Creating Space to Connect: How Cherelle Lampkins Shapes HB Pride Events
Cherelle (left) with her wife Meredith (right) and their very good girl Benson, enjoying the sun and sand in Hermosa β Pride, partnership, and community all in one frame.
When you meet Cherelle Lampkins, what stands out isnβt just her energy, itβs 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. βWe came out here kind of on a whim β letβs try it for a year and see what happens,β she shared. Now deeply rooted in Hermosa Beach, she is channeling her passion for people into community-building and Pride event programming.
Cherelle (bottom-left π€) brings the same energy to Hermosa Beach Pride that she does to every OrangeTheory class β high-intensity, inclusive, and full of joy.
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. βTeaching is where I really feel like I shine,β she said. βI just enjoy being around people.β 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 β but what sheβs 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 doesnβt 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, itβs second nature to give her wife a quick kiss at the end of class. In other settings, sheβs more reserved β not because sheβs hiding who she is, but because awareness is simply part of moving through the world.
Cherelle Lampkins (left) and Katie Vernon (right) leading the 2025 Pride Parade from the North End to the Hermosa Pride Lifeguard Tower.
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. βI want people to know they can show up and be seen,β she explained. For Cherelle, event planning isnβt just about organizing another social gathering, itβs 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.
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Consistency has been a key part of her vision. Cherelle believes that Pride shouldnβt 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. βWhen people know whatβs coming, they can plan, they can show up, and they can trust that weβre here,β she shared.
Cherelleβs 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. Sheβs 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 itβs 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.
Cherelleβs work as Events Chair isnβt about being noticed, itβs 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 isnβt just celebrated once a year β itβs 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.
Pride 2025 brought our community together on the sand β a colorful, joyful moment of connection and celebration.
β¨ About Hermosa Beach Pride
Hermosa Beach Pride is a community-based organization dedicated to celebrating diversity, inclusion, and love in the South Bay. Through year-round events, partnerships, and advocacy, HB Pride works to create safe, visible, and joyful spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to connect and thrive.
