Robert Brennan
Aug 18, 2026
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Long Beach LAMP Summer 2026 Showcase Celebrates 48 Young Artists and Leaders |
Eight weeks of paid arts training ended with music, film, photography, design, and a message encouraging Long Beach youth to Take A Stand. |
For 48 young people in Long Beach, a summer spent learning photography, graphic design, music, and video production ended with something much bigger than a final project.
The Long Beach Community Action Partnership (LBCAP) brought students, families, mentors, and community leaders together at The Grand on August 6 for the Long Beach LAMP Summer 2026 Showcase, celebrating the completion of an eight week internship through its Leadership ARTS Mentoring Program (LAMP).
The evening gave participants a chance to put their work in front of an audience and show how much they had developed during the summer, both as artists and as young leaders.
Long Beach LAMP Program Combines Art With Leadership
LBCAP founded LAMP in 2007 to teach leadership through digital media arts to income qualifying young people ages 14 to 24. The program is based at the organization's North Long Beach facility and focuses on helping youth develop practical skills while building confidence and greater independence.
This summer, participants could earn up to $2,150 during the paid internship while receiving instruction in four creative disciplines: Graphic Design, Music Production, Photography, and Studio and Video Production.
Their days went beyond learning cameras, software, sound, and production techniques. Leadership workshops explored critical thinking, personal finance, and personal branding, giving participants tools they can carry into school, future jobs, and their communities.
“This summer, the LAMP youth showed tremendous passion and enthusiasm to become stronger leaders for their community,” said LBCAP Executive Director Marisa Semense. “Our young people are not just future leaders, but active changemakers and our city will benefit greatly from their contributions.”
LAMP Summer 2026 Showcase Gives Youth the Stage
The showcase turned those weeks of instruction into a public celebration of what the interns had created. Graphic Design and Photography participants presented slideshows featuring their work, while the Studio and Video Production group screened film projects for the audience.
The Music Production group brought the program to a close with an onstage performance, giving the young artists an opportunity to experience what it feels like to share their creativity directly with a live audience.
Connecting all four disciplines was the summer theme, “Take A Stand.” The idea encouraged participants to speak up for what they believe is right, remain true to their values, and use courage to empower the people around them.
That message gave the artwork another purpose. Rather than treating creativity only as a technical skill, the program challenged participants to think about what they wanted to communicate and what kind of impact their voices could have.
Long Beach Youth Leave With Recognition and a Next Chapter
At the end of the showcase, each participant received a Certificate of Completion recognizing the skills developed during the program. The graduates also received individual recognition from the offices of California Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, and Long Beach Councilmember Tunua Thrash Ntuk.
For LBCAP Youth Services Program Coordinator Harold Edmonds, the evening represented more than the completion of a summer program.
“We are incredibly proud of what our youth accomplished this summer,” Edmonds said. “Beyond growing as artists, they have developed critical leadership skills necessary for future success.”
For the students who stepped onto the stage or watched their work appear on a screen at The Grand, the showcase marked the end of eight weeks of training. It also offered a glimpse of what can happen when young people are given the space, tools, mentorship, and opportunity to make something of their own.
LBCAP has served Long Beach since 1979, providing programs designed to help residents facing educational, social, and economic barriers build greater self sustainability. Through LAMP, that mission takes a creative form, giving another generation of Long Beach youth an opportunity to discover what they can create and what they may be capable of next.
Event Details
LAMP Summer 2026 Showcase
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