Hello Long Beach! Here are some of the latest local news highlights to kick off May 29, 2023.
Long Beach to host Fall job fair for people with disabilities
Long Beach’s Office of Equity and the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Disability are hosting a job fair on October 3 that is focused on hiring people with disabilities in the city. Approximately 50,000 Long Beach residents identify as having a disability, and among those residents, 33 percent are unemployed, according to the city’s website. The job fair will offer full-time, part-time, and internship positions with some employers offering interviews on the spot. The city is still looking for local businesses to be a part of the job fair; those interested in participating can register at pacific-gateway.org/ndeam. More information regarding the job fair and how people with disabilities can register to attend will be provided as the date of the fair approaches. Learn more here.
My Hood, My City media project is seeking youth for neighborhood storytelling
My Hood, My City is a program that engages youth in North Long Beach, Westside, and the Washington neighborhood through education and leadership development by way of neighborhood storytelling. The program will engage up to 30 young people, who will create a media project highlighting their neighborhoods through photography, writing, and interviews. These areas have a history of poverty and redlining practices, so the project wishes for participating youth to showcase both the beauty and struggles of their neighborhoods. My Hood, My City is seeking youth ages 14 – 24 who live in any of the three mentioned areas to be a part of this program. The deadline to submit an application is June 19. After the youth are selected, they will meet weekly in person throughout the summer. The media projects they create will be displayed at local businesses, libraries, social media channels, and more. The application for this program can be found here. Learn more here.
$20,000 in grants available for roof repairs for eligible low-income homeowners
Up to $20,000 in grants are available to low-income homeowners to have their roofs fixed or replaced by qualified contractors through the Home Improvement Roof Grant Program (HIRGP). Property owners who live in sections of the city known as the Community Development Block Grant areas are eligible to apply (see map here). The aim of the HIRGP is to provide safe, code-compliant roofs to low-income homeowners, specifically those who are on fixed incomes such as older adults. Applicants must earn 50% of the area median income or less, adjusted for family size. Approved property owners will be able to choose a licensed contractor of their choice to do the roofing repairs, and the city will make the payments to the contractor. For more information about the program, click here.
Applications for Long Beach’s Youth Advisory Council open through June 30
The Youth Advisory Council is seeking individuals ages 16 to 26 to be a part of the youth-led body that engages in the design, oversight, and implementation of city youth development systems. The city will provide the selected youth with training to ensure they have the tools they need to succeed as young council members and will even compensate them for their work. Members of this body serve 12-month terms and represent Long Beach across all council districts. In its first year, which began in August 2022 and will end in July 2023, the Youth Advisory Council supported the disbursement of the Measure US Fund dollars and presented a 2-year update on the Youth and Emerging Adults Strategic Plan to the city council. Individuals interested in applying for the upcoming term must reside in Long Beach and be able to commit to meeting twice a month. Applications are open through Friday, June 30, and must be submitted online; those who do not have internet access may apply at any Long Beach Library Location to submit an application. Learn more here.
City of Long Beach Begins Payments for Long Beach Pledge Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
Long Beach has begun issuing first payments to those part of the Long Beach Pledge, a guaranteed income pilot program for individuals below the federal poverty line. The program, which was announced in November 2022, is providing $500 a month for 12 months to 250 families living in the 90813 zip and have one income earner for their household. The criteria for this program were designed to help families hit the hardest during the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Families that did not qualify for the program were provided with information about other available financial resources. Long Beach is partnering with California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation to study the pilot program and evaluate its impact on single-parent families. Learn more here.
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