You don’t have to be 18 to vote in Long Beach—Long Beach’s young residents have a unique opportunity to provide a direct say each year in how some public funds are spent on summer youth programs and projects.

The Youth Power Participatory Budgeting program, returning for its third consecutive year, gives locals between the ages of 13 and 26 control over how $550,000 in public dollars will be spent in the summer of 2025—representing a budget that has nearly doubled since the program was founded in 2023.

Project proposals for this summer were submitted in January and the participants are set to cast their votes in April at designated voting sites at teen centers, libraries and high schools for the ideas they think should become reality. The proposed projects each range in cost from $10,000 to $50,000, with that money coming from Measure US dollars and an allocation approved as part of the mayoral recommendations in the City of Long Beach’s annual budget.

"Being a part of Youth Participatory Budgeting really empowered me as an advocate in my community,” said Faith Mack, a former participant. “I met so many different people from across the city and felt valued as a participant. While working with youth serving organizations, I was provided with the opportunity to lead group discussions, assist on marketing campaigns to attract youth, and interact with other leaders. I truly believe that this experience was transformative in shaping my understanding of civic governance."

Last year, the second Youth Power Participatory Budget cycle received 43 project ideas, with 13 selected by the youth steering committee and placed on the ballot. The nine programs prioritized by 600 young voters focused on community care, housing, health and wellness, planning for the future and transportation.

Examples of funded projects in 2024 included $50,000 for a Sunset Boxing and Wellness program that offered outdoor boxing, sound bathing, picnic painting and skating nights for young adults to relieve stress, exercise and build community ties. Another $50,000 went to the M.O.R.E. Mothers Summer Full of Art program to create a safe and supportive space for creative development, including painting, drawing, vision boarding, sculpting, and photography, as well as free admission to museums.

"The Youth Power Participatory Budget process didn’t just fund a program—it fueled a youth-led movement, breaking barriers and lifting financial burdens,” said Alba Denaly, founder of the nonprofit Our Generation Cares, which previously received funding to support a Car and Driver 101 program to teach youth to be skilled drivers with a sense of control and independence on the road.

“With 74% of participants passing the DMV exam and 58% continuing their journey with Our Generation Cares, Car and Driver 101 has transformed access to mobility into a pathway for opportunity,” Denaly said. “This is more than driving—it’s about youth taking the wheel, turning ideas into action, and building a future led by them, driven by empowerment, innovation, and lasting change."

The collaborative budgeting process depends on coordination and support from the Long Beach Health Department’s Office of Youth Development in partnership with The Nonprofit Partnership, Invest in Youth Coalition, and Khmer Girls in Action.

To learn more about the Youth Power Participatory Budget process, visit investinyouthlb.org.