Long Beach launches Love Your Block program

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, has launched Love Your Block, a community-driven initiative that empowers residents to take action and enhance their neighborhoods. With this partnership, Long Beach joins a national network of cities committed to supporting resident-led efforts to create lasting, positive change.

“Love Your Block is about bringing people together to build on the strengths of our neighborhoods and empower residents to take the lead in shaping their communities,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By working directly with the people who live and breathe these spaces every day, we can create solutions that reflect their needs and aspirations. I encourage all residents to get involved and be part of this exciting opportunity.”

In its first year, Love Your Block will support the city’s Westside Promise Initiative, a 10-year community investment plan to address current and historic challenges facing West Long Beach.

Through a community-led Civic Deliberation Team, residents will come together to address local challenges and drive meaningful change in West Long Beach. The Civic Deliberation Team will identify a key priority, develop an action plan and create challenge statements to guide residents in submitting grant proposals. Through a series of workshops, team members will ensure that funding is directed toward community-driven projects that align with local needs.

As part of this effort, the Love Your Block program will provide mini-grants of up to$2,500 for resident-led projects.

Long Beach residents, especially those living in West Long Beach, interested in applying for a mini-grant, joining the For Your Block Civic Deliberation Team, or volunteering for the program are encouraged to complete the Love Your Block Interest Form which is open for the duration of the initiative. Submitting the interest form ensures that residents receive the latest updates, guidance and resources to prepare for the upcoming grant application launch on Earth Day, April 22, 2025.

“Love Your Block is an opportunity to support resident-led projects that will make a meaningful impact. I look forward to seeing how this program will help strengthen connections and enhance the places we all call home,” said Vice Mayor and Seventh District Councilmember, Roberto Uranga.”

Long Beach joins a nationwide cohort of cities implementing Love Your Block. Since its inception, nearly 50,000 residents across the country have improved nearly 4,000 public spaces–creating nearly 800 art displays, cleaning 102,000 square feet of graffiti, and removing 6.7 million pounds of trash in cities nationwide. A total of 50 cities across 33 states have received support through the program. Additionally, a 2021 study by the Urban Institute found that cities participating in Love Your Block were able to strengthen social cohesion among residents, increase civic participation, and build stronger relationships with community members, leading to greater trust in local government.

The Love Your Block Program is currently in its development phase. In the coming weeks, more information about the mini-grant and the Civic Deliberation Team will be announced.   

For more information and to stay updated, visit the Love Your Block webpage.

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