City Introduces Second Cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps Program

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: The second cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps gathers in front of Long Beach City Hall.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach recently welcomed the second cohort of the Long Beach Public Service Corps (LBPSC), an innovative paid fellowship program that provides local college students and recent graduates with hands-on experience working in City government and exploring careers in public service. The fellowship placement program is intended to foster economic inclusion and expand opportunities for residents, including young people, to develop successful career paths.

"The Long Beach Public Service Corps is a testament to the incredible talent and potential we have right here in our community," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By providing these future leaders with the opportunities to work alongside our City teams and gain firsthand experience, we are not only investing in their futures-we are fostering a deeper connection between our public institutions and the communities they serve. I look forward to working alongside this next group of fellows and seeing their fresh perspectives on this critical work."

The second cohort of 49 fellows is comprised of current and recent students from California State University, Long Beach; Long Beach City College; California State University, Dominguez Hills; and California State University, Fullerton. Fellows have been placed in a diverse array of City departments, including the Office of the City Manager, Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Public Works, Long Beach Public Library, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Community Development, Financial Management, Technology and Innovation, Human Resources, the Police Department, Airport, Utilities, and across all nine City Council Offices and the Mayor's Office.

Facilitated by the Economic Development Department's Future LB youth center, the program provides fellows with the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, gaining insights into the inner workings of City departments and contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact the Long Beach community and align with their interests and career goals, as well as the City's strategic priorities and needs. In addition to the paid fellowship, participants will engage in professional development workshops designed to highlight important topics in public service, such as budgeting, community engagement, crisis management, sustainability, ethics and policy. Participants will be compensated hourly at $22 an hour for a maximum of 700 hours.

The Long Beach Public Service Corps program started in 2023, established in collaboration with California State University, Long Beach; Long Beach City College; and California State University, Dominguez Hills. The initial cohort opportunity garnered 325 applications, and 50 young people residing in Long Beach and neighboring communities were selected to participate in fellowships across 14 City departments. Upon completion of the fellowship, 15 participants secured employment positions, with 10 being hired by the City and others attaining employment in the private sector. Further, 10 participants successfully enrolled in graduate programs, pursuing advanced degrees in Public Policy, Business Administration and International Affairs and universities including the University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; and Boston University.

"The Long Beach Public Service Corps is empowering our local youth and creating more economic opportunities for future generations of workers," said Economic Development Department Director Bo Martinez. "This innovative program has seen so much success over the past year and we are excited to welcome our next group of local, talented young people as they embark on their career paths and learn what it means to work in public service."

The program is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the California Governor's Office through their #CaliforniansForAII Youth Jobs Corps initiative administered by California Volunteers. The #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps aims to bring together youth across the state to help address urgent challenges in California's communities through partnership with municipalities and community-based organizations. The grant also supports other youth employment efforts coordinated by Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network, including public service internships across the city and the Long Beach Youth Climate Corps. The program is also supported by a one-time allocation of $300,000 from the City's Fiscal Year 2024 budget which was approved by the full City Council on Sept. 5, 2023. This one-time funding supports the design and implementation of the Long Beach Public Service Corps program.

"We are proud to support the Long Beach Public Service Corps, a Youth Service Corps program, which exemplifies Governor Gavin Newsom's vision of empowering Californians to take action in their communities to address the most pressing challenges of our time," said California's Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday. "We commend Mayor Richardson and the City of Long Beach for their leadership and innovation in developing this model program and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these fellows and future leaders will have on their city and state."

For more information about the LBPSC, visit longbeach.gov/psc.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Long Beach Economic Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/ed, follow on Facebook, X and Instagram. Stay up to date on business news by signing up for the City's Business Brief.

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