Creating Space to Connect: How Cherelle Lampkin Shapes HB Pride Events
Cherelle Lampkin (left) and Katie Vernon (right) leading the 2025 Pride Parade from the North End to the Hermosa Pride Lifeguard Tower.
When you meet Cherelle Lampkin, what stands out isn’t just her energy, it’s the way she makes you feel welcomed, seen, and ready to be part of something bigger. As Events Chair for Hermosa Beach Pride, Cherelle brings intentionality and connection to every gathering, creating experiences that help our LGBTQ+ community and allies connect, celebrate, and belong.
Cherelle and her wife moved to the South Bay from Indiana a couple of years ago with the idea of trying something new. What started as a short-term move quickly became home. “We came out here kind of on a whim — let’s try it for a year and see what happens,” she shared. Now deeply rooted in Hermosa Beach, she is channeling her passion for people into community-building and Pride event programming.
Her professional life blends fitness, wellness, and human connection. Cherelle works in fitness equipment sales, a role grounded in her academic background in exercise science and wellness management, as well as coaches at fitness centers around the South Bay including Orangetheory. No matter where she is, she motivates people to move their bodies and feel their best. “Teaching is where I really feel like I shine,” she said. “I just enjoy being around people.” That drive to uplift others carries over seamlessly into her work with HB Pride.
Long before joining the board, Cherelle sought out a local Pride organization in Hermosa as a way to find community when she first moved here. After attending events, she saw not only what HB Pride was already doing well, but also what it could become with consistent programming and intentional planning. Her early involvement in Pride events in Indiana gave her a foundation to build from — but what she’s most focused on now is something equally powerful: helping people feel connected.
While Los Angeles is often thought of as a place where LGBTQ+ people can live openly and without hesitation, Cherelle spoke honestly about the everyday nuance that still exists. Living here doesn’t mean every space automatically feels the same, something she navigates with ease, not anxiety.
There are places where being fully herself feels natural and effortless. At the Orangetheory studio where she coaches, surrounded by people who know her and respect her, it’s second nature to give her wife a quick kiss at the end of class. In other settings, she’s more reserved — not because she’s hiding who she is, but because awareness is simply part of moving through the world.
That understanding, that comfort and safety are situational, is something Cherelle carries into her role with Hermosa Beach Pride. She knows firsthand how powerful it is when a space is intentionally created to feel welcoming, affirming, and relaxed. “I want people to know they can show up and be seen,” she explained. For Cherelle, event planning isn’t just about organizing another social gathering, it’s about shaping spaces where people can interact authentically and feel comfortable doing so. That philosophy has helped HB Pride evolve beyond casual happy hours into a series of thoughtfully curated events designed to bring people together in meaningful ways.
Consistency has been a key part of her vision. Cherelle believes that Pride shouldn’t just be something people look forward to once a year, it should be woven into the fabric of the community year-round. That means reliable monthly events, regular opportunities for connection, and a steady rhythm that gives people something to anticipate and trust. “When people know what’s coming, they can plan, they can show up, and they can trust that we’re here,” she shared.
Cherelle’s approach also makes space for people who may feel anxious about attending events, especially those coming on their own or looking for ways to get comfortable in new social settings. She wants HB Pride events to feel like an invitation, not an obligation. Her work centers on welcoming first-timers, encouraging connection, and creating environments where friendships can form easily.
Her commitment goes beyond logistics and calendars. Cherelle understands how community can be a source of strength, belonging, and joy, not just during Pride weekend, but throughout the year. She’s excited about expanding offerings that reflect the unique rhythm of life in the South Bay: outdoor activities, wellness events, creative meetups, and inclusive gatherings that speak to the diverse interests of the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike.
In planning for the year ahead, Cherelle is focused on bringing more opportunities for connection and visibility including ideas like Pet Pride events that celebrate community with a joyful twist. Her vision is simple but powerful: create spaces that feel alive, inclusive, and authentically connected to the people they serve.
When I asked what her favorite part of event planning is, she smiled and said it’s seeing it all come together, the moment when a group of strangers becomes a group of friends, when someone tells her they felt welcome, or when someone shows up alone and leaves with new connections. Those are the moments that matter most.
Cherelle’s work as Events Chair isn’t about being noticed, it’s about noticing others. She brings enthusiasm, intentional planning, and a generous spirit to every role she takes on. That combination is helping shape what Pride means in Hermosa Beach: a place where community isn’t just celebrated once a year — it’s built, nurtured, and lived together.
Hermosa Beach Pride is grateful to have Cherelle helping lead the way, bringing people together with purpose, heart, and that unmistakable drive to help everyone feel welcome.
