Health & Human services

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL

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.

About the Youth Advisory Council

As part of the governance structure of the Office of Youth Development, a Youth Advisory Council was created to ensure authentic youth-led engagement in the design, oversight, and implementation of the Youth Strategic Plan and the Measure US Youth Fund. 

The Youth Advisory Council will be a youth-led advisory body housed out of the Office of Youth Development. The design of this body was informed by Youth Design Sessions, where youth throughout the City of Long Beach informed the outreach, application, selection, and retention of the Youth Advisory Council.

Requirements

Members of the Youth Advisory Council must be:

• Between the ages of 16 and 26
• Currently residing in the City of Long beach
• Available to meet twice a month
• Passionate about issues affecting youth in Long Beach

The Youth Advisory Council is an 11-member body with youth from across Long Beach. Youth are compensated $50 for every meeting or activity on behalf of the Youth Advisory Council with up to a $1,100 yearly limit. Youth Councilmembers serve 12-month terms, and the meetings are a hybrid of in-person and virtual as directed by the selected Youth Councilmembers.

If you are interested in joining the Youth Advisory Council, apply here. Application closes on August 31, 2024. 

To learn more about upcoming programs from the Office of Youth Development, join our Youth Outlist List. 

Meet the Youth Advisory Council

• Aaron Peterman, District 1

   

  Aaron Peterman was born in Los Feliz, Los Angeles and grew up in Venice Beach and Mar
  Vista. Aaron was primarily homeschooled, but at 19 years old he attended YouthBuild for one
  year earning his high school diploma. He is currently attending Long Beach City College with a
  major in Business Administration. His hobbies consist of video games, long boarding
  adventures, and doing portrait photography of his friends. Aaron quotes, “I think Long Beach
  excels at having green spaces and parks, and I also appreciate its college and university
  system.” After finishing high school, Aaron decided to move to Long Beach, where he found
  interests in the coastal downtown district, and skateboard friendly infrastructure. Aaron plans to
  use his personal experiences with homelessness and hardship, along with his extensive
  background in youth development to help disadvantaged youth reach their personal and
  professional potential.

• Janeymi Ramirez, District 2

  

  Janeymi Ramirez was born and raised in Long Beach. Most of her life was spent living near
  Long Beach City College (PCC), until recently she moved closer to Rose Park. For kindergarten
  she attended Whittier Elementary, and for the rest of elementary she attended Emerson
  Parkside Elementary. After promoting from the middle school Marshall Academy of Arts,
  Janeymi completed high school at the #1 ranked school in LBUSD, California Academy of
  Mathematics and Science. Janeymi believes that staying in-state can help increase her impact
  efforts. She is currently applying to CSULB to stay active in the community she grew up in. The
  fields of study that she wants to pursue are related to biology and biomedical sciences, with
  minor interests in journalism and writing. Janeymi likes representing the underrepresented,
  rising to action, and speaking for those who can’t speak for themselves, or don’t know how. Her
  volunteer work is connected to the Long Beach Library, medical organizations, and cultural
  events. When it comes to hobbies, Janeymi enjoys writing, poetry, and any expressive crafts.
  Long Beach (e.g., schools, parks, library resources, and park programs) has helped Janeymi
  become who she is today. The passion that helpers carry, as well as the diversity of different
  communities drives Janeymi. She aims to give back in any way that she can, with a close focus
  on the upcoming generation.

• Abigale Matlock, District 3

  

  Abigale was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She is currently a junior at Millikan High
  School in the Peace Pathway. The pathway is dedicated to teaching youth about law and social
  justice, this exact point has fostered Abigale’s love for the work. She has interests in studying
  political science at Long Beach City College for two years before transferring to a four year
  university where she will focus on law school. With that, Abigale hopes to become a sexual
  assault and harassment attorney. Connecting to nature through camp fire and gardening is what
  they enjoy. She loves helping others and bettering her community. With this opportunity, Abigale
  has set her focus on learning more about the city, while continuing to give back. They love
  community, culture, and the overall feel of Long Beach. It is her home and it makes her feel safe
  and happy. The main goal she aims to accomplish is helping people as much as she can, and
  she believes the Youth Advisory Council is the perfect opportunity.

   

• Faith Mack, District 4

  

  Faith was born in Ventura County, California and grew up in Long Beach. She attended Prisk
  Elementary, Stanford Middle School, and Millikan High School. Faith aspires to attend either
  Harvard or Howard University, where she will study applied mathematics or finance/ business.
  Her interests are writing, reading, wrestling, and planning for her school clubs. Faith quotes,
  “Public service in Long Beach is interesting because it gives one the ability to make real change
  for their peers and family… and Long Beach has always been a loving and giving community.”
  Faith aims to provide more for underprivileged schools and communities within Long Beach in
  order to provide more opportunities for children to succeed.

• John Rae, District 7

  

  John Rae was born in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, Philippines, where he spent the first four
  years of his life before moving to the United States. He attended both John Muir, and
  Polytechnic High School. As a hands-on achiever, John Rae has interests in mechanical
  engineering, 3D print and design, electrical engineering, physics, playing sports, drawing, and
  solving puzzles. Career wise John Rae sparks interests in public service, for the involvement in
  the community. He loves Long Beach, especially how the people interact with each other. John
  Rae was granted the opportunity to work at the Poly-Kaibigan Club’s fried-rice booth during the
  “562 Night Market” held at Millikan High School. This heartwarming experience allowed John
  Rae to witness people interact and learn about each other. Overall, he hopes to provide youth
  representation, and help the community deliver its strong characteristics.

