Licensed to Lead Through Insurance Apprenticeships

Youth economic advancement

San Gabriel Valley

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and Opportunity Youth face barriers to economic inclusion—especially those who are disabled or veterans. In the insurance industry, these young people are nearly invisible. Licensing requirements, limited mentorship, and inaccessible systems block their entry into careers with real upward mobility. At the same time, wildfires and disasters disproportionately impact underrepresented communities who need culturally competent insurance professionals. This apprenticeship program bridges that gap—providing hands-on training, paid support, and career access to youth who have been locked out of traditional pipelines. It’s a targeted intervention at the intersection of equity, employment, and disaster resilience.

This project will launch a one-year apprenticeship program for three NEET and Opportunity Youth ages 18–26 who identify as disabled, veterans, or systemically underrepresented. Apprentices will receive training in insurance literacy, claims processing, community outreach, and licensing preparation. The program includes structured mentorship, job shadowing, soft skill development, and capstone projects. All apprentices will be compensated monthly with a stipend and supported through a trauma-informed, culturally responsive framework.
We are co-designing the mentorship and feedback loops with input from young people themselves, ensuring the program reflects their real-world needs. Apprentices will also participate in community outreach—supporting fire-impacted residents with claims guidance and insurance literacy workshops. By year’s end, apprentices will be positioned to take licensure exams or pursue career-track roles in the insurance field. Funding supports stipends, accessibility, mentorship, training, and evaluation.

When NEET and Opportunity Youth become licensed insurance professionals, it disrupts generational cycles of underemployment. Our program will create a more diverse, youth-informed workforce and build a more inclusive disaster recovery ecosystem. Apprentices will serve their own communities—building trust and bridging gaps between residents and the systems meant to protect them. By training disabled individuals and veterans, we not only provide meaningful employment opportunities but also address the industry's diversity gaps highlighted by CA SB 534. LA County will be stronger when those most affected by inequality are equipped to lead, earn, and contribute through career pathways that have historically excluded them.