Earn and Learn

Through the Byrne Congressionally Mandated Awards program, the Office of Justice Programs helps communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and supports training and technical assistance programs and other efforts that strategically target local needs. This program is authorized to organizations identified in the Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010.

The Conservation Corps of Long Beach proposes an "Earn & Learn" program for out of school sixteen and seventeen year old at-risk youth. This program is to get them back into school and graduate from high school with a diploma. While attending school the youth will also attend an after school and Saturday job readiness training program where they will earn minimum wage, learn basic job skills like following directions from a supervisor, working in a group, basic landscaping skills, recycling sorting and community and conservation awareness.

The projects goals are to have ten out of the forty students receive their high school diploma the first year, and twenty of the students to return to the school for a second year to finish their high school diploma. Students will also have the opportunity to look into further education at Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach. Thirty of the students will have completed work hours with satisfactory reviews and will be ready to interview with companies, become capable employees and successful citizens. NCA/NCF