From 160 Years Behind Bars to Union Careers

SLA Celebrates Second Pre-Apprenticeship Graduation of the Year

This year, SLA proudly celebrated the graduation of ten individuals from our Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, marking our second graduation of the year.

At first glance, it may appear to be a typical workforce training graduation.

It is not.

The ten individuals who stood proudly holding their certificates share a powerful story. Together they spent more than 160 years incarcerated.

For many people returning home from incarceration, the barriers to employment are overwhelming. Opportunities are limited. Stability can feel out of reach. Many are forced to start over without access to the networks or training that lead to living wage careers.

But on this day, something different was being celebrated.

Not where these men had been.

But where they are going.

A Program Designed to Open Doors

This cohort completed SLA’s workforce training program supported by the Los Angeles County High Road Training Program grant.

The High Road Training Program was created to expand access to good jobs that lead to long-term economic mobility. These programs focus on preparing workers for industries that offer strong wages, benefits, and clear career advancement.

Through this training, participants received intensive hands-on instruction in:

Urban forestry and tree planting
Landscape construction and maintenance
Irrigation systems and water management
Heavy equipment operation
Green infrastructure and environmental stewardship

Participants also received mentorship, coaching, and direct exposure to real job sites. The goal is not just to provide training, but to prepare individuals for long-term careers that build economic stability for workers and their families.

Real Career Outcomes

The results from this cohort demonstrate what becomes possible when training is directly connected to real career pathways.

All ten graduates from this cohort have already moved into union career pathways.

Today they are earning an average compensation package of approximately $28 per hour, placing them on a trajectory toward stable employment with benefits, wage growth, and long-term career development.

For many of these graduates, this is the first time they have had access to employment that offers true economic stability.

This is not simply a training outcome.

It is the beginning of real economic mobility.

Investing in People Who Have Been Locked Out of Opportunity

Across the country, millions of people remain locked out of the economy because of past involvement with the justice system.

Yet these same individuals often possess tremendous resilience, determination, and drive.

When people are given access to training, mentorship, and pathways into strong industries, the results can be transformative.

This program is built on a simple belief.

Opportunity changes lives.

With the right support systems, workers who have faced systemic barriers can build meaningful careers, support their families, and contribute to the economic vitality of their communities.

Building Economic Power Through Work

Workforce development programs are most powerful when they go beyond short-term training.

They must connect workers to industries that provide long-term wage growth, stability, and advancement.

Programs like this are designed to do exactly that.

By linking training directly to union pathways and career-track employment, participants gain access to opportunities that allow them to build real economic power over time.

Each graduate represents more than an individual success story. They represent what becomes possible when workforce systems are designed to create clear pathways from training into good jobs.

A Moment of Pride

The graduation ceremony was filled with pride and celebration.

Graduates stood with their certificates surrounded by staff, partners, and supporters who helped make the program possible. Families and community members witnessed a moment that represented years of perseverance and determination.

Each certificate represented far more than completing a training program.

It represented a new beginning.

Looking Ahead

SLA remains committed to expanding this work and continuing to create pathways into careers for individuals seeking a fresh start.

Because the truth is simple.

Talent exists everywhere.

Opportunity does not.

Programs like this help close that gap.

Ten graduates.
More than 160 years of incarceration behind them.
Now building union careers, earning strong wages, and supporting their families.

This is what opportunity looks like.

And this is only the beginning.