Youth Invited To Apply For Long Beach City's First-Ever Youth Advisory Council

Long Beach CA

05 May, 2022

1:51 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Long Beach: May 2, 2022 The City of Long Beach is now accepting applications for the Office of Youth Development's first-ever Youth Advisory Council through Friday, May 27, 2022. The Youth Advisory Council will consist of a body of 11 young people 16 to 26 years old who will help influence the implementation of the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan (YSP) and the upcoming Youth Fund, ensuring that youth voices are uplifted throughout the City. "Young people are leading the way in our community and this new advisory group will have an important role in shaping our future," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "Your participation will make a positive and lasting impact on how the City supports your generation and the next." To be eligible, applicants must: Be between the ages of 16 to 26 Reside in Long beach Be available to meet at-least once a month Have a passion for issues affecting youth in Long Beach Applications may be submitted online and hard copy applications are available at the Ron R. Arias Health Equity Center (6335 Myrtle Ave.) and at any Long Beach Public Library location. Applications will be accepted until May 13. Additional application details are available on the Office of Youth Development Youth Advisory Council Application webpage. Under the Office of Youth Development, the Youth Advisory Council will ensure authentic youth-led engagement in the design, oversight and implementation of the YSP and systems of youth development throughout the City. "Our Youth Advisory Council will play a critical role in elevating the voices of our younger generation," said Health Department Director Kelly Colopy. "We are looking for young individuals who are passionate change makers and eager to make lasting impacts to strengthen our community." The advisory body will serve to give youth in Long Beach a voice in designing the programs that are meant to serve them and increase the number of opportunities available for youth to offer their input. The City will provide coaching and development to ensure members of the Youth Advisory Council have the tools they need to drive accountability for the YSP. This will be the City's first formal youth advisory body to be compensated for their input. Youth will serve 12-month terms and represent the City across all council districts while including a health equity focus on priority neighborhoods that have experienced disproportionate amounts of violence, poverty and impacts due to COVID-19. "The Long Beach Youth Advisory Council ensures that youth in our community have an outlet to provide valuable insight on the matters that most affect them," said former Youth Ambassador Alexa King, who was involved in creating the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan and helped facilitate the Youth Design Sessions. "Long Beach youth host a diverse perspective, unique to their experiences, that make them the perfect candidates to help represent their own futures and provide direction for other young people in the Long Beach community." The Youth Advisory Council was designed by recommendations provided during the Youth Design Sessions, held earlier this year, where youth throughout the city informed the outreach, application, selection and retention of the Youth Advisory Council. The Long Beach Office of Youth Development is a new groundbreaking effort by the City to improve services and programs for youth. Launched as one of the goals of the YSP, the Office of Youth Development is housed within the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services and will serve young people across the City. About the City of Long Beach Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths. For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. This press release was produced by the City of Long Beach. The views expressed here are the author's own.