PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA — The City of Long Beach has announced awardees for the ClimateLB Youth Climate Action Fund Microgrant Program (Program), a new effort that supports youth ages 15-24 in designing, producing and overseeing urgent climate solutions that further the City’s climate action goals. Selected organizations will receive $5,000 in grant funding to support their proposed youth-led reforestation and tree-planting projects, climate education efforts, climate ambassador programs and public art and awareness campaigns.

“Through the ClimateLB Program, our City is investing directly in local, youth-led climate solutions,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “The organizations selected have proposed innovative, inclusive projects that will bring communities together to participate in climate action.”

The Program application period ran from June 28 through July 12, 2024. The Office of Climate Action & Sustainability (Office) led the selection process and is coordinating award distribution. Panelists consisted of City staff and California Climate Action Corps youth fellows serving with the Office. Organizations were scored and selected for their work in supporting youth leadership and the youth community and their focus on implementing innovative climate solutions and centering equity and environmental justice in West Long Beach.

Selected organizations and their awarded projects include:

• Associated Mothers in Action -- “Climate Change and Environmental Art” is an art contest and event that will promote awareness of environmental conservation and climate change for youth ages 15-18, 19-21 and 22-24.
• California Youth Empowerment Services (CalYES) -- “Sky Guardians: Youth Climate Patrol” is a two-day weekend camp that will teach youth how to use drones and develop innovative projects to address climate issues.
• Earthlodge Center for Transformation -- “We Fight with our Forest: A Special Environmental and Climate Justice Youth Project of Hands on the Land Program” will offer youth ages 15-24 a chance to participate in gardening, composting, permaculture and other work on the land. The project will focus on providing environmental balance and creating safe and sacred space for the community and the local flora and fauna.
• H.E.L.P. of Long Beach (Helping Environmentally Low-Income Properties) -- “Helping Environmentally Low-Income Properties” will allow local high school students to find heat islands – parts of an urbanized area that are warmer than other surrounding areas – then conduct educational outreach to the community about the importance of xeriscaping with drought tolerant native landscapes.
• Long Beach Bar Foundation and Shortstop Youth Projects -- “Youth Climate Education” is an innovative initiative designed to educate and empower youth who will conduct interactive presentations at local schools on climate issues.
• Long Beach Polytechnic High School -- “Festival of Gardening and Butterflies Plants” is a Garden Club project that will teach students how to plant seeds, start seedlings and create terrariums. Plants will also be given out at a future Festival of Gardening and Butterflies event.
• The Jewel Box Children’s Theater -- “West Long Beach Trashion” is a project where youth will collect trash to create art projects that will be unveiled at a fashion show, or “Trashion Show,” with an educational twist.
• Youth Leadership Institute -- “Voicewaves: Climate Edition” will educate youth on media production and climate issues through a community presentation and facilitated meetings. Participants will create and distribute a climate-focused journalism piece or zine.

“Investing in community-led climate solutions is crucial to achieving the goals outlined in the Long Beach Climate Action Plan,” said Climate Manager Fern Nueno. “It’s important to empower residents to make decisions about how resources are allocated. The ClimateLB Program accomplishes that by providing the opportunity for local youth to design and lead sustainable projects, and I’m excited to see what they are able to accomplish through the support of this grant.”

The City received a $50,000 grant for ClimateLB, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments and the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University. The Program will aid in fulfilling the City’s 10-year community investment plan, the West Side Promise, and also aligns with the goals of the Long Beach Climate Action Plan, Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults and Racial Equity and Reconciliation Plan.

Funds will be administered to grant awardees by Sept. 30, 2024, and the full grant award must be expended by Dec. 31, 2024.

For more details about the ClimateLB Youth Climate Action Fund Microgrant Program and updates regarding the grant award process, visit the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability website at lbcity.info/climatelb.

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 Office of Climate Action and Sustainability is available at longbeach.gov/sustainability and on Facebook and Instagram.