Irvine — City staff on July 22 presented an update on the 1 Irvine workforce program, a California Volunteers Youth Service Corps initiative that places youth in summer roles and supports an adult apprenticeship program across city departments.

Jen Hale and Jennifer Warren, the staff leads identified during the council presentation, told the council the city received $1.7 million in grant funding in 2024 to develop the program. The 2025 summer employment component places 21 high school youth (ages 16 to 18) as Community Services Leader I positions at several community parks, nearly doubling the program’s size from 2024. The program also operates an adult apprenticeship initiative that currently provides 10 full-time apprentice positions — one in each department — and city staff said the full-time apprenticeship cohort will increase from 10 to 14 later this year, with apprenticeships extended to a 15-month term beginning this fall.

“We developed the 1 Irvine workforce program, which consists of an adult apprenticeship program that currently employs 10 full time staff, one in each department, as well as summer youth employment program for local high school youth,” Jen Hale said. Several youth who worked in the program addressed the council through a brief video and in-person remarks. Irene Lee described the job as preparation for future careers in government: “Working this job has helped me a lot being prepared for the future career that I want to pursue in the government agencies or even in the private sectors as a workforce for the future,” she said. Ryan Lu, a community services leader at Heritage Park Community Center, said the program increased his awareness of city career opportunities and helped his personal growth.

City staff reported that 100% of last year’s summer youth were subsequently hired as part-time community-leader staff at city parks. In April the city secured an additional $1.8 million in Youth Service Corps funding to continue programming through 2026; staff told the council the expanded funds will allow the summer program to grow to an expected 25 youth in 2026 and to add a program specialist position already hired in May.

City leaders and council members thanked staff and the youth participants. The city recognized the program’s goals: increasing youth employment, creating a pipeline for future government employees, and strengthening local capacity for parks and event staffing.

Why it matters

The program channels state grant funding into local workforce development, expands paid opportunities for high school students, and grows the city’s apprenticeship capacity inside departments that deliver municipal services.

What’s next

Staff said the full-time apprenticeship increase and extended 15-month terms will begin in the fall; the city will continue to administer the Youth Service Corps grant and return with program updates.