• Manaweea Franklin, At-Large

  

  Manaweea Franklin was born in Long Beach, California and raised in Riverside, California.
  Manaweea has obtained her associates degree for transfer, and is currently attending Cal State
  Long Beach. Her current educational adventures are in organizational and interpersonal
  communication, but she aspires to pursue a degree in business or political science.
  Manaweea’s passions surround government affairs, leadership, advocacy, business
  development, and youth development. She has gained professional knowledge, personal
  knowledge, and great academic opportunities because of Long Beach City College’s Guardian
  Scholars Former Foster Youth Program. Long Beach City College has been a valuable
  resource, helping Manaweea overcome various challenges and obstacles from being a former
  foster youth, and helping her navigate her journey towards independence. Manaweea is proud
  to call Long Beach her home and she aims to enlighten every individual near and far, pushing
  for Long Beach to be the “city of opportunity and success”. Her hopes are to continue the
  journey of making a difference and a positive impact. Manaweea quotes, “Equity will stand the
  test of time and I strongly believe that Long Beach will continue to be a prime example”.

• Abraham Pineda, District 9

  

  Abraham Pineda is a resident born and raised on the northside of Long Beach, specifically the
  Ramona Park neighborhood. Where diversity is all around you… one moment you hear the
  banda music, the next— you hear the rap music. The place where you can’t be ashamed of
  your culture and where you can express it. Abraham has lived there all of his 18 years, and is
  proud. He thrives for a better future in the northside of Long Beach… like advocating for the
  residents to have a voice… a voice in what they need to make their lives better.

   

• Kimberly Lim, At-Large

  

  Kimberly Lim grew up the majority of her life in central Long Beach’s Cambodia Town
  neighborhood. She attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School where she was involved in
  many extracurricular activities, one being a youth organizer at Khmer Girls in Action (KGA).
  Through her involvement at KGA, she was able to take part in a multitude of campaigns
  advocating for racial, social, gender, and economic justice in her community. Kimberly received
  her Bachelor’s degree from California State University of Long Beach, where she majored in
  Sociology with a concentration in Interaction and Group Relations. Throughout her college years
  she has worked as a canvasser during campaign seasons, partaking in integrated voter
  engagement work. She was also a member of a Co-Ed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega,
  which allowed her to perform community service at a local, state, and national level. She is
  currently a 2nd Term Youth Advisory Council Member for the City of Long Beach and has used
  this space to amplify the youth voices. Her passion for service and love for her community
  continues to grow as she is currently a Community Organizer at Long Beach Forward where she
  is working to create a healthy Long Beach with low-income communities of color while building
  community knowledge, leadership, and power. She hopes to continue connecting and mobilizing
  her community to thrive and be healthy regardless of systemic barriers.

   

• Alexandra Garibay, At-Large

  
  Alexandra Garibay was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Throughout her educational
  years she attended Olivia Nieto Herrera Elementary School, Holy Innocents Elementary School,
  and is currently entering her senior year at St. Anthony High School. After graduating,
  Alexandra plans to major in business with a minor in computer science, and has additional
  hopes of going to law school to become a corporate lawyer. Throughout her life, she has always
  been interested in serving the community, in which she has proved. Alexandra is an active
  member for her high school’s President Ambassador Program, she has completed over 190
  service hours, and soon she will be a part of the campus's ministry team and student council.
  Alexandra even participated in the 2023 Youth Leadership Long Beach Program. Her interests
  are in public service because she has a major love for the community. Being raised in Long
  Beach,and being able to meet amazing individuals, has driven Alexandra to wanting to serve
  her community in a powerful way. Meaning, leading with a powerful voice, hoping to make Long
  Beach a better place for the youth and the rest of the community.

   

• Horatio Miller, District 9

  
  Horatio Miller was born in Lynwood, California. After bouncing around the area and having spent
  some time in Compton, Horatio along with his mother and sister made a final move to the City of
  Long Beach. Horatio attends Sato Academy of Mathematics and Science, being ranked the 2nd
  best school in the Long Beach Unified School District. Along with having interests in schools
  such as University of San Francisco for their medical courses, Horatio has already gained
  experience with the Dual Enrollment Program offered by Long Beach City College. His passions
  range from colorful activities, to literature with an emphasis on fanfiction, and debate. While
  being a part of debate club, he has been able to see different views on topics, understanding
  why people believe the things that they do. Horatio is interested in public service because he
  already has experience with volunteering at local libraries.Through this he noticed massive
  issues with homelessness, going into how they are treated, and the conditions in which they live
  in. The openness of Long Beach gives Horatio a sense of peace… being able to walk around
  and see people laugh, gives him a relaxed feeling. His overall goal is attempting to understand
  issues in the community and subsiding them with hopes to completely eradicate them.

• Yulinda Sam, At-Large

  

  Yulinda grew up as a Cambodian-American with parents and grandparents whom were victims
  of the Khmer Rouge, also known as the Cambodian genocide. This tragedy occurred in the
  1970s and many Cambodians were enslaved. She has always looked at Cambodia as a
  vacation country with investment opportunities but to her parents it was their first home. Yulinda
  was truly inspired by her parents and grandparents stories and this grew her passion for
  wanting to better her own community. Yulinda attended Long Beach Poly High School, went to
  Cal State Northridge as a student athlete, and later graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
  Not only does Yulinda want to make positive changes in her community, but she also wants to
  lead her community one day as a local government official. Yulinda aims to be a role model and
  advocate for youth, whether through local government or her aspiring non profit, she wants to
  encourage young people to chase their dreams.

Youth and Families Commission

The Youth Advisory Council partners with the City’s Youth & Families Commission to support the systems and policies affecting young people in Long Beach. The Youth & Families Commission is housed out of the Parks, Rec & Marine department and positions are appointed by the mayor.

The City of Long Beach’s Youth & Families Commission has positions for two youth commissioners under the age of 19 at the time of their appointment.

To learn more and apply, visit the Youth & Families Commission webpage.