Long Beach City College names new performing arts center in honor of Jenni Rivera

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Long Beach City College is honoring local legend and former student Jenni Rivera by officially naming its performing arts center after her.

The LBCC Board of Trustees recently decided to name their new building the Jenni Rivera Performing Arts Center, with all members voting in favor.

LBCC’s board president, Uduak-Joe Ntuk, announced the naming decision, explaining that it honors both Jenni Rivera’s incredible talent and her deep connection to Long Beach. He stated that her music, strength, and commitment to others touched millions of lives, and that this naming will inspire artists for years to come by providing a space dedicated to her legacy.

Jenni Rivera Enterprises is giving $2 million to the LBCC Foundation over the next decade, primarily to support scholarships and educational programs, according to the Long Beach Post.

The late Jenni Rivera will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, twelve years after her tragic passing in a plane crash. She remains a beloved and influential figure in the world of musica Mexicana.

Jacqie Rivera, Jenni Rivera’s daughter and CEO of Jenni Rivera Enterprises, said her family is incredibly honored that Long Beach City College is creating this memorial for Jenni. Long Beach was a formative place for Jenni, influencing her as an artist, a mother, and a person dedicated to her community. The family is especially touched that aspiring performers will be able to develop their talents and find their own voices in a center named after her.

The new performing arts center is set to open in spring 2026. This marks the second time LBCC has honored singer “Inolvidable,” following their induction into the LBCC Hall of Fame earlier this year. They joined actor and activist Jennifer Kumiyama and attorney Norm Rasmussen as inductees.

Born and raised in Long Beach, Rivera went to Long Beach Poly High School in the 1980s and became pregnant while in her sophomore year. She later earned her high school diploma from Reid Continuation High School, graduating as the class valedictorian. She continued her education at Long Beach City College (LBCC) before transferring to Cal State Long Beach, where she received a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

She quickly started working as a real estate agent and also helped out at her father’s recording studio and record label.

Around 250 fans gathered on the corner of Yucca and Vine streets to see the unveiling of Jenni Rivera’s star on the Walk of Fame. Rivera, a beloved icon of música Mexicana, tragically passed away in a plane crash in 2012.

Jenni Rivera came from a musical family. Her father, Pedro Rivera, was a well-known singer of traditional Mexican ballads called corridos. He also started a record label, Cintas Acuario, in the 1980s. What began as a small stand at swap meets blossomed into a respected independent label that helped launch the careers of artists like Chálino Sanchez. Jenni’s four brothers were also involved in music, with her brother Lupillo achieving significant fame as a successful singer.

Selena released her debut album, “Somos Rivera,” in 1992, beginning a hugely successful music career. Sadly, this career was cut short when she died in a plane crash in Mexico on December 9, 2012, along with six others.

Known as the “Diva de la Banda,” she rose from humble beginnings to become a major star. As an American-born performer, she boldly broke into the traditionally male world of Mexican music, paving the way for others.

Jenni Rivera’s death in 2012 was a shock, and she left behind an estate worth around $28 million. Now, a legal battle has begun between her family members over that estate.

In 2015, the city of Long Beach paid tribute to the singer by naming a park after her. The Jenni Rivera Memorial Park features a 125-foot-long mural along a brick wall, celebrating her life and cultural background.

In 2024, Jennifer Rivera received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and her five children accepted it for her.

Jenicka Lopez, the daughter of Jenni Rivera, shared a memory from the star unveiling ceremony. She recalled how her mother used to visit an old boyfriend who worked nearby, and often spoke about her dreams of success while they were driving in her Mercedes. Lopez remembered her mother saying, ‘I’m going to have my star here one day.’

After she died, I didn’t think I could get through it, but God showed me things could get better in a surprising way.

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2025-12-20 03:31