The City of Long Beach is advancing youth engagement by launching the fourth year of the Youth Power Participatory Budgeting (PB) Long Beach initiative. The announcement detailed by the city's website invites youths to participate in the democratic process of allocating $500,000 from Measure US Youth Fund for summer projects.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, with a firm belief in nurturing leadership among the younger generation, stated, "Long Beach is proud to continue investing in youth leadership," according to the city’s press release. The participatory budgeting process empowers young people to explore the realms of collaboration, civic engagement, and program development.
Four in-person sessions will start the idea collection process in different Long Beach locations. Attending one of these sessions gives youths the platform to contribute their project ideas. The initiative is segmented into three phases, dealing with idea collection, project development, and a final voting phase wherein the approved projects will be selected for summer 2026 funding.
The press release informs that the entire initiative is designed to be inclusive, providing opportunities for youngsters to partner with local organizations, learn valuable skills, and assume leadership positions wielding genuine influence. The idea collection phase will accept submissions from December 1st through January 6th of the following year, engaging youths aged 12 to 26 within the community.
Reflecting on the previous year's success, the Health and Human Services Director Alison King remarked on the increasing influence of youth, saying, "The Youth Power Participatory Budgeting process embodies our vision of community health, where young people have both voice and influence." The third cycle of Youth Power PB received an overwhelming number of ideas, and voter participation tripled compared to the prior year, establishing a trend of growing youth involvement.
Moving beyond an engagement opportunity, this participatory budgeting initiative aligns with Long Beach's strategic vision for supporting youth and emerging adults. Interested participants and organizations looking to shape the future projects of Long Beach's youth have been directed to the city's website for details on the submission process and voting procedures.
For more on the Youth Power Participatory Budgeting process, Long Beach’s health and services endeavors, and how young people are changing the city's landscape, visit longbeach.gov.
