PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
562.441.3590
Jennifer.RiceEpstein@longbeach.gov
Public Affairs Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Youth Development, in partnership with The Nonprofit Partnership and Invest in Youth Coalition, anchored by Khmer Girls in Action, has announced the second year of Youth Power PB Long Beach, a participatory budgeting process where youth vote on how to spend public dollars on youth projects.
“Long Beach is a leader in empowering youth and young adults,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The youth participatory budgeting process allows young people themselves to decide on which projects best support positive youth development.”
A total of $400,000 will be funded through this process and projects with budgets ranging from $10,000 to $75,000 will be voted on by youth who live, work or play in Long Beach. The winning proposals will be funded this summer through Measure US.
An information session will take place at the Office of Youth Development (6335 Myrtle Ave.) on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. to kick-off the idea collection phase of the process. Youth and youth serving-organizations are invited to learn about the participatory budgeting process and submit ideas. Information sessions will be hosted throughout the entire idea collection phase. For more information, people may visit investinyouthlb.org.
“We’re thrilled that the Youth Power PB Long Beach process can continue to strengthen shared governance, build community connections and expand a multi-racial democracy in Long Beach,” said Acting Health and Human Services Director Alison King.
Youth Power PB Long Beach will be carried out in three phases:
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Phase 1: Idea Collection. From Jan. 18 through Feb. 18, youth from 13 to 26 years old and youth-serving organizations in Long Beach can submit ideas for projects to be funded with Measure US Youth Fund dollars.
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Phase 2: Proposal Development. In late February, youth participants will select from the pool of project ideas. Those selected will move on to the proposal development phase. The selected project ideas will be developed into proposals to be put on a ballot for youth to vote on.
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Phase 3: Voting. Youth throughout Long Beach will be invited to vote over a 10-day period on which projects should be funded. Voting will begin in April and will be open to people ages 13 to 26. Voting must be done in-person at designated voting sites such as teen centers, libraries and high schools. More information about voting centers will be available at a later date.
Last year’s Youth Power PB Long Beach included 60 initial ideas submitted with 19 selected by youth budget delegates and placed on the ballot. A voter fair was held at Long Beach City College, and voting locations were placed at high schools, teen centers and public libraries throughout the voting week. A total of 823 votes were validated. Programs prioritized by youth voters centered on community care, housing, health and wellness and transportation – aligning with four of the six goals in the Long Beach Youth & Emerging Adults Strategic Plan. For more information about projects funded in 2023, visit longbeach.gov/youthfund.
Youth Power PB Long Beach, the first citywide participatory budget pilot process, funds projects by non-profit organizations who are doing work aligned with the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan. Funding for the Youth Power PB Long Beach program is provided by Measure US. This year’s participatory budgeting process is also supported by the Wallace Foundation through a partnership anchored by the Mayor’s Fund for Long Beach.
About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on social on Facebook, X and Instagram.