As an extension of the Southeast Youth Workforce Development and Civic Engagement Program, CLLI has partnered with Bell Senior High School’s Global Studies Academy, Beyond the Bell, EduCARE, and the Southeast Community Development Corporation, (SCDC), to develop the first SELA Youth Trades Fellows Program (e.g., SELA Trades Fellows or Program). 

The SELA Youth Trades Fellows is a 1-year trades certification program beginning June 2023 at Bell Senior High School. It will focus on students who have successfully completed one year of their career technical education certification at Bell Senior High School in two specific trades: 1. Carpentry and 2. Welding.

  • The Cabinetmaking and Wood Products Pathway (Carpentry Pathway) provides learning opportunities for students interested in preparing for careers in cabinet construction, construction trades, millwork, and wood products and covers the construction of both custom and production products. 

  • Machine and Forming Technology pathway (Welding Pathway) provides students with an understanding of manufacturing processes and systems common to careers in machine tool and materials forming industries. 

Addressing Gender Disparity in Trades: Women make up almost half the total workforce in the United States as of 2022. However, almost 90% of American skilled trade workers in construction and manufacturing are men. The SELA Youth Trades Academy Program will begin in the Spring of 2023 with the application process.  Twenty (20) Bell High School Seniors will be selected to participate in the inaugural 2023 SELA Youth Trades Fellows. To address the current gender disparity in trade careers, outreach for half the cohort will be targeted at females. 

 

Participant Benefits: SELA Trades Fellow will receive a scholarship of $1,000 for participating in addition to a laptop computer to keep. The Academy Program will be held at Bell Senior High School during the regularly scheduled LAUSD Summer Term, (Thursday, June 22, 2023, through Thursday, July 27, 2023). The program will run for a one-month extended 6 hours per day, 5 days a week as a rigorous classroom experience. With a sensitivity to gender equity, ten (10) students will participate in the Carpentry Pathway and ten (10) students will participate in the Welding Pathway.  

 

Saturday enrichment classes will be presented by the Southeast Community Development Corp, (SCDC), at the Bell Tech Center weekly from 9:00 am to 12 noon. Classes will include personal finance and digital literacy.  After the summer Trades Academy ends, the Saturday enrichment seminars will continue monthly during the academic school year from September 2023 – May 2024.

 

Two-Week Internship: As part of the summer experience, a two-week part-time employment internship will be provided to each Southeast Trades Fellow at a SELA community-based non-profit. This experience will help me gain soft skills development like communication, problem-solving, and working as a team with others. 

 

Celebration Ceremony: The 2023 SELA Youth Trades Fellows celebration graduation ceremony will be held 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm on Friday, August 12, 2022, at New Start Housing Corporation, 3355 East Gage Avenue, Huntington Park, CA 90255. Final internship stipend checks and certificates were provided at the event.

 

YOUTH ELIGIBILITY                                 

All participants must:

  • Must attend Bell Senior High School and be enrolled in the Career Technical Education Program.

  • Be a rising Senior during the 2023-2024 Academic Year, with one year of carpentry or welding certification completed.  

  • Have the legal right to work in the United States (DACA students are accepted and encouraged to apply). 

  • Be comfortable working in teams of two and in larger groups.

  • Be available to work 6 hours a day (8:30 am – 2:00 pm), Monday – Friday, and participate in all 6 weeks of the program and attend the monthly Saturday Seminars during the year from September 2023- May 2024.

  • Must have a signed parental/guardian consent form to participate.

 

YOUTH BENEFITS (Valued at $1,500 per tool kit). 

Each Southeast Fellow participant's benefits will include:

  • 5 High School Credits toward Graduation and Service Learning Credit 

  • An individualized summer “tool kit” to keep that includes: 

    • one laptop computer, computer bag, Microsoft operating system, internet hotspot,

    • QuickBooks program and maintenance service for one year, 

    • Two custom team uniform shirts to wear during the program, 

    • Personal binder with reading materials and supplies. 

    • An individual stipend of $1000 paid in two increments (July 27 &  August 11, 2022);

    • Certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation.