America On Tech’s Next Gen Tech Talent Pipeline

Access to tech and creative industry employment

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)

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

Digital equity is economic justice. AOT was founded by public school graduates who faced the very barriers LA youth still encounter in accessing tech careers. As tech professionals, they earned 4x their household incomes and launched AOT to serve “the students they once were.”
In LA, underestimated youth—especially first-gen students from income-constrained households—face systemic obstacles: underfunded schools, limited broadband, and balancing caregiving or jobs with school. Median income among AOT’s LA students is $45K; 25% of LAUSD students lack internet at home. These disparities limit digital fluency and access to tech careers.
As AI and automation reshape LA’s economy—putting 62,000 entertainment jobs at risk—those without upskilling face exclusion. Without action, AI could widen equity gaps by $43B annually by 2045. AOT’s hybrid programs build tech fluency, creativity, and critical thinking—empowering youth to lead in a tech-driven world.

AOT requests $75,000 to serve 200+ LA students through its technology and workforce development programs in 2025–26. This investment enables AOT to integrate AI, automation, and responsible digital upskilling into its high school programming—ensuring students remain competitive in an evolving economy. Funding supports Tech Flex Leaders [TFL] and the alumni continuum that follows, including paid internships and peer mentorship during the Summer 2026 TECH360 AI bootcamp.

TFL is a 9-month after-school program with weekly instruction, five specialization tracks [web dev, data science, UX, digital marketing, and product management], mentorship, and Demo Day capstones. Students earn a $1,000 stipend and gain technical, professional, and human-centric skills—like adaptability, critical thinking, and communication—for success in the innovation economy.

Graduates join AOT’s Alumni Programs: Access Tech [career coaching, mentorship, and internships] and the Peer Mentor Program, which hires alumni as teaching assistants and role models. This grant supports 10 internships and peer mentors during TECH360, a 3-week AI bootcamp focused on foundational tools, ethics, and responsible innovation. TECH360 grads earn a $500 stipend.

Together, these programs deliver 200+ hours of instruction, generate $120K+ in stipends, and unlock $21M+ in long-term earning potential—advancing mobility and equity in LA’s tech workforce.

AOT is making LA the best place to learn, create, and thrive—where underestimated youth build the innovation economy. We believe access to tech education, mentorship, and paid work transforms lives and communities.

This grant will ensure 200+ students gain industry-aligned AI and tech skills, mentorship, and career exposure—fueling their futures and LA’s workforce. AOT grads are 5x more likely to major in tech; 67% pursue tech fields, 88% STEM overall. Many launch careers with median salaries near $133K.

To scale long-term impact, AOT co-designs talent pipelines with employers, embeds alumni in hiring ecosystems, and expands reach through curriculum licensing and Train-the-Trainer—ensuring every LA student can access and define opportunity in tech.
We track outcomes through pre/post assessments, skill gains, internship/job placements, and long-term alumni success. Data shows strong upward mobility, confirming AOT’s effectiveness in advancing equity in LA’s tech sector.