By Dianne Anderson Fighting to pass an oil tax seems to be paying off for local kids, who, thanks to years of their hard work, now get to decide where some city money goes and how it’s spent. For the first time ever, the youth have the power. Maggie Quan said their biggest victory wasn’t ...

Applications available now through July 22 at Long Beach Teen Centers  The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) invites Long Beach teens ages 13 to 17 to participate in the California State Parks Outdoor Youth Connection Camp. This free three-day, two-night training camp uses outdoor experiences to build teens’ skills in leadership, communication, ...

By Dianne Anderson Just because summertime is here doesn’t mean that kids have to miss out on critical cultural learning and fun. Families looking to make sure their students are not losing good academic ground and the real American cultural backstory have a few options, starting with Sankofa Summer Academy. Beyond academics, including lessons in ...

More than 600 youth from across Long Beach gathered at Houghton Park for a high-energy celebration of National Olympic and Paralympic Day, enjoying an event filled with sports, teamwork and inspiration. During the day, participants connected with Olympians, Paralympians and other professional athletes, engaged in Olympic and Paralympic sports and experienced firsthand the excitement building ...

The City of Long Beach, in collaboration with Legends Global, on Saturday, June 6, celebrated the grand opening of the new F&M Bank Amphitheater of Long Beach, formerly Long Beach Amphitheater, marking a new era for the city’s Downtown waterfront. The venue welcomed 11,000 attendees for its inaugural sold-out concert, headlined by Long Beach native Snoop Dogg, ...

By Dianne Anderson For those drowning in a sea of housing debt, Long Beach is throwing out a last lifeline for rent, but the offer only lasts as long as the money. While the city’s $2.7 million anti-eviction program sounds like a lot, it is expected to serve only 175 – 250 households, which leaves ...

By Dianne Anderson Juneteenth, one of the longest running celebrations in history, is breaking out in a big way across the calendar, packing weekends with fun, food, music, and in the spirit of the holiday, community organizing. In Long Beach, modern Juneteenth pioneers are getting outside the city limits, connecting local residents with one of ...

The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) Office of Youth Development, in collaboration with community partners, will award $500,000 to 10 organizations to fund projects selected by youth as part of the fourth year of the citywide Youth Participatory Budgeting (Youth Power PB) initiative. Community partners include The Nonprofit Partnership, ...

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program to provide free, nutritious meals to Long Beach youth ages 1 to 18 over the summer months. Weekdays beginning June 15 through Aug. 21, PRM will offer the Summer Food Service Program at 23 park and library locations throughout ...

By Dianne Anderson Soaring rents, rental displacement, homelessness, housing affordability, and gentrification are high on the agenda this June 2 Primary. As cities everywhere brace for next year’s cuts to anti-poverty programs and rising cost-of-living pressure, ongoing homeless encampments have communities calling for more shelters, more transitional housing, and increased supportive services. Last year’s Point ...