Girls Build LA partners with Inglewood Unified to give 28 students hands-on construction and trade experience

Veron Veronica Sto, senior adviser for workforce development with Girls Build LA, told the Inglewood Unified School District Board that a three-week summer program gave 28 high-school–aged girls practical exposure to careers in aviation, green building, construction and renewable energy. "They actually earned $250 every week," Sto said, "so they got to earn $750 during these last three weeks." The district helped recruit students and provided chaperones and transportation.

Assistant Superintendent Bernardet C. Lucas introduced program staff and thanked industry partners including Corgan, Gensler, the electrical training institute and airport partners for classroom visits and hands-on training. Sto said students received first-aid and CPR certification and experienced apprenticeship-readiness training; several participants will be hired next year as peer counselors and program leaders to reinforce leadership and peer-to-peer learning.

Board members praised the program as a model for career pathways and called for continued coordination with the district's construction and apprenticeship initiatives so local residents can benefit from upcoming work at Inglewood High School. District staff said funding came in part from Mayor Karen Bass and the Watts Labor Community Action Committee; Sto said program organizers paid $20,000 in stipends that helped remove financial barriers to participation.

The presentation concluded with board members thanking program staff and promising follow-up on expanding outreach to middle- and high-school feeders and on connecting program graduates to local apprenticeship pipelines.