Blooming Futures: LA Youth Climate Careers

Youth economic advancement

San Fernando Valley

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

Youth in Los Angeles from Latinx, Black, immigrant, and low-income communities face limited access to quality job training, despite growing demand in the climate and environmental sectors. These communities are also increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts like wildfires, drought, and food insecurity. Nearly 1 in 5 youth ages 16–24 in LA are not in school or working (Measure of America, 2023). These young people are often excluded from career pathways that build economic mobility. Many lack access to hands-on training, mentorship, and opportunities to lead in climate action. This inequity deepens workforce gaps in sustainability and leaves communities underprepared for worsening climate threats. Now is the time to invest in accessible, community-rooted workforce solutions that empower the next generation of environmental leaders to build climate-resilient futures, starting in their neighborhoods.

Our initiative, Blooming Futures: LA Youth Climate Careers, addresses the urgent need for job training among Latinx, Black, immigrant, and low-income youth in Los Angeles. We provide hands-on urban farming, climate resilience workshops, mentorship, and leadership development on two backyard farms located in historically marginalized neighborhoods. Uniquely, we combine environmental justice education with practical skills and opportunities for community leadership.
As part of broader climate adaptation efforts, we will launch educational initiatives focused on sustainable land stewardship, including fire-resistant landscaping and building materials. Partnering with local organizations such as the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, we aim to raise awareness and strengthen neighborhood-level wildfire preparedness. We are also exploring discounted landscaping services to help local homeowners reduce insurance costs through fire-safe practices.
This program equips youth with essential skills in sustainable farming, soil health, and climate adaptation, while empowering them to lead resilience-building efforts in their communities. By centering youth voices and building local partnerships, Blooming Futures creates equitable pathways to green careers and strengthens climate resilience from the ground up.

Blooming Futures: LA Youth Climate Careers will provide Los Angeles County with a new generation of skilled, empowered Latinx, Black, immigrant, and low-income youth leading climate resilience, wildfire prevention, and environmental justice efforts. In the first year, we will train at least 10 youth ages 16–26 in sustainable agriculture, fire-resistant landscaping, wildfire prevention, and leadership, creating direct pathways to green jobs.
In the long term, we aim to expand the program to additional neighborhoods across LA County and develop a replicable model for other cities facing similar climate and equity challenges. By investing in community-rooted workforce development and climate preparedness education, we will reduce youth unemployment, close equity gaps in the green workforce, and build stronger, climate-resilient neighborhoods that are better protected against environmental threats.