Campaigns

Our organizing work builds from our program components to provide opportunities for the community to use their collective power and create institutional change. KGA believes that building the political analysis of our members to understand the complexities of national policies that attack immigrants, people of color, poor families, women, and young people contribute to building knowledge and power of the community to fight and advocate for justice within the context of improving their lives and the communities they live in. The focus is not just on individual behavior change, but systematic change and approaching this change in a comprehensive manner through our organizing model that incorporates the strength of youth, gender, culture, and community.

 

Invest in Youth Campaign

Only 5% of our city’s budget is allocated to positive youth development programs and we believe our city can do better! We demand our city leaders to INVEST IN YOUTH and have equitable budget practices that reflect that our community’s future and values matter!

Youth members of Khmer Girls in Action and our allies in the Long Beach Forward Youth Committees, in partnership with Advancement Project and CSULB, surveyed over 750 Long Beach residents on what resources and programs our communities need to succeed and thrive.

The survey results revealed a disconnect between what residents valued as priorities and how our city plans to spend down public dollars.  7 out of 10 residents support an increase of public funds for youth programs and 80% of those surveyed believe that the best way to make our communities safer is to invest in community- based youth development programs.

However, Long Beach’s current budget priorities does not reflect our community’s voice.  Not all youth and teens have access to positive youth development programs and resources to reach their full potential.  Only 5% of the city’s 2018 adopted budget is allocated to youth programs and services, with a foreseeable decrease in the years ahead.   A closer look at how our city spends down public dollars shows that only $204 is spent on positive development programs per youth but an overwhelming $10,500 is spent on suppression for each youth arrest.

A balanced budget is equitable and ensure that all young people have the resources they need to thrive. Our future starts today and this is why now is the time to invest in youth!

Through our Invest in Youth Campaign, we call on the city of Long Beach to:
  • Establish a Long Beach Children & Youth Fund supported by revenue from the general fund and by allocating at least 50% of marijuana sales taxes to the Long Beach Children & Youth Fund.
  • Protect funding for youth development and positive support programs and resources from budget cuts especially during deficits.

In 2020, the Invest in Youth Coalition, in partnership with the City of Long Beach & Health Department, will host a city -wide strategic plan to engage youth in all 9 districts to learn about how to best support their needs.

In January and February 2020 we look forward to hosting focus groups.  Stay tuned for upcoming details on how to participate!

For more information on the Invest in Youth Campaign, please visit www.investinyouthlb.org

Meet the Invest in Youth Team!

Anchor Organizations:

Steering Committee:

Research Team:

Learn more and Get Involved:
Individual Endorsement
Organizational / Company Endorsement

Summary of Survey Results
Summary of Budget Analysis, Advancement Project (coming soon!)

For more information contact Lead Organizer, Jennefer Heng at jennefer@kgalb.org

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Youth at the C.O.R.E Wellness Center Campaign

A STUDENT’S HEALTH SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER TO THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS
KGA members gather at lunchtime for KGA's Wellness Rally at Poly High School

We all deserve to be well!  Support KGA’s Youth at the C.O.R.E. Campaign!

When students’ physical and mental health needs are met, and they have the support to lead healthy lifestyles they attend school more, are able to focus in the classroom and succeed academically.  Wellness Centers in high schools provide health education, preventative care, support services, and link students to resources so that they can be healthy and thrive.

 

Wellness Centers have already been implemented across the nation, showing improvements in student well-being, attendance and graduation rates. We’re bringing the movement to Long Beach!

 

We all deserve to be well!

Youth at the CORE Campaign Logo

WELLNESS CENTER FACT SHEET
English| Spanish | Khmer

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
English | Spanish | Khmer

For more information about our campaign contact
justice@kgalb.org or (562) 986-9415

 

Every Student Matters Campaign

Every day students are pushed out of school because of severe disciplinary practices. Help us keep students in the classroom because EVERY STUDENT MATTERS! The Every Student Matters (ESM) campaign is the first student-led policy advocacy campaign being organized by the Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Youth Committee. The ESM campaign is focused on promoting practices, policies, and programs in the Long Beach Unified School District that help students stay in school and graduate on time. The campaign seeks to work in partnership with LBUSD leaders, educators, parents, and students to promote a positive school climate and proactive alternatives to punitive, exclusionary discipline practices that currently remove students from the classroom and school. We seek to foster school discipline practices that address the root causes of behavioral issues, restore justice, and put students on a path to success.

EVERY STUDENT MATTERS FACT SHEET

For more information about the Every Student Matters Campaign visit https://www.facebook.com/EveryStudentMatters?ref=hl or contact justice@kgalb.org