A Support Model for Reengaging High School Graduates

Youth economic advancement

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Applying a proven solution to a new issue or sector (using an existing model, tool, resource, strategy, etc. for a new purpose)

In Los Angeles County, nearly 25% of young adults aged 18–24 are not in school or working, despite most holding a high school diploma. These “opportunity youth” face significantly lower lifetime earnings and poorer health outcomes. Just 19% of local community college students graduate within three years. Statewide, California leads the nation in college dropouts, with financial hardship disproportionately affecting low-income and first-generation students. At Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, where 95% of students are Hispanic/Latino and most come from low-income immigrant families, graduates face complex barriers to completing higher education. Building on the proven success of the Alumni Lab at MESA Charter in New York, this program will be expanded to the Camino Nuevo network to provide culturally responsive, targeted support that re-engages disconnected graduates and helps them rebuild confidence, access opportunity, and disrupt cycles of poverty.

To address the growing number of disconnected graduates at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, we will launch a six-week pilot of the Alumni Lab, modeled after the successful program at MESA Charter High School in New York. This free initiative supports high school graduates who are not enrolled in college or working, providing a structured re-entry pathway into education or job training. Over the course of twelve in-person workshops, Fellows will engage in growth mindset development, career exploration, resume and cover letter writing, time management, interview preparation, financial empowerment, and digital communication skills. What makes the program unique is its cultural and contextual alignment with Camino Nuevo’s student population, predominantly first-generation, low-income, and Latino youth. Fellows also receive 1:1 counseling support and a $500 stipend upon completion, reducing financial barriers to participation. Alumni Lab is distinct in its focus on post-graduation re-engagement, rather than general readiness, filling a critical service gap for youth no longer supported by school-based programming. Based on a model that achieved a 93% completion rate in NYC, this pilot will connect L.A. graduates to long-term pathways of economic mobility, with follow-up support for college re-enrollment or workforce placement.

By launching the Alumni Lab in Los Angeles through New Ways to Work, we envision a county where high school graduates, particularly those disconnected from traditional systems, can seamlessly re-enroll in college or access high-quality job training. Alumni Lab’s structured, online workshops and one-on-one counseling support offer a proven approach to re-engagement and financial mobility. Leveraging New Ways to Work’s national expertise and local partnerships, we aim to embed Alumni Lab as a trusted bridge for young adults navigating transition. We will first help L.A. youth re-enroll in college or job training through free workshops, counseling, and stipends. New Ways to Work will scale this model countywide to institutionalize it, building equity-centered pathways for opportunity youth. Our intended impact is simple but urgent: more young Angelenos in school, in training, and on track for economic security.