The mission of local nonprofit Mind-1-1 is to eliminate barriers to mental wellness and bridge the gap between people and trusted mental health resources.
That includes supporting young people in Long Beach and connecting them with the resources they need, officials said. To improve those connections, the nonprofit is hosting a summit this month to inform providers of the state of youth mental health.
The inaugural Youth Mental Health Summit will provide a space for providers to learn more about the state of youth mental health in the city, hear from local leaders, and build stronger collaboration across systems, according to the Mind-1-1 website.
The summit will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Studio One Eleven, 245 E. Third St. Mental health providers interested in attending need to RSVP through Eventbrite, and only a few spots remain.
“The purpose of this summit is to really bridge those systems here in Long Beach and for there to be more of a collaborative approach to how to get youth and families to care in an easier, more streamlined way,” Sara Peral, founder and CEO of Mind-1-1, said in an interview. “Mind-1-1 is all about community and networking, so we want these organizations to meet each other, to know who each other is, and then come up with solutions together or ideas, and see what else is working through our panel.”
The theme of the summit is “Bridging Systems and Healing Communities,” and will feature a panel discussion with guest speakers such as Darick Simpson, president of the Miller Foundation; Angelina Palma-Williams, chief clinical officer at the Guidance Center; and Tory Cox, assistant Title IV-E project coordinator at Cal State Long Beach, among others.
In addition to the panel discussion, the summit will also have a presentation on the state of youth mental health in Long Beach, and a demonstration of the Mind-1-1 resource directory, how it’s making mental health more accessible and easier to find and how it’s building community and bringing resources to people and providers, Peral said.
Working together, Mind-1-1 hopes to explore real solutions, system-level change, and how to better support the mental health of young people in Long Beach, organizers said.
Through Peral’s work as a therapist, she said the need for youth mental health resources is high as they face trauma, abuse, depression, and anxiety, as well as continuing to be affected by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as dealing with skyrocketing anxiety rates, family issues, grief and loss. Being able to help youth and families navigate through the mental health ecosystem is just as important, she added.
While this summit is focused for youth mental health providers, Peral said that Mind-1-1 plans to host more events in the near future that bring resources to parents, youth and the community. A mental health resource fair is anticipated to happen in May, she said.
For more information about upcoming events and resources provided by Mind-1-1, people can check their social media or visit mind11.org.
WomenShelter of Long Beach to host 9th annual youth conference this weekend
WomenShelter of Long Beach will be hosting its ninth annual Teen Dating Violence Youth Conference on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Photo courtesy of WomenShelter of Long Beach)
Empowering youth to recognize warning signs, make safe choices, and rewrite their own stories, WomenShelter of Long Beach will be hosting its ninth annual Teen Dating Violence Youth Conference this weekend.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Rewrite the Story: #KnowTheSigns.” It will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. at Grace Long Beach, 3601 Linden Ave.
The free conference is open to youth ages 14 to 18 years old, college students, adult caregivers, and service providers. This year’s conference will focus on empowering teens and their caregivers to recognize red flags in dating relationships and rewrite their stories toward safety, healing, and healthy relationships, according to a press release.
According to Futures Without Violence, teen dating violence affects millions of young people and can include physical, emotional, sexual, or economic abuse, harassment, and stalking among individuals ages 12 to 18 in current or past relationships.
The event will feature a performance by CSULB’s interACT, a nationally recognized social justice performance troupe. Additionally, April Hernandez-Castillo – acclaimed actress known for her role as Eva Benitez in “Freedom Writers,” author and survivor of teen violence – will lead a discussion titled “The Power of Her Story,” highlighting warning signs of abuse and the impact of dating violence, according to a press release.
The conference will also include separate breakout sessions for youth and adults, facilitated by youth leaders from the United Cambodian Community, along with a cultural performance by the Mera Dance Group. Opening remarks will be delivered by Sixth District Councilmember Suely Saro, organizers said.
Attendees will receive a complimentary lunch and have opportunities to participate in giveaways as well.
WomenShelter of Long Beach hopes this conference will spark meaningful conversations between youth and their caregivers about building healthy relationships and recognizing early warning signs of abuse, according to a press release.
To further commemorate Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge will be illuminated orange from Friday, Feb. 20, through Monday, Feb. 23. Lighting the bridge serves as a visible reminder of the lives impacted by teen dating violence, organizers said.
Nationally, statistics show that nearly 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner each year, according to a WSLB press release, and one in three adolescents experiences some form of dating abuse.
To register for the conference, visit womenshelterlb.org. For questions about the event or to learn more about supporting WSLB’s prevention education programs, contact Jenny Barbosa, director of outreach and education, at JBarbosa@womenshelterlb.org.