Real-World Training for creative careers
“Light Bringer Project is an extraordinary organization. It pioneered youth experiential learning long before it became the trend and buzz term it is today. Light Bringer Project guides youth in accessing their creative reservoir, and to discovering professional options they’d never before imagined. Having worked with diverse and economically-challenged youth programs for over 20 years, their high standard and successful learning model is like no other organization’s I’ve encountered.”
Since the year 2000, College & Career Pathways has partnered with major creative companies to deliver a career pathway program in support of the college-bound initiatives of our diverse public high schools. The school-day model engages senior high school youth in the professional work environment for two years, illuminating the many disciples associated with advertising, marketing, media and digital communication fields. The program’s business partners have included leading creative forces headquartered in Los Angeles, including David&Goliath, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, and IgnitedUSA. The program is shaped to advance the 21st Century skills of communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking through mentorships, skill building, and student-driven team projects.
Many schools have formed smaller learning communities that combine academic and technical study organized around broad industry themes. The College & Career Pathways program is designed to bring this work-based learning to life. During their 11th and 12th grade years, students directly engage with business and creative professionals at the headquarters of cutting-edge firms. They’re given an inside look at the development of key projects from concept through completion. Both the students and their instructors are familiarized with state-of-the-art practices and industry trends. Team projects leverage communication skills.
L.A. Futures Video
In their senior year, their learning is put into practice as they service local nonprofits who act as clients. For example, Dorsey High School seniors redesigned promotional tools for education-parenting-job training at Community Build, an inner city resource for underserved youth. Lead instructor, Carla Estes says, “This program has open our eyes to possibilities that are out there in the creative industry. My students have matured so much through this learning process—an opportunity they wouldn’t have without L.A. Futures.”
In the end, students leave the College & Career Pathways program with increased social capital, practical tools, and ‘applied imagination on demand’ training, higher expectations and a clearer understand of the demands of today’s employer. This is even more significant as the creative industry is the largest workforce contributor in the City of Los Angeles.
Work-based learning programs, such as College & Career Pathways, are more significant than ever as the creative industry is the largest workforce contributor in the greater Los Angeles Region. Reciprocally, the College & Career Pathways program makes an investment in a future diversified workforce by positioning low-income, underserved young people on success tracks into college and career.
The College & Career Pathways program program also partners with thinkLA, a diverse, nonprofit collaborative tying all the local media, marketing, entertainment, and advertising communities together in Los Angeles. The consortium promotes the program in keeping with their mission to ground L.A. as a center of innovation with up-and-coming talent.
College & Career Pathways is a program of Light Bringer Project, a nonprofit cultural arts organization that has served L.A. County since 1990. The initiative fulfills our vision to become an invaluable contributor to the health and vitality of the Los Angeles community, and a leader in creating pathways into higher education for deserving, underserved young people.
“Being a part of the L.A. Futures program at Pasadena High School not only prepared me for college and my professional career but it has been one of the richest experiences of my life.”
“Light Bringer Project has been a wonderful partner and resource for our Graphic Communications Academy. Through their L.A. Futures Program, students have the opportunity to work with Saatchi & Saatchi, a world-class advertising agency and produce real-world creative work for a non-profit in their community.”
