Lost Angels Children's Project (LACP) is a non-profit organization with the mission to serve disadvantaged youth, families, and distressed communities through innovative vocational training, social enterprise, and outreach programs. LACP was founded in 2014. Since inception LACP has trained and mentored youth in the Antelope Valley. LACP empowers and employs transitional age youth (TAY) within the Antelope Valley community and Greater Los Angeles area by offering a paid vocational training program that provides a direct path to sustainable job placement. LACP program participants are socioeconomically disadvantaged, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, single parents, young women, justice and/or foster systems-impacted transition-aged youth. LACP is a vocational skills training and youth development organization that engages at-risk and foster youth through classic car restoration and customization, to learn a trade, gain life skills and become empowered through team building activities.

Receiving the LA2050 grant has made a tremendous impact on our organization. Through the LA2050 grant, LACP is supporting and expanding the Lost Angels Work Program – a 12-week industrial arts vocational training and skills development program that serves at-risk and opportunity youth ages 18-24 in the Antelope Valley, located in Los Angeles County. As a social enterprise, LACP youth at-risk for homelessness and/or joblessness – go through a paid apprenticeship in classic car restoration, gaining a multitude of skills and techniques including welding, fabrication, engine assembly, electrical, bodywork, and composites. The skills these students are acquiring help us make an impact on the LA2050 metric to address youth unemployment and underemployment by giving low-income youth hands-on experience in the automobile and aerospace field. The LA2050 grant has not only supported us through monetary resources, but the technical assistance and exposure of being part of something so impactful has enabled us to secure new partnerships and donors.

LACP has fully implemented the Work Program with applications and interviews being held in October 2022 and a cohort initiating in November 2022. From October 2022 through February 2023, LACP had a total of thirty-eight (38) youth in the 12-week Work Program. Of the thirty-eight (38) youth enrolled, thirty-two (32) graduated from the program (84%). The youth completed the program the last week of February 2022, and celebrated graduation the first week of March 2023. 100% of the thirty-two (32) graduates received employment offers in the aerospace industry. LACP initiated the second cohort in April 2023 from June 2023 with forty-two (41) students enrolled and thirty-four (35) graduated the program at the end of June 2023 (85% completion and graduation rate). Each of the graduated students received employment offers and/or employment within the aerospace and/or manufacturing field in the Antelope Valley. LACP initiated an additional cohort in August 2023 from October 2023 with forty-two (42) students enrolled and thirty-four (34) graduated the program on October 6th, 2023 (80% completion and graduation rate). Each of the graduated students received employment offers and/or employment within the aerospace and/or manufacturing field in the Antelope Valley. Through this grant, LACP stated they would reach 150 individuals through direct impact and an additional 350 through indirect impact. LACP served 121 youth in the Work Program and has an additional 360 on our case management team’s caseload – 481 served through direct and indirect impact. The case management team provides ongoing support to youth, preparing them for the program, supportive services, and linkages to community resources.

The ongoing challenges our organization is facing is funding for employees, supportive services for youth to reduce barriers, employment eligibility, and space for the program to best serve our youth. As we have grown, the employee needs are evolving with additional organizational and program positions. In late 2022, our organization hired an onsite tutor to assist youth with diploma, school testing, and HiSET diplomas. In addition, we recently moved into a new facility. The demand for the program outweighs our capacity and we hope to one day get a bigger facility that can accommodate more underserved youth with additional services. Which leads to the other challenge — funding. LACP is working diligently to apply to foundations and corporations for financial resources that will enable us to expand services. LACP continues to struggle to identify and create viable pathways to sustainable independence and success for justice impacted TAY who are not eligible for employment with some of our current partners. Lessons learned – continue to search and apply for funding, services brought in house (through LACP) seem to be more successful with our students and population and developing partners aid in wraparound services for our youth.

The Work Program is positively impacting the Antelope Valley and Los Angeles County community and will for years to come by training youth and matching them to in-demand entry-level jobs that lead to lucrative careers in aerospace. LACP recognizes the lack of employment for young adults, particularly those transitioning out of foster care and/or the juvenile justice system with limited skills – and is offering an innovative solution for preparing youth for the workplace. Industrial arts job skills training combined with sectoral industry partnerships with aerospace employers reduces unemployment rates among youth and TAY, shifts poverty levels as youth receive living wage employment opportunities, and meets the local aerospace industry's growing and unmet need for quality entry-level employment candidates who know how to work with their hands.

LACP will continue to track progress of the Work Program, track progress of our students with employment, track progress of our developing Social Enterprise programs, and track barrier reduction through our case management and supportive services. Additionally, the case management meets with program participants multiple times each week and connects with youth on our caseload monthly or more, as needed per each client. At this time, LACP asks directly for feedback on services and trainings provided – LACP is working to implement a survey per each training and at the end of the Work Program, however this has not been finalized and implemented during this grant period.

Yes, LACP will continue this work and plans to expand on the work. The Work Program will continue into 2023 with an estimated forty (40) youth and three (3) cohorts each year. Serving an estimated 120 youth each year within the Work Program. In addition, LACP has had so many youths apply and are on the case management caseload – our team is in the process of developing a “Pit Crew” training – a 4-week training aimed at getting youth skills (both soft skills and hard skills) to receive entry level employment in the community. This will be for participants needing work experience and jobs, waiting for the Work Program, not ready for the Work Program, and individuals seeking support.

Social Media Links and Handles:

Website: http://www.lostangelscp.org

YouTube: https://youtu.be/RLWhGmroxoM

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lostangelscp

Instagram: @lost_angels_childrens_project https://www.instagram.com/lost_angels_childrens_project/?hl=en (See “Class 9” for last class photos/information)

Pictures and Media

Graduation Video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I6kAIE4YwM

City of Lancaster, 2022 YouTube Feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLeye3Yy8CU

Blog/News on LACP Webpage: https://www.lostangelscp.org/blog