Long Beach’s Summer of Opportunity aims to keep kids safe during summer

Long Beach city officials and youth leaders gathered Wednesday for a press conference to announce the Summer of Opportunity Initiative with the goal to reduce violence among youth. 

Also known as S.T.R.O.N.G. (Standing Together to Reach Our Next Generation) Beach, the plan has three areas of focus: expanding youth opportunities, preventing violence and encouraging community activation. 

“S.T.R.O.N.G. Beach is an initiative focused on fostering positive development among Long Beach’s youth while simultaneously reducing the occurrence of violent incidents involving young individuals in our city,” according to a memo from the City. 

Many of the programs announced have already been in place and will now receive an extra focus over the summer and be integrated across City departments. The plan is also a continuation of the Health Department’s Advancing Peace Initiative.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure our community is healthy, safe and thriving, and we do this by extending bridges to opportunity and working alongside community partners to address the core issues so we have healthy neighborhoods, not only on the east side, but on the north, central and south sides as well,” said Deputy City Manager Teresa Chandler. 

Among the new initiatives are summer events held by the Safe Passage Program, which usually only functions during the school year, waived fees associated with hosting neighborhood block parties, and a violence interruption program set to launch in North and Central-East Long Beach this summer. Long Beach parks will also be activated with supervision during the day and will be granted extended hours, though the City has not identified which parks yet. 

Community Engagement Deputy and Youth Liaison Monserrat Pineda said the City gathered its areas of focus after conversations and surveys from the inaugural Youth Day in the LBC in May. Pineda said students emphasized a need for violence prevention, community care and planning for the future. 

Some of the initiatives announced include: 

• Safe Passage Program summer events
• Violence interruption program serving youth, families, and individuals impacted by gun violence. Launching Summer 2024 in North and Central-East Long Beach.
• Youth workforce training, in partnership with the April Parker Foundation and Pacific Gateway. Will offer case management, life coaching, professional career counseling, hands-on employment opportunities and more for those ages 16-26. 
• A mentorship program from the Boys & Girls Club and the Long Beach Unified School District. City employees will serve as mentors to students in North, West and Central Long Beach. 
• The Be SAFE Program, which extends park hours and offers arts and crafts, computer lab hours, games and sports at 11 sites from June 17 through Aug. 23. 

Residents can read more about Long Beach’s Summer of Opportunity and see a full calendar of events at longbeach.gov/pages/city-news/summer-activities/.