The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity has created a program that will pay the salaries for eligible interns, age 17 to 24, as they work for businesses or nonprofit organizations in certain fields.
The Youth@Work Elevate program will provide 500 of LA County’s foster youth, individuals experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+, and justice impacted youth, ages 17-24, with 400 hours of personal enrichment training, paid mentoring and work experience with high-growth and emerging sector employers, including hospitality, trade and logistics, advance manufacturing, IT, and health care, while earning $16.04 an hour.
The first cohort of Youth@Work Elevate will launch on Sept. 26. Interested youth can submit their interest form by visiting www.bit.ly/YouthElevate.
Eligibility criteria:
• LA County Resident
• Ages 17-24
• Right to Work
• Unemployed, seeking employment
• Selective Service registration required
for males 18+
• One of the following targeted demographics:
• Current or Former foster youth.
• Identifies as LGBTQ+
• Current or previous experience with
homelessness
• Justice impacted youth, including direct
involvement with the justice system or chil
dren of parents with justice system
involvement.
Los Angeles County is also recruiting employers from high-growth sectors with a commitment to evaluate participants for hire after completion of the program. Businesses interested in participating as a worksite can visit bit.ly/ElevateOurYouth to learn more and apply to become a host employer.
Targeted sectors include:
• Healthcare
• Infrastructure
• Trade and logistics
• E-commerce
• Transportation and warehousing
• Advanced manufacturing
• Entertainment and creative arts
• Informational technology
• Hospitality
Anyone with questions regarding the county’s new Youth@Work Elevate program is encouraged to email elevateyouth@opportunity.lacounty.gov.
