Long Beach BLAST

Long Beach BLAST benefits the Long Beach community because we are connecting youth who are referred to us by their Principals, Teachers, Counselors and/or site directors who need additional support with academic mentoring, guidance and support for students' academic success. We provide them with a college mentor, from either CSULB, CSUDH and LBCC and provide them with academic mentoring to ensure and inspire them to reach future and personal success. Youth are receiving mentoring services and college students are also learning from the experience and applying this into their own education and career. BLAST also supports the college students with resume/mock interview workshops every semester. Additionally, we are also supporting students in all three continuation and comprehensive high schools in Long Beach to assist them in recovering credits to graduate, apply to college, resume help, career exploration through guest speakers, career fairs and field trips. Long Beach BLAST aims to serve more youth, our college mentors and provide them with vital resources and support to ensure success.

Testimonials

"With my senior year coming to a soon end I feel perplexed as to what it is, I want to do post undergrad, when planning out my options and goals I use the very model my mentee and I used; how can I achieve this goal, when do I want to achieve this goal, why do I want to achieve this goal, and what can I do now to help achieve this goal. It helped me realize that I enjoy working with my community and want to pursue a career where I can do just that and have subsequently been researching MPA programs to gain a better understanding of working with nonprofits. Truthfully, prior to my time in working with BLAST I didn't really make detailed plans with my goals and practicing it weekly with my mentee helped get into the habit of doing so and it's something I believe had I not done I would not have adapted this crucial life skill."
- Academic Mentor

"This program has been extremely helpful. My son appreciates his mentor Paige and wants to work hard for her. He is getting his work done - work that he couldn't get done on his own or even with me. We would be really lost without this help."
- BLAST Parent

I appreciate all the work that BLAST has done by encouraging, guiding, and helping me to apply to LBCC. In five years from now, I want to graduate from college and become a social worker. - Bridge to Success Student