June 2022 Updates

Happy Juneteenth and Here are your mid-month updates!

New Job Opportunity: Manager of Cannabis Oversight

The City of Long Beach is seeking a Cannabis Program Manager/Assistant to the City Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of the Office of Cannabis Oversight and complete other special projects as assigned within the City Manager Department. The Cannabis Program Manager is responsible for managing and overseeing the City’s cannabis program including policy development, revenue collection, licensing regulation, and enforcement. This manager reports to and works closely with, the Deputy City Manager to accomplish established goals, programs, and adopted work plans for the cannabis program. They will supervise two full-time Program Specialists.

Apply Here

My Hood, My City Summer Youth Engagement Program

The City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services has launched the program My Hood, My City to engage youth through civics education and leadership development. The program, led by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Youth Development in partnership with the Youth Leadership Institute, provides youth-led storytelling through neighborhood tours that raise awareness, pride and knowledge regarding the cultural and structural makeup of neighborhoods in north, west and central Long Beach. My Hood, My City supports Long Beach young people ages 14 to 24 and communities of color living in historically divested neighborhoods that have experienced disproportionate volumes of violence and poverty, as well as areas disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Approximately 10 young people will be engaged in each neighborhood by the Youth Leadership Institute to develop the neighborhood storytelling tours, which will take place both digitally and in person. The neighborhood tours will occur in person over the summer in each neighborhood and digital tours will be delivered through videos and storyboards. These online assets will be shared on City and Youth Leadership Institute websites, social media channels, in newsletters on LBTV, and more. Application instructions and eligibility requirements are available through the Youth Leadership Institute’s My Hood, My City webpage. Those who are eligible are encouraged to apply by 7 p.m. on July 12, 2022. The first orientation and launch meeting will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. Once an application is submitted, Youth Leadership Orientation staff will respond and provide the orientation information, so applicants can submit their interest form right up to the last minute. Questions may be directed to mbedolla@yli.org or comar@yli.org.

Now Recruiting: Equity and Human Relations Commission

The Equity and Human Relations Commission is Recruiting members to fill four (4) vacant seats. The mission of the Commission is to inspire and support social justice in the City of Long Beach and foster mutual understanding for all. Click below to apply Application Flyer

Justice Fund in Action

The Long Beach Justice Fund (Justice Fund) provides legal representation for low-income immigrants who live or work in Long Beach and are facing deportation. The Justice Fund is a core program in the Office of Equity that uses a "universal representation" model, the fundamental belief that everyone deserves due process under the law, regardless of their background or criminal history.    We shared one of our Justice Fund recipient's stories a few months ago.

Meet Sithy Bin

Born in a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand, Sithy arrived in the United States as a toddler, growing up here and knowing the U.S. as his only home. Sithy made a mistake while still a young man, causing him to face two life sentences, a minimum of 40 years in prison. While incarcerated, Sithy dedicated himself to helping his peers and participated in every rehabilitative and educational program available. When a new law made Sithy eligible for resentencing, Sithy's sentence was reduced, and he was granted parole in 2020. However, ICE arrested Sithy, moving him directly from prison to ICE custody.     The COVID-19 pandemic made conditions in ICE detention extremely dangerous, and Sithy was released, reuniting with his family after 15 years. Since leaving detention, Sithy has worked tirelessly to serve his community and support his family. Sithy volunteers with community organizations that help people who are returning home from prison. He also volunteers with the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition and recently joined the Long Beach Reentry Advisory Council.     The Long Beach Justice Fund provides community members like Sithy with full-scale removal defense to protect the basic right of due process.     Read more on Sithy's story here.