Every Young Person in Long Beach Deserves a Shot
Rex Richardson grew up in a family where opportunity wasn't handed to anyone — it was built. Public schools, community programs, and people who believed in him made the difference. As mayor, he's building that same infrastructure for the next generation of Long Beach kids.
Opened the Future LB Youth Employment Center, offering young people job readiness training, paid internships, and career support — connecting them to real opportunities in the industries reshaping Long Beach's economy.
Launched Space Beach Camp, connecting young people with training and internships in the city's growing aerospace and space technology cluster — preparing them for careers that didn't exist a decade ago.
Established the Long Beach Public Service Corps, providing paid fellowships and direct pathways into city employment for local students.
Opened Long Beach's first permanent Youth Shelter & Navigation Center, providing safe housing and wraparound support for young residents ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness.
Created pathways to affordable housing for students and families through the Long Beach Housing Promise, in partnership with CSULB, LBCC, and Long Beach Unified.
Expanded Youth Participatory Budgeting, giving young residents the power to propose and vote on how public dollars are spent on youth programs — making government responsive to the people it's supposed to serve.
Championed the PATH program, diverting young people away from incarceration and toward job training and education — because Rex knows that how we treat our young people now determines what kind of city we become.
Rex's vision: every young person in Long Beach has a clear, accessible path to education, a career, and a home. No exceptions.