{"id":284341,"date":"2026-04-24T20:45:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/284341\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T20:45:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:45:23","slug":"our-generation-cares-celebrates-five-years-of-youth-empowerment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/284341\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Generation Cares celebrates five years of youth empowerment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five years in, the multi-faceted youth nonprofit Our Generation Cares (OGC) is busier than ever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taking over a cafe in Central Long Beach, opening their own sprawling office in Downtown, welcoming a new 24-year-old president, and unveiling Long Beach\u2019s first and only toy lending library are just some of the accomplishments they\u2019ll be celebrating at their annual gala celebration Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been like five years in the making of finding a home and our flagship of like, \u2018What are our intentions, what are our main programs that we see that are necessary within our community?\u2019\u201d said OGC founder and Chief Executive Officer Alba Danely.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Our Generation Cares,
Alba Danely, poses near the nonprofit\u2019s new toy and book library on April 22, 2026 in Long Beach. Youth can check out a wide range of books, games, kits and other items for up to two weeks. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

When Danely last spoke to the Signal Tribune in 2022<\/a>, the nonprofit had a workforce development partnership with Coco Beach Presents and was operating its offices out of a church.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2024, OGC moved into their permanent office space, an entire floor on East Broadway. The space also functions as a safe hangout space for youth ages 17-24, as well as their siblings, featuring video game consoles, a virtual driving education program, and tons of games for kids of all ages.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More recently on Jan. 13, OGC got the keys for their very own restaurant: Desperado Cafe LBC on Seventh Street. While youth have been receiving workforce training the past five years through OGC\u2019s restaurant partnerships, this is the first time the nonprofit has full operational control of a restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI love seeing the pride that they take and knowing like, \u2018This is ours,\u2029it\u2019s not just we\u2019re working in it,\u2019\u201d Danely said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Ichiro Mimila (left), a youth worker for Our Generation Cares for three years and Christian Solorzano (right), a youth worker for eight months, tell the new chef, Juan Esquivel (middle), that the food was awesome during their taste testing on April 22, 2026 in Long Beach. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Burritos and tacos are placed for members of Our Generation Cares to taste test on April 22, 2026 at Desperado Cafe LBC as youth workers hone their hospitality skills like cooking, cleaning and making drinks. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Christian Solorzano shows off one of six dishes he created for a food tasting Our Generation Cares held on April 22, 2026 at Desperado Cafe LBC. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

When the Signal Tribune visited Desperado Cafe LBC on April 22, youth members were running every aspect of a tasting for their menu, crafting various tacos on handmade corn tortillas. Christian Solorzano and Ichiro Mimila, who have been with OCG for eight months and three years respectively, grilled and chopped marinated chicken alongside chef Juan Esquivel. <\/p>\n

The three chefs then topped the tacos with fresh guacamole, cilantro and thinly sliced radishes. The mood on Seventh Street was excited and satisfied.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any Mexican cafe worth its salt can also satiate a caffeine craving. To meet this need, two OGC youth members have been learning under Denise Maldonado of Downtown\u2019s Confidential Coffee <\/a>to become capable baristas. Soon, customers will be able to purchase rompope lattes, matcha horchatas, Mexican hot chocolate and more from the cafe\u2019s coffee menu. For those who want to join the service industry in another way, OGC can help their youth become bartender certified as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

OGC youth are not only learning culinary skills, but they also handle inventory needs, sales, marketing, design and anything else it takes to run a restaurant. Through this paid 200-hour hospitality program, OGC hopes to help their youth (which are largely from low-income communities and foster care) have a leg up in the workforce, as many youth today struggle to find steady employment<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"(From left to right) Stephanie Pope, a barista for Confidential Coffee watches over and helps Ichiro Mimila, an Our Generation Cares youth worker, as he creates a matcha order during the coffee tasting event on April 22, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Destiny Robinson, a one-year intern with Our Generation Cares, helps with cleaning the pots, pans and dishes on April 22, 2026 at Desperado Cafe LBC. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"Juan Esquivel, chef for Our Generation Cares, slowly pours on different sauces and toppings atop plates of tacos during the food tasting on April 22, 2026 at Desperado Cafe LBC. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Danely is currently working to expand their hospitality training globally, teaming up with Long Beach\u2019s newest sister city La Paz, Mexico. OGC members ages 18-24 will be part of a cultural exchange program, which the nonprofit is preparing for with a trip to La Paz in May.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Further helping youth prepare to enter the workforce is OGC\u2019s driving education program. Students can learn how to drive and prepare for the written exam from their DMV-certified program. Classes kick off during the summer, and spaces fill up quickly so any youth interested in attending are encouraged to contact OGC as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The nonprofit recently expanded their focus from working-age youth to a much younger audience, when it launched Long Beach\u2019s first and only toy lending library. Their downtown office now features shelves stacked with toys and games for kids of all ages, courtesy of a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Different types of toys fill the OG Cares Labs center, where youth can congregate and create. Our Generation Cares offers a free seasonal membership for youth ages 14-24 with programs, internships and special initiatives. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Different items line the tables at the OG Cares Labs that youth could play with, such as rubber stamps, books and soccer balls. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Families can come down to the OGC office and choose from a wide range of board games, books, kits, balls, legos, stuffies and more. Kids are allowed to keep the toy for two weeks, and when they check out and return a toy five times, they\u2019re given a toy of their choice to keep. Danely said if parents are searching for a specific toy type, they can let OGC know and they\u2019ll order it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The toys are also available for kids who just want to use the office as a place to hang out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe identified that sometimes our youth that are in foster care and have brothers and sisters, they don\u2019t have a location where they can meet them when it\u2019s a scheduled visit from their case workers,\u201d Danely said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a big goal for us, you know, giving that sense of belonging to our teenagers that have siblings that are still fostered.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another milestone the nonprofit recently hit: naming a new president, 24-year-old Michael Green II. With a new restaurant, more skill programs in the works and plenty of youth members ready to learn, OGC is just getting started.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Christian Solorzano, who\u2019s been part of Our Generation Cares for eight months, slowly pours oat milk on one of many orders as he helps one-year barista Stephanie Pope on April 22, 2026 at Confidential Coffee. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m passing the baton on,\u201d Danely said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing just to see that our generation does care and when you put young leaders in a position to lead, it\u2019s amazing to see their vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

OGC is celebrating their fifth birthday at their Swag and Grace Youth Gala on Monday, April 27 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott Rooftop (500 E. First St.). Anyone can attend and enjoy casino games, an art auction, raffled off prizes, music and fine dining while they learn about the work OGC does.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tickets can be purchased online or through the link in the bio of @ourgenerationcares<\/a> on Instagram. Proceeds go towards OGC\u2019s programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Youth who are interested in participating in one of OGC\u2019s programs are encouraged to message them on Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SamanthaSamantha DiazManaging Editor<\/p>\n

Samantha is an award-winning journalist, sports fanatic and mother. She\u2019s worked for the Signal Tribune for over three years and is passionate about covering environmental news, small businesses, mutual aid efforts and resources. <\/p>\n

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