The City of Los Alamitos Recreation & Community Services Department hosted the fourth annual Elevate Teen Expo event on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The event was held at the Los Alamitos Community Center (10911 Oak St) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This personal development conference invited local middle and high school students to explore various learning topics through breakout sessions designed to help navigate the trials and tribulations of life. The main topics included personal discovery, self-confidence, safety, special interests, and Adulting 101. This event successfully came to life through the partnership of many local supporting organizations, led by the City of Los Alamitos team members Recreation Coordinator Samantha Kenny and Senior Recreation Leader Jazzmyn Loe.
The day began with a light breakfast, during which attendees could socialize before the big day ahead. Kicking off the event was keynote speaker Beth Lavelle from Tilly’s Life Center, a non-profit organization focused on inspiring youth to reach their full potential as productive, kind, happy, and responsible individuals. This was followed by a series of engaging breakout sessions focused on personal discovery, self-confidence, and safety.
Educational sessions were presented by the following organizations:
- Casa Youth Shelter
- Orange County Fire Authority
- Orange County HealthCare Agency
- The Youth Center
- Tilly’s Life Center
- The B.O.L.O. Project
- City of Los Alamitos Police Department
- City of Los Alamitos Recreation & Community Services Department
Chick-fil-A was on the menu for lunch, offering a chance to break up the day, unwind, and socialize with new friends. The event concluded with special interests, adulting 101, and a final keynote speaker. Tamara Smalewitz from Southland Credit Union took the stage
to showcase their “Bite of Reality” mobile application. The demonstration provided a fun, safe, and interactive way to handle real-world financial situations.
The conference attracted 30 teens who experienced a variety of activities throughout the event. Highlights included positive journaling, goodie bags, vision board sessions, and opportunities to make new friends. The Elevate Teen Expo is set to return next year, aiming once again to provide a range of fun and exciting experiences for middle school and high school students. For more information about upcoming events and programs, please visit www.cityoflosalamitos.org/recreation or contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (562) 430-1073.