A new vocational program offering neurodiverse adults job training, paid internships and career support was underway Wednesday in Redondo Beach with the goal of helping participants secure long-term employment.
The Vocational Pathways Program provides individualized training based on each participant’s vocational interests and connects participants with businesses, nonprofits and community organizations for work experience and employment opportunities, according to officials.
The program was launched by the Friendship Foundation in partnership with Els for Autism and is part of the Bhatia College for Professional Development. It follows a pilot program conducted last year and a year of program development.
“Vocational Pathways is the linchpin of our Friendship Campus,” Friendship Foundation Executive Director and co-founder Yossi Mintz said. “Our Friendship Campus will greatly improve job-skills training, but Vocational Pathways wouldn’t be successful without business partners who are invested in its success and passionate about the unique talents neurodiverse individuals bring to the workforce. These partnerships ensure mutually beneficial employment relationships with acceptance and appreciation for all abilities.”
The program was adapted from the Els for Autism Work Experience Program, which provides hands-on learning and skills development for adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, officials said.
Participants receive career services, work-based training, paid internships and support including job coaches and peer mentorship. The Friendship Foundation works with individual participants to identify their vocational interests and develop personalized training programs before connecting them with businesses, nonprofits or community organizations.
The Friendship Foundation conducted a pilot program last year with the Verdugo Workforce Development Board. Interns worked with APM Terminals on shipping logistics and with the city of Redondo Beach at Wilderness Park on native plant restoration.
Other participating organizations include Skechers, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Gensler, Lakeshore Learning, Goodwill, the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, Rock n Brews, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, South Bay Workforce Investment Board and South Bay Parkland Conservancy.
The Vocational Pathways Program will be housed at the Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center, a 62,000-square-foot facility at 850 S. Inglewood Ave. in Redondo Beach that is expected to open this winter.
The campus will include a Culinary Arts Center, Creative Arts Studio, Friendship Café and work-based learning classrooms. The approximately $70 million project was funded entirely through private donations and grants, according to the foundation.
The Friendship Foundation operates 88 Friendship Clubs across 23 school districts and offers more than 50 monthly social and recreational programs for youths and adults.