Leaders in Training Career Readiness Program

Youth economic advancement

Gateway Cities

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

Youth in Southeast L.A. County—particularly in Whittier and Pico Rivera—face entrenched economic and educational disparities. Over 75% of students at our partner schools—Whittier High School, La Serna High School, El Rancho High School, and Ruben Salazar Continuation School —qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and local household incomes fall significantly below the California median. Academic performance gaps are stark: at Whittier High, only 43% meet math and 25% meet science standards. Students at continuation and alternative schools are at even greater risk of not graduating or accessing living-wage careers. Our Leaders in Training program provides cost-free academic support, college and career readiness, paid internships, and financial literacy education—empowering students with the tools, skills, and confidence to pursue higher education, meaningful employment, and long-term economic stability.

The Leaders in Training (LIT) program is a youth economic advancement and workforce readiness initiative that addresses entrenched disparities among high school students in Whittier and Pico Rivera. Over 75% of students at our four partner high schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and academic performance lags significantly behind statewide standards. LIT will serve 75 youth ages 16–18 from under-resourced communities, including those attending continuation and alternative high schools, through free academic support, college and career readiness, paid work experience, and financial literacy education.
Students receive daily tutoring and mentoring, participate in leadership development workshops, and explore career pathways through field trips and job shadowing with local businesses. LIT provides job readiness training—including resume building, interview skills, and paid internships (with stipends of $500 per student per quarter) —and equips students to navigate college admissions and financial aid. Financial literacy workshops help students master essential skills such as budgeting, saving, taxes, and credit.
By building academic confidence, workforce skills, and long-term planning capacity, LIT empowers underserved youth to access postsecondary education and quality, living-wage careers—disrupting cycles of poverty and inequity and advancing economic mobility for youth in Southeast Los Angeles County.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County—particularly the Southeast region—will see more young people from under-resourced communities graduate high school, pursue higher education, and secure quality, living-wage careers. Students who once faced systemic barriers to success will gain the academic support, financial literacy, leadership skills, and real-world job experience needed to thrive economically and personally. As these youth become educated, employed, and civically engaged adults, they will contribute to a more equitable and economically stable region. This will not only uplift individual lives but also strengthen families, reduce reliance on public assistance, and foster safer, more vibrant communities. Over time, this shift will reduce youth disconnection, improve community health outcomes, and help break generational cycles of poverty—creating a stronger, more inclusive L.A. County for all.