Minor Setbacks for a Major Comeback

Community safety

Long Beach

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

In Long Beach, CA, girls from underserved communities face disproportionate barriers including poverty, community violence, lack of access to education and employment opportunities, and exposure to the juvenile justice system. Many justice-impacted girls lack supportive services tailored to their specific needs, which increases their risk of recidivism and continued involvement in unsafe or illegal activities. This program seeks to address these systemic gaps by providing job training, mentorship, and life skills development to girls aged 18 and under who are at risk or have already been incarcerated. By equipping them with tools for economic independence and emotional resilience, we aim to disrupt cycles of poverty, reduce youth violence, and prevent future incarceration. This early intervention fills a critical gap in Long Beach by offering gender-responsive support that empowers girls to envision and achieve a positive future.

This grant will support a targeted workforce development and empowerment program specifically designed for justice-impacted and at-risk girls aged 18 and under in Long Beach, CA. The program will provide comprehensive job training, mentorship, and life skills development, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by young women involved in or vulnerable to the juvenile justice system. Participants will receive hands-on training in high-demand fields, resume building, interview preparation, and financial literacy. In addition to workforce readiness, the initiative includes trauma-informed mentorship and peer support to promote emotional healing and resilience. Workshops on conflict resolution, leadership, and goal setting will help build confidence and a sense of agency. Our program partners with local employers and community organizations to ensure real-world job placements and ongoing support. By creating pathways to economic stability and fostering personal growth, this program aims to prevent recidivism, reduce youth violence, and break the cycles of poverty and incarceration that too often impact young girls in Long Beach.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will see a significant reduction in youth incarceration, recidivism, and violence among girls under 18 who are impacted by the justice system. These girls will gain access to meaningful employment opportunities, fostering economic stability and personal growth. Communities will benefit from increased public safety, improved mental health outcomes, and a stronger local workforce. By investing in these young women, we are building a more equitable and resilient county where justice-impacted girls are supported, empowered, and given a real chance to succeed—transforming cycles of harm into pathways of hope and opportunity.