LOS ANGELES (September 24, 2019)–LADWP recently celebrated this year’s graduates of the Summer Youth Program (SYP) at a ceremony at the LADWP Headquarters in August. A total of 16 students representing six high schools from within LADWP’s service territory participated in the work/study program and were paid $15.23 per hour. Graduates were lauded by their mentors and parents at the event and were presented with certificates of completion along with exam bulletins for entry-level skilled craft jobs that they can consider in the future.
“This was a learning and training opportunity for the students to become more familiar with a number of the Department’s critical skilled craft positions,” said Jennifer Shar, Workforce Development and Recruitment Manager. “The primary goal of this program is to provide students with information about careers at LADWP that they could pursue once they graduate from their respective LAUSD high schools.”
SYP is a partnership between LADWP and LAUSD that is designed to familiarize young people with LADWP’s core functions through job shadowing at a Power, Water, or Fleet facility. With the assistance of Christopher Gutierrez, LAUSD Work Experience Advisor, students were selected and assigned to one of three LADWP work locations: Power (Truesdale Training Facility), Water (Water Operations Division), and Joint (Fleet Services) where they shadowed and assisted employees at their job sites. They learned various skills, including tool identification, CPR training, electrical safety, preventive maintenance procedures, and how to use a fire extinguisher. Students also visited Local 18’s office, several LADWP facilities, and learned about how to apply for civil service positions within the department.
Schools represented were Northridge Academy High School, Cheviot Hills High School, Amelia Earhart High School, Youth Opportunities Unlimited Alternative High School, Arleta High School, and Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academies. LADWP is committed to investing in workforce development and is reaching out to LA youth to promote jobs as Electrical Craft Helpers, Electric Distribution Mechanics, Electrical Mechanics, Steam Plant Assistants, Water Utility Workers, and many others.
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