and raised in Long Beach, attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in the 1980s. Despite facing challenges, including becoming a mother as a sophomore, she graduated as valedictorian from Reid Continuation High School. She then attended LBCC before transferring to California State University, Long Beach, where she earned a degree in business administration.

Following her education, Rivera worked as a real estate agent while also contributing to her father’s recording studio and record label, Cintas Acuario. This label, founded by her father, Pedro Rivera, became a significant player in the music industry, helping to launch the careers of various artists, including Chálino Sanchez.

Rivera released her first album, “Somos Rivera,” in 1992, paving the way for a prolific career that tragically ended when she and six others died in a plane crash in Mexico on December 9, 2012. Known as the “Diva de la Banda,” Rivera was a self-made star who broke barriers in the male-dominated genre of música mexicana.

Honoring a Cultural Icon

In recognition of her impact, Long Beach city officials honored Rivera’s legacy by naming a park after her in 2015. The Jenni Rivera Memorial Park features a captivating 125-foot mural celebrating her life and heritage. Additionally, Rivera was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024, which her five children accepted on her behalf.

During the unveiling ceremony for her star, Rivera’s daughter, Jenicka Lopez, reflected on her mother’s dreams. “One of my mom’s favorite exes used to work in this vicinity,” she recalled. “We would come and check in on him and she always dreamt… ‘I’m gonna have my star here one day.’”

Lopez continued, “I thought it was impossible after she passed away, but God has a beautiful way of proving people wrong.”

The naming of the performing arts center at LBCC serves not only as a tribute to Jenni Rivera’s extraordinary career but also as a lasting legacy that will inspire future generations of artists.