100 Youth Gathered To Share Voices and Ideas During a Youth Town Hall and Policy Hackathon

Mayor Rex Richardson convened the first Youth Advocacy Day on Saturday, June 24, with more than 100 Long Beach youth ages 13-26. Youth came together to share their perspectives and solutions for issues affecting their communities. Saturday’s event was a part of the mayor’s commitment to “The First Annual Youth Advocacy Day” as outlined in his “Opportunity Beach Agenda” 100-day plan.  

The Youth Advocacy Day was a day of empowerment, connection, and civic engagement for young people who want to make a difference in their city.

“I was amazed by the talent, innovation, and passion of the youth who participated in this event,” said Mayor Richardson. “They demonstrated that they are not only the future of Long Beach, but also the present. They have a vision for a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Long Beach and they are ready to take action to make it a reality.”

The highlight of the event was a Policy Hackathon, where youth participated in breakout sessions on topics such as Youth Climate and Sustainability, Youth Violence Prevention, and Youth Mental Health and Homelessness.

The Policy Hackathon was followed by a Town Hall with the Mayor, where participants presented their policy proposals and asked questions to the mayor. Climate activist Genesis Butler joined the mayor as a special guest for the Town Hall.

The event featured presentations from Young Invincibles and Khmer Girls in Action, two organizations that empower youth to advocate for social change. It also included a Baile Folklorico dance performance from Las Estrellas Ballet Folklorico of Long Beach, led by well-known instructor Irene Portillo.

Long Beach native Ros Khin, also known as DJ Siikuu performed. Khin was born in North Long Beach and went to Poly High School. After the event, youth-serving organizations tabled and shared resources.

Some of the feedback from the youth who attended the event included:

• “I learned a lot about how the city works and how I can get involved in making positive changes.”
• “I enjoyed meeting other youth who care about the same issues as me and working together to come up with solutions.”
• “I felt empowered to speak up and share my ideas with the mayor and other city leaders.”

Mayor Richardson expressed his gratitude to all the youth who attended and all the partners who helped make the event possible.