This proposal introduces the brotherhood crusade proud to be me young adult workforce development and career readiness initiative for low-income 16-29 year old LOS angeles county residents of color…

This $500,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753) will fund the Brotherhood Crusade's "Proud to Be Me Young Adult Workforce Development and Career Readiness Initiative" in Los Angeles County. The initiative aims to: 1) Train and prepare low-income young adults of color aged 16-29 (with an emphasis on 18-24 year olds in South LA, Inglewood, Lynwood, Compton, and Pomona) for middle-wage or high-paying careers and entrepreneurship; 2) Refine and expand the training model to facilitate community-wide improvements in workforce development for this underserved population; and 3) Educate policymakers on effective approaches to transitioning these young adults to sustained employment. The funding will allow the Brotherhood Crusade, a minority-owned non-profit organization, to deliver culturally-responsive, human-centered workforce training, job placement services, and supportive wraparound services over the 3-year project period from July 2024 to June 2027.

This proposal introduces the brotherhood crusade proud to be me young adult workforce development and career readiness initiative for low-income 16-29 year old LOS angeles county residents of color (with an emphasis on 18-24 year old south LOS angeles, inglewood, lynwood, compton and pomona opportunity youth) who present with multiple barriers to employment (herein referred to as our priority population). Specifically, proud to be me aims to: (1) train and prepare priority population young adults to enter into, thrive in, advance in and sustain middle-wage or more highly-compensated careers or entrepreneurship; (2) refine, enhance and expand the model in order to facilitate communitywide improvements in training opportunities that lead to quality jobs for priority population young adults; and (3) educate policy makers and key stakeholders about effective approaches to transitioning priority population young adults to sustained employment. Three goals were developed to achieve proud to be MES purpose: (1) increase priority population young adult employability through effective and culturally-responsive workforce development and career-readiness training; (2) increase culturally responsive, human-centered, whole-person care vocational and entrepreneurial skills training capacity for priority population young adults in south LOS angeles county through proof of concept and shared learning; and (3) create/improve job placement and entrepreneurial opportunities for south LOS angeles county priority population young adults and opportunity youth. Accordingly, proud to be MES human-centered, whole-person care design effectively: builds rapport with priority population young adults in a culturally-responsive way; coordinates multiple resources and service providers to holistically effectuate desired outcomes; manages multiple site locations; secures relationships with multiple employers; maintains strong outreach and recruitment campaigns; conducts meaningful monitoring and evaluation processes to inform feedback, promote continuous improvement and assure effectiveness; motivates and inspires priority population young adults to aspire to and manifest their own greatness; provides meaningful supportive services; conducts meaningful follow up services; and serves as a liaison between employers and young adults placed in employment to ensure success. As such, priority population young adults obtain the education, skills training and ongoing comprehensive support they need to secure employment that: leads to meaningful careers; improves economic well-being; facilitates financial freedom; improves mental, physical and emotional health; strengthens relationships; and benefits the community in a transformative way.