Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is now accepting applications for the Office of Youth Development’s second iteration of the Youth Advisory Council. The Youth Advisory Council is a body of 11 young people that help ensure authentic youth-led engagement in the design, oversight and implementation of the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP), the Measure US Youth Fund and other systems of youth development, ensuring that youth voices are uplifted throughout the City.

“The Youth Advisory Council is a model of how to integrate youth voice into local government,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We encourage all youth who are interested in civic and community engagement to apply to serve on the advisory body.”

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 16 to 26.
• Reside in Long Beach.
• Be available to meet twice a month.
• Have a passion for issues affecting youth in Long Beach.

Now through Friday, June 30, youth may submit their application online. Those without computer or smart phone access can visit a public computer lab at the Ron R. Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.) or at any Long Beach Public Library location to fill out and submit their digital application.

The City provides coaching and development to ensure youth Councilmembers have the tools they need to drive accountability for the YSP and are compensated for their work on the youth council. Youth serve 12-month terms and represent the City across all council districts, while including at-large members with a health equity focus on priority neighborhoods that have experienced disproportionate amounts of violence, poverty and impacts due to COVID-19.

The Youth Advisory Council was designed by recommendations provided during the Youth Design Sessions, held in 2022, where youth throughout the city informed the outreach, application, selection and retention of the Youth Advisory Council. The first year Youth Advisory Council pioneered how this advisory body functions and they collaborated with other youth civic bodies in the city of Los Angeles and LA County.

In its first year, which began in August 2022 and will end in July 2023, the Youth Advisory Council participated in a convening with the LA City Youth Council and LA County Youth Commission to gather the youth civic bodies in the region, supported the disbursement of the Measure US Youth Fund dollars for youth serving organizations and presented a 2-year update on the YSP to the City Council.

“It has been a very rewarding experience being a part of Long Beach’s First Youth Advisory Council,” said Kimberly Lim, Youth Advisory Councilmember for District 1. “It has allowed us to amplify our voices in city government and gave us the opportunity to collaborate with city departments, community organizations, and other youth councils on how we can make sure youth development is a priority. My vision is that we continue to strengthen our foundation so that we can effectively continue to make change in Long Beach.” 

Additional application details are available on the Office of Youth Development Youth Advisory Council Application webpage. More information about the Office of Youth Development is available on the webpage.