Southern California Edison (SCE) recently entered into a partnership with Long Beach BLAST (Better Learning After School Today) to launch the 09/10 Bridge to College Trade or Technical School Program. This new approach will help some of the area’s most at-risk youth escape the inner city through post-secondary education with a vision for a bright future.
Characteristically, these teens have never imagined themselves attending college or specialized post-secondary career training. Nearly all of the youth attend continuation school and are referred by the LA Probation Department. All are 11th- and 12th-grade continuation students, highly at risk for dropping out of school and society.
SCE contributed $25,000 to launch the program, which prepares students for higher education, trade school, technical school or college. Specifically, the focus of this Bridge to College program is to get each student to create career goals and then make specific plans to achieve them. The program helps them dissolve barriers and pre-conceived negative ideas as to what their future holds for them.
The students targeted for this program are students who have had significant academic and social challenges; nearly all are significantly behind in school. All live in Long Beach neighborhoods that have high crime and a history of gang violence, and many have already been in trouble with the law.
Long Beach BLAST is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization entering its eleventh year of operation. To date it has assisted more than 6,000 at-risk youth by providing each a college student mentor. BLAST offers training and placement to local college students in February and September of each year.
More Information
lbblast.org
(562) 437-7766
