PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Youth Development announces Youth Day in the LBC, an exciting new event that will bring together youth ages 13 to 26 and empower them to connect around youth advocacy and youth resources.

“We are thrilled to launch Youth Day in the LBC, an event that will empower our youth and foster a sense of community among our future leaders,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This event will provide a platform for young people to connect, advocate for their needs, and access the resources necessary for their personal and professional growth. I look forward to seeing folks there during the town hall portion of the event.”

This inaugural event will combine two of the City’s existing youth-centered events, Youth Advocacy Day, which was previously hosted by the Mayor’s Office, and the Youth Festival, into a one-day co-hosted event in order to integrate a collective impact approach towards youth development. Youth Day in the LBC will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, at Cabrillo High School (2001 Santa Fe Ave.).

Led by the Health Department’s Office of Youth Development, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Youth Day in the LBC also includes among its collaborators the Economic Development Department’s Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network, Long Beach Public Library, Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, the Youth and Families Commission, Office of Equity, Office of Climate Action and Sustainability, Leadership Long Beach and the Mayor’s Fund for Long Beach. The event’s activities, informed by the Long Beach Youth & Emerging Adults Strategic Plan, will cover topics such as youth advocacy, youth health, workforce, housing and community care.

Recognizing the unique needs of teens and young adults, Youth Day in the LBC’s featured activities will include:

• An interactive college fair, job fair and resource fair
• Art, music, games, sports and local entertainment
• Educational presentations and activities
• Giveaways, including shirts, bottles, journals and bags
• Youth performances and showcases from local artists and dancers
• Impactful youth-led budgeting activities
• A townhall with Mayor Richardson

Additional details, including a schedule of events, will be shared as the event approaches. Youth are encouraged to register for the event in advance using the Youth Day in the LBC RSVP form.

“Youth Day in the LBC will provide opportunities for young people to connect with each other and community resources,” said Director of Health and Human Services Alison King. “Partnerships with our youth-serving organizations for this event will support our goals to give our youth a healthier future.”

“Providing youth with the tools to succeed will not only empower these young residents but will also empower the entire community as a whole to help them succeed as they get older,” said the Youth and Families Commissioner Gillian Doplemore. “The City and our youth-focused community partners all have the same collective goal – to ensure that our community is more equitable by giving our youth more opportunities.”

As part of the event's promotion, the Health Department will conduct outreach to local schools, youth-serving organizations, wellness centers and other youth-focused spaces via email, newsletters, billboards and in-person canvassing.

The Youth Day in the LBC planning team is also seeking event contributors, schools, employers, local youth-serving organizations, wellness professionals, cultural groups and other community partners to participate in the event in the spirit of inspiring youth. Interested partners are encouraged to submit a form using the Youth Day in the LBC community partner application form.

To learn more about youth-centered work in Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/youth.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. 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 Long Beach Health Department is available at longbeach.gov/health and on Instagram, Facebook and X.