As part of the 2014 Hire LA Youth Initiative, MCS was selected by the County and the City of Los Angeles to organize summer jobs for LA’s Youth. The program is divided into two  phases: the first, focusing upon participants enrolled in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) included a cohort of 230 youth in June; the second, currently underway, includes 350 Low-Income participants.

The program’s mission is to introduce LA Youth to the workforce while providing the skills necessary to develop leadership, motivation, and responsibility. Work sites include various organizations and businesses throughout Los Angeles, which are combined with personal enrichment and financial management group sessions designed to provide our youth with a step up in their development.

Particularly important for MCS is connecting participants with high-growth industries, particularly underrepresented groups. It is for this reason that Kanesha Butler, Youth Specialist Case Manager and Job Developer at MCS, chose to match Dulce with a position in computer software as part of her Hire LA Youth program.

Hire LA Youth: Dulce

According to the National Center for Women and Information Technology, as of 2013, only 26% of the computing workforce were women, with only 2% representation by Latina women. This is reflected in the 2012 US graduation rate in Computer Science, with only 18% female graduates. Given the nature of the industry’s growth, its stable and well-paying jobs, and LA’s growing technology sector, it was crucial to match youth participants with potential pathways into the industry.

Thanks to the Summer Program, I am able to update and install computer software, run an antivirus program, and fix some computer hardware. Before this program, I only knew how to surf the internet. Not only did I learn more about computers, but I am considering a major in Computer Science.

– Dulce, June ’14 Participant

For Kanesha, the program continues to be a source of drive and inspiration. As more and more participants complete their summer program, MCS is looking forward to their continued success!