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Board recognizes Flintridge Center’s apprenticeship program after 50 cohorts; county funding cited
Summary
Supervisors honored Flintridge Center in Pasadena for graduating its 50th cohort of the Apprenticeship Preparation Program (APP), a second‑chance workforce training program that partners with building trades and county departments; presenters cited long‑term placement and re‑incarceration statistics.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday recognized Flintridge Center in Pasadena for graduating the fiftieth cohort of its Apprenticeship Preparation Program (APP), a workforce training program designed to prepare people with criminal records and other barriers for careers in union construction trades.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell presented a scroll and said the program — launched in 2008 — provides a 10‑week, 240‑hour curriculum covering trade exposure, hands‑on training, interpersonal skills and financial management. Josh McCurry, Flintridge Center executive director, joined staff and graduates at the dais.
Why it matters: county supervisors emphasized the program’s role in anti‑recidivism and workforce development. County staff and Flintridge leaders cited outcomes the program reports: about 1,130 total graduates to date, roughly 70% employed within the first year after graduation, and fewer than 10% recidivating compared with roughly 50% across California, figures touted during the presentation.
Program features and partnerships - Flintridge trains participants in the building trades’ multi‑craft core curriculum in partnership with the LA‑Orange County Building Trades and Second Call (trauma‑informed life skills). The program also began paying stipends to participants in 2019 and added an on‑site workshop in 2021 to increase hands‑on training. - Supervisor Mitchell noted county investment in the program through the Department of Justice, Care, and Opportunities (Justice, Care, and Opportunities), the Department of Youth Development, and the Department of Economic Opportunity.
Public comment and personal testimony - Current and former participants spoke about the program’s impact on their lives, describing second chances, supervision, job readiness and the program’s ongoing support after graduation. Flintridge staff and graduates framed the program as a durable reentry pathway and community resource.
Board action - The board issued a recognition proclamation and congratulated the Flintridge Center; no binding appropriation was made at the hearing. Supervisors reiterated county support for second‑chance workforce programs and said they will look for ways to scale successful models.
Implementation note: Flintridge will continue partnerships with county departments to expand enrollment and maintain post‑graduation placement supports; county staff identified the program as eligible for ongoing county collaboration and potential funding avenues.
