This summer, 17 teenage students who live at Jordan Downs, one of the largest public housing communities in Los Angeles, completed a summer skilled trades program focused on carpentry, electrical, plumbing and welding.

The goal of the program was to give the students hands-on experience and essential skills that can lead to future employment in high-demand careers. Operating like a construction workplace, the program used the “earn and learn” model where students were paid for participating.

On Tuesday, August 6, students and their families and friends celebrated their successful completion of the program along with city leaders. The students were presented with certificates and checks by their instructors and community members.

The program was made possible by the joint efforts of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, the flagship program of The Smidt Foundation, and BRIDGE Housing. BRIDGE Housing is a nonprofit housing developer participating in the $1 billion redevelopment effort at Jordan Downs led by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. First built in the 1940s, Jordan Downs is now going through a physical transformation that includes a doubling of the number of residential units, the addition of retail and community spaces, and new parks and open space for residents.

See more coverage of the program from KCAL here.

For more information about the summer programs supported by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, visit here.