Workforce Development for underserved kids in the community

Income inequality

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Since 1944, SMBGC has transformed lives in West LA & been a pillar in the community, filling a vital need. We are a solution for working parents, as Club members often spend more time in our programs than at home or in the classroom. By providing essential, high-quality programs strategically focused on readiness, we help kids dream big about their futures. Our goal is to support our kids as they advance through school, graduation & plan for college or career. Our programs focus on building professionalism & leadership skills to help our kids succeed in the workplace. Long-term, we strive to help our kids break the cycle of poverty, experience upward social mobility, & become effective leaders in their communities. Out-of-school programs are critical to the success of young people in our communities. The landscape of workforce readiness continues to change. It is our role as the Boys & Girls Club to create safe spaces with positive mentors and drive access to career exploration.

A grant from LA2050 will support our workforce readiness program implementation across eleven locations in Santa Monica and West LA. Through this integrated approach, SMBGC will partner with various school districts, housing authority organizations, and community partners to impact over 850 kids. At SMBGC, 44% of the kids come from low-income families, more are Latinx (28%) and African American (11%). Many kids would not have the chance to participate in the programs our Clubs offer. We provide access for all kids, regardless of skill level, gender or family income, eliminating societal barriers. Beginning in mid-2024, we will also launch a new innovative program, UpNext. This program will specifically focus on our 3 stand-alone Clubs providing our 13 - 18-year-old teens with comprehensive in-Club work-based learning activities through an evidence-based approach with direct access to site-based workforce exploration at the Club. Through participation in this program, our kids will gain specialized instruction on various employability skills and hands-on learning. Ideally, we will be able to secure direct placements with employers in the community. Through this new program we anticipate serving 50 kids. Our workforce readiness programs will also continue to implement a variety of existing activities, curriculums, and partnerships including: KFA Architects, Neogene Therapeutics, and Kounkuey Design Initiative.

SMBGC serves kids and teens from 128 zip codes throughout Los Angeles County. Within our community, we often serve marginalized and low-income kids, providing them with equal access to high-quality programming. We are committed to serving our kids with efficacy and a best-in-class program experience. By serving as a leader in this space, we are preparing the next generation for success and shaping a community that thrives socially and economically. Long-term, we plan to expand and deepen relationships with companies in our community to provide mentoring, internships, and possibly future employment. Currently, we partner with over 5 businesses in the community to provide career panels, mentorship, and networking to support the professional development of our Club members. We strive to grow these collaborative partners to more than 10 while increasing the number of kids and teens who participate in these programs to over 900.

To measure impact, we use the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) National Youth Outcomes Initiative survey (NYOI) which informs how our kids are doing in key indicators. Our most recent survey reveals some of the following data about our members: 95% expect to graduate high school and college 100% of teens know what education or training they need for their career
100% of teens have participated in career exploration at the Club
90% of teens had a paid job/internship last year
92% of teens report the Club helped them get into this work experience
100% of members feel they have the skills needed to be successful in a job
Through the implementation of our Up Next program, we will measure what skills are the most important to learn or practice to be a successful employee in the future based on the following measurable outcomes: Public Speaking, Formal Presentation Skills, Digital Literacy, Networking, Writing, Conflict Resolution, Work Ethic, Communication and Teamwork.