AOH Green Sector Career Pathway Program

Youth economic advancement

South LA South Bay Long Beach

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

California's green economy will create 4 million jobs by 2030, yet 73% of Opportunity Youth in South LA remain disconnected from education and employment. In our service area, youth ages 16-24 face a 23% unemployment rate—double the county average—while green sector jobs paying $18-35/hour go unfilled. Justice-impacted individuals experience 68% higher unemployment rates, and 40% of transitional-age foster youth become homeless within 18 months of aging out. Meanwhile, renewable energy employers report chronic workforce shortages, with 85% struggling to find qualified entry-level workers. This represents a devastating missed opportunity: our communities need economic mobility, and growing industries need diverse talent, yet systemic barriers—including lack of awareness, inaccessible training, criminal background discrimination, and absent wraparound support—prevent this crucial connection.

Anchor of Hope Ministries, Inc. (AOH) is launching the Green Sector Barrier-to-Solution Career Pathway Program to address persistent disparities in access to green jobs among Opportunity Youth, Transitional Age Youth (TAY), justice-impacted individuals, and veterans. With direct partnerships through its Green Works Consortium—including Cerritos College, El Camino College, and LA Trade Technical College—AOH will connect the population of focus to in-demand careers in renewable energy, green buildings, and clean transportation. This initiative tackles systemic barriers such as lack of awareness, inaccessible training, and insufficient wraparound support by delivering culturally responsive outreach, peer mentorship, and experiential engagement. AOH will use grassroots partnerships, digital media, and career exploration stipends to attract interest, while providing low-barrier entry points, legal navigation, and trauma-informed services. The program frames green careers as not only economic opportunities, but also acts of environmental justice and community restoration. Veterans will receive support translating military skills into civilian credentials, while TAY and justice-impacted individuals will gain access to training aligned with their lived experiences. By embedding equity, sustainability, and career mobility, AOH’s program creates a replicable model to empower historically excluded communities to lead in California’s clean economy.

If Anchor of Hope Ministries’ Green Sector Career Pathway initiative succeeds, Los Angeles County will become a more equitable, climate-resilient region where historically marginalized populations—Opportunity Youth, TAY, justice-impacted individuals, and veterans—are no longer left behind in the green economy. Our vision is to demystify green careers and establish inclusive pathways into high-growth sectors like renewable energy, green buildings, and clean transportation. By engaging employers differently, addressing real barriers, and using culturally relevant strategies, we will close the gap between green sector opportunities and the populations that need them most. As AI and automation displace traditional jobs, our model prepares underresourced communities to lead in emerging industries. AOH aims to replicate this model across LA County by expanding the Green Works Consortium, scaling outreach tools, and deepening partnerships with community colleges and employers.