10/29/2026
Asbury Park Teens ‘On the Rise’ at National PAL Youth Summit in Washington, DC
Over the Summer, 12 Asbury Park teens joined hundreds of other young leaders from around the world in Washington, D.C., for the National Police Athletic/Activities League’s Youth Summit 2026. What started out five years ago with only one Asbury Park teen going to the summit, has evolved into the PAL youth’s most anticipated event of the year! Thanks to support from Senator Vin Gopal’s Office, a grant was secured which allowed the teens to attend the summit at no cost to their families.
The theme of the four-day gathering was “On the Rise,” reflected in varied programming designed to help youth build leadership traits, navigate personal challenges, and position them for future success in school and beyond. The young attendees and their mentors, including numerous police officers and civilian coordinators of local police athletic league chapters, explored ways to apply leadership skills through civic engagement, service, advocacy, creativity, and collaboration.
PAL members also toured Capitol Hill, worked on creating content to share messages and stories, and became immersed in GRIT, which stands for Growth mindset, Resilience, Initiative, and Tenacity. The program, National PAL’s mentor-led youth development experience, aims to strengthen those essential life skills and equip youth to navigate challenges, build confidence, and make a positive impact in school, their communities, and their own lives.
On the Summit’s last day, in an experience called “The Line We Leave,” attendees created messages of encouragement, gratitude, and hope for first responders, mentors, future youth leaders, and one another.
“That was an incredibly impactful week with young people from PAL chapters across the country coming together for the next step in their leadership journey,” said Dr. Stephen Coan, President and Chief Executive Officer, National PAL. “It was inspiring to see the connection between youth, officers, and mentors every day throughout the summit. Their experiences during the week will no doubt be taken home and shared with friends, families, and peers as we all continue strengthening communities and setting young people up for lifelong success.”
PAL works to prevent juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops, and communities through positive engagement. In one instance, one of the PAL youths from Asbury Park was able to secure a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut to study architecture. The Asbury Park Police Officers who accompanied the youth to the summit, like many of the officers in the police department, are deeply committed to serving their community and ensuring that young people have meaningful opportunities to attend transformative experiences like this, empowering them to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Asbury Park Police Department
City of Asbury Park
Monmouth Ocean Police Athletic League
National PAL
Greater Asbury Park Community Development Initiative