Office of Youth Development

Statement of Possibility

Youth are valued and empowered as decision makers in the City of Long Beach to lead long-term change and solutions for the betterment of youth now and future generations.

Youth Opportunities	Youth Fund	Youth Advisory Council
Youth Summit	Futures First

About Us

The Office of Youth Development was created as a result of the Long Beach Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP), a five-year citywide plan adopted by the Long Beach City Council on February 9, 2021, as a blueprint for the development of youth ages 8 to 24. A three-year progress report on the YSP was created in collaboration with collaborative partners to evaluate the success on completing the plan:

Youth Strategic Plan Progress Report

Our office focuses on all the systems and policies affecting youth in Long Beach with a focus on making Long Beach one of the safest and healthiest places for young person to grow up in. Our three main pillars of work are the following:

Youth Voices

We ensure Long Beach holds space for youth perspectives, ideas, and projects to ensure young people are authentically engaged in places of decision-making power. 

Youth Funds

Through Measure US dollars, as well as funding from strategic partners, such as the Hilton Foundation and Wallace Foundation, we can offer grants directly to invest in youth-serving organizations in Long Beach, prioritizing those working with systems impacted young people.  

Youth Connections

We serve as a home base for connecting youth and youth-serving partners to spaces for collaboration, networking, and capacity building that supports an oasis for positive youth development.

Programs

• Youth Strategic Plan Progress Tracker
• Measure US Youth Fund – Youth Power Participatory Budgeting Long Beach
• Youth Advisory Council
• Futures First – Opportunity Youth
• Annual Youth Summit 
• Youth Development Data Dashboard
• City Employees Youth Mentoring Program
• Youth Outreach
• Youth Development + Violence Prevention
• Special Projects 

Networks

• Long Beach Youth Services Network – Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network
• Youth & Families Commission –  Parks, Recreation & Marine
• Long Beach Opportunity Youth Coalition – Opportunity Youth Collaborative
• My Brother's Keeper, City Manager's Office & Violence Prevention Office
• Regional Youth Development Offices/Departments – City of LA/LA County
• Statewide Youth Development Offices/Departments – Funding the Next Generation (LA/LB/SF/Sacramento/SD/Richmond/Oakland/ect) 

Contact Us

Department of Health & Human Services
Office of Youth Development
Ronald R. Arias Health Equity Center 
6335 Myrtle Ave Long Beach, CA 90805 
Office: 562.570.3267 
Email: youth@longbeach.gov

Our Team

David McGill Soriano Youth Development Manager David.McGill-Soriano@longbeach.gov	Yonique Edwards Opportunity Youth Coordinator Yonique.Edwards@longbeach.gov
Perla Alvarado Youth Development Coordinator Perla.Alvarado@longbeach.gov	Morgan Hamilton Youth Services Coordinator Morgan.Hamilton@longbeach.gov

Stay up to date on programs and services for youth of Long Beach:

Youth Outreach List 

Office of Youth Development Media Library

   

  

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