Software Craftsman Apprenticeship Training Program

Access to tech and creative industry employment

South LA South Bay Long Beach

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

LA County's underserved communities face systemic barriers to tech training and industry participation; inaccessible bootcamp programs costing $13K+ with no employment guarantees, antiquated curricula misaligned with industry and employer needs, and limited experience with tech outside of consuming digital products. Current apprenticeships and bootcamps exclude low-income residents with their prices, while CS enrollment declines as a viable option, as students seek practical alternatives to career pathways. Most critically, these communities remain underrepresented in tech's wealth generation despite possessing untapped talent. Traditional workforce development fails to address the dual challenge of immediate employment needs and long-term economic mobility, perpetuating cycles where tech industry growth extracts value from communities rather than building wealth within them.

SCATP transforms traditional workforce development by creating pathways to both employment AND ownership. We offer community-based workshops as an entryway to our Registered Apprenticeship, delivering comprehensive technical training alongside business development and wealth-building education as intra/entrepreneurs. Scholars gain industry certifications in high-demand skills while developing competencies that enable them to create value within their own communities.
Our model includes core modules covering full stack development, cloud computing, business-technology intersection, continued higher education, ethics and soft skills. Beyond technical and soft skills, apprentices learn to identify market opportunities and develop sustainable ventures. Strategic employer partnerships provide paid apprenticeships with pathways to equity ownership, ensuring talent development directly benefits community wealth-building.
The ESE framework addresses systemic barriers by providing wraparound support, industry-standard equipment, and accessible training locations within target communities. Participants emerge as both skilled technologists and community entrepreneurs, equipped to pursue traditional employment or launch tech-enabled ventures. This dual-pathway approach ensures immediate economic stability while fostering long-term wealth generation that remains within historically excluded neighborhoods, creating sustainable ecosystems of innovation and opportunity.

Successful implementation transforms LAC by enabling employers to source talent directly from their communities, creating authentic pathways for local employment & continued education. Scholars secure apprenticeships & advance confidently, identifying opportunities to capture value within organizations or launch ventures.
Employer partners experience increased buy-in & reduced churn through workforce diversity that mirrors the demographics they serve, fostering deeper community trust & customer value. Strategic alignment between partners creates sustainable talent pipelines rooted in community needs.
The economic impact amplifies through increased wages & career advancement for Scholars, increased revenue & tax base for cities. Long-term scaling replicates this model across LAC's opportunity zones, establishing community-owned tech ventures & apprentice pipelines. This positions LAC as the national leader in community-centered workforce development that drives equity & economic growth.