La Mirada youth council approves adaptive-awareness campaign and entrepreneurial fair

The La Mirada Youth in Government City Council voted unanimously Feb. 24 to pursue planning for an adaptive-awareness campaign and to continue developing an entrepreneurial fair for local students.

Youth presenters outlined the adaptive-awareness proposal as a three-part initiative that would include a Sunflower Club (monthly meet-ups pairing volunteers with residents who have disabilities), a community "rainbow art wall" to raise visibility, and adaptive sports and inclusive recreation programming. Presenters said the programs would be advertised through La Mirada Living, school channels and partnerships with local disability organizations, and they flagged several grant opportunities staff has explored to support equipment and programming.

Isabel Alejandro, introduced as a youth city council assistant, described the campaign and the goal of increasing inclusion in local recreation and volunteering. Staff presenters referenced potential funding streams, noting a private adaptive-sports funding range of roughly $20,000 to $50,000 for equipment and that a prior Department of Developmental Services grant program distributed sizable awards to communities; staff emphasized that grant availability would require further research and application work.

After the presentation, the youth council debated implementation details including volunteer training, possible contracting of professional instructors, and whether events should be held in city parks or indoor facilities. Mayor Pro Tem Blanco Romero moved that the council pursue planning of the adaptive-awareness campaign; the motion was seconded and carried on a unanimous roll call of the youth council.

The second youth-led item, an entrepreneurial fair, was presented with a two-block schedule (a morning block focused on community-oriented projects and an afternoon block for commercial ideas), a judging rubric and suggested prizes including scholarships and local business sponsorships. Presenters said the fair would offer youth real-world experience in pitching, marketing and budgeting and asked staff to continue planning logistics such as power, lighting, judging recruitment and vendor layouts.

Youth Council Member Soto moved to continue establishing the entrepreneurial fair; the council voted unanimously to proceed. City staff and council members praised the students’ presentations during the meeting’s closing remarks. Councilmember DeRuse, addressing the assembled students and guests, said the presentations were “stellar” and that the youth “centered inclusion” in their proposals, calling the work “truly stellar.”

Next steps for both items include staff follow-up on grant research, decisions about vendors and instructors, and scheduling; the youth council did not set firm dates for city-funded expenditures at this meeting.