Tomorrow's Leaders Training and Paid Apprenticeship Program

Youth economic advancement

County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

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

Youth from low-income backgrounds face barriers that limit their potential not because of a lack of talent, but because of systemic limitations. Some specific challenges that youth in the communities we serve face are housing instability, fewer resources at school, lower academic support at home, higher drop out rates, as well as persistent economic stress. All of these factors lead to a continued cycle of income inequality.
Youth economic advancement programs including job readiness, mentorship, and education access provide a pathway out of poverty and toward opportunity. These programs not only improve the present lives of individual youth and their families, but also reduce income inequality over time by shifting the broader economic trajectory of entire communities.

The Tomorrow’s Leaders Apprenticeship Program offers a multi-dimensional solution to address youth economic advancement and income inequality. Apprentices receive hands-on training in coaching, youth development, and leadership which are marketable skills that build their resumes and confidence.
Paid coaching positions allow participants to earn income in high school, helping them support their families, learn financial responsibility, and reduce pressure to take on low-skill or under-the-table jobs.
By serving as coaches and mentors to younger children in our programs, apprentices gain critical experience in communication, accountability, and service all while seeing themselves as leaders.
Apprentices receive additional support with college applications, career exploration, and job readiness, ensuring a transition to higher education or the workforce.
By embedding paid apprenticeships within the youth development system, we are preparing individual students for long-term success, and investing in the leadership pipeline within their own communities. This model helps disrupt the cycle of economic disadvantage and builds the capacity of youth to become economically self-sufficient, resilient, and civically engaged adults.
Expanding this program will allow us to employ and empower more youth, provide structured mentorship for the next generation of BTSLA athletes, and multiply the long-term economic and social impact of our organization in the neighborhoods that need it most.

Investing in youth today sets the foundation for a more equitable, prosperous, and cohesive society by 2050.
Early experience provides immediate income and fosters long-term career development. Participants gain access to resources and networks that can lead to higher education and sustainable careers, thereby reducing reliance on social services and contributing to a more equitable economy. 
Youth who progress through the program often return as mentors, we employ 13 coaches who were former BTSLA kids. This fosters a culture of leadership and community engagement. This cycle of mentorship reinforces positive role models within communities and builds social capital, leading to more cohesive neighborhoods. 
Structured, goal-oriented programs reduce the likelihood of involvement in criminal activities. Providing alternatives to high-risk behaviors, the program contributes to safer communities and improved quality of life for all residents.