Youth@Work Elevate

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Youth@Work Elevate program launched September 2022 and provides 800 of LA County’s foster youth, individuals experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+, and justice-impacted youth, ages 17-24, with pathways to careers in high-growth and emerging sectors through work experience, peer support networks and mentoring. Participants receive 400 hours of paid personal enrichment training, paid group mentoring, and paid work experience with employers within targeted sectors, including hospitality, trade and logistics, advance manufacturing, IT, and health care, while earning hourly wages. Upon completion of the program, participants will be connected to unsubsidized employment opportunities or additional workforce programs. To date, 229 youth participants have been enrolled in the program, with 130 youth placed in subsidized work experience within their field of interest. Thus far, 19% of program youth participants have received and accepted job offers in pathways to careers in high-growth and emerging sectors. The Youth@Work Elevate Program is funded by the American Rescue Plan and serves qualifying LA County residents at no cost to the participant.