Long Beach

Youth Leadership Institute expanded into Southern California in the summer of 2018 absorbing the VoiceWaves office in Long Beach.

Operating since 2011, the Long Beach office has been home to VoiceWaves, a youth media program that works with young people to amplify their stories, train them in media skills and encourage civic engagement. VoiceWaves content has been syndicated by KCET, KQED, The Long Beach Post and The Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Current Programs

Long Beach

Timeline of Wins in Long Beach

October 1, 2018 · Eastern Coachella Valley, Long Beach, Statewide

Youth Leadership Institute Acquires YouthWire

YLI welcomed YouthWire, a cutting edge statewide youth media program, into the organization on October 1, 2018.

Adults typically do not look to young people to help them solve issues that affect them. In fact many adults view youth from a paternalistic client perspective, and treat them as clients and not as a constituents. If we don’t allow young people to be partners in solving the issues that affect them, we miss an enormous opportunity to teach them how to take responsibility for their lives, how to exercise their voice, and how to become engaged citizens and community members. Not engaging them breeds voter apathy and makes young people want to tune out and disconnect.

Maureen Sedonean, Founder