CREATEOur Generation, Our Joy
A youth-led wellness and justice festival series popping up in parks and public spaces across Long Beach and beyond. Designed by youth ages 8–24, this series features mental health activities, creative career exploration, economic empowerment tools, and joyful community connection, all free and radically inclusive.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Youth economic advancement
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Long Beach South Bay Gateway Cities County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
Youth in Los Angeles (especially BIPOC, queer, and systems-impacted youth) are navigating mental health crises, economic instability, and a lack of culturally relevant support. Many are disconnected from opportunity and overwhelmed by trauma, isolation, and structural inequality. Traditional mental health services are often inaccessible or stigmatized, and opportunities in creative or emerging industries are concentrated in privileged communities. There is an urgent need for joyful, culturally rooted, youth-centered spaces that foster healing, connection, and economic agency.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
Our Generation, Our Joy is a mobile, youth-designed festival series that brings healing and opportunity to public spaces across LA. Each festival is co-created by youth ages 8–24 and features mental health “escape room” experiences, creative industry career exposure, financial literacy pop-ups, healing circles, performances, and vendor spaces for youth entrepreneurs. We meet youth where they’re at (physically and emotionally) through immersive events that blend joy, education, and access. All offerings are free and radically inclusive. Youth are hired and trained to lead, create, and facilitate every aspect, from art installations to outreach. With support from adult mentors, these festivals transform local parks, schools, and community hubs into vibrant spaces of belonging and opportunity. This pilot year will include 3–5 activations across Long Beach and surrounding communities, each tailored to the needs of the neighborhood.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
If successful, this project will model a scalable, replicable structure for youth-led community healing and opportunity. Long Beach will become a national example of what happens when we trust youth to lead solutions. Hundreds of young people will gain employment, skills, and affirmation. Thousands more will access healing and resources. Over time, this initiative will seed a larger network of youth wellness leaders and economic changemakers who transform the systems that once failed them.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 750
Indirect Impact: 5,000