City Announces Conclusion of SEED Program Following Loss of Federal Funding, Launches LBPL Creativity Lab

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Youth SEED program participants engage with City staff, partners, mentors and educators at workshop sessions. The program, which delivered 255 youth STEM workshops to more than 500 students, concluded on Sept. 30, 2025, as a result of federal funding loss. To continue meaningful youth STEM programming, Long Beach Public Library will launch LBPL Creativity Lab in February 2026.

Long Beach, CA - As a result of federal funding cuts brought about by recent Executive Orders and policy shifts under the current Presidential Administration, the Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) has had to conclude its SEED program, which had been traditionally funded for four years by over $400,000 in federal funds administered by the Department of Education. The program's final day of service was Sept. 30, 2025.

Launched in Summer 2022, the SEED program introduced a "STEAM ecosystem" model that brought together partners across the arts and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields to offer high-quality, arts-integrated STEM learning for middle school youth. The program's key partners included Dramatic Results, a local nonprofit that designs and delivers educational programming using art, design and culture as entryways into STEM subjects, as well as mentors from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), and more than 40 educators ranging from CSULB pre-service teachers to local artists and working professionals. Over four years, the program delivered 255 workshop sessions across five library locations and an urban farm, serving more than 500 students. On average, students participated for 30 hours, with some attending over 100 hours of workshops.

With the conclusion of SEED, LBPL remains committed to continuing meaningful programming for middle school youth through a new initiative: the LBPL Creativity Lab. Supported by the Long Beach Public Library Foundation, the Creativity Lab builds upon the strengths of the SEED model. This next phase also aligns with the City's focus on expanding opportunities for young people and reflects LBPL's mission to elevate arts, culture and technology for the Long Beach community. The LBPL Creativity Lab will continue to offer high-quality creativity and design programming in a more flexible format that supports ongoing innovation.

To ensure community voices guide this work, the Creativity Lab recently held listening sessions with past participants, families, students and staff. Feedback garnered from these sessions informed the development of the LBPL Creativity Lab. Continued input from partners and collaborators-particularly those in the creative community and Downtown Design District-is welcomed as the program moves forward.

The Creativity Lab's first five-week session will begin in February 2026. Additional details about the program will be shared in the coming weeks. The Long Beach Public Library looks forward to expanding creative and educational opportunities for youth across Long Beach.

The City of Long Beach is committed to keeping the community informed of the ongoing developments related to the loss, and possible future loss, of federal funding and its impacts on local programs provided by the City. Community members are encouraged to stay up to date by visiting longbeach.gov/FedFundingUpdates.

For media inquiries and more information about the LBPL Creativity Lab, please contact Gabriel Gaete,Program Coordinator, Department of Library, Arts and Culture, at [email protected].

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