The Miguel Contreras Foundation is thrilled to announce that, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and LAUSD, we successfully hosted the inaugural Pathways Apprenticeship Fair at Garfield High School on October 9, 2025.

More than 170 students connected with union career opportunities across Los Angeles, expanding access to high-quality, good-paying jobs that build strong futures.

The Pathways Apprenticeship Fair marks the next chapter of MCF’s Pathways to Union Careers initiative, empowering high school seniors, especially those not pursuing a traditional college route, to discover union apprenticeships and the hands-on training that turns opportunity into lifelong careers.

What We Achieved

Students didn't just attend, they engaged, explored, and grew their future opportunities. After the fair, awareness and confidence soared:

98% of students left knowing what an apprenticeship is (up from 30% before the fair)
100% said the fair was helpful for their future career planning
70% discovered a new career they didn’t know about before
Confidence in post-high school plans increased from 62% to 87%

💬 “I didn’t know about all the opportunities unions provided before this,” one student shared.
💬 “I learned that you don’t need college to have a good job.”

Who We Partnered With

Students met directly with 11 apprenticeship and workforce partners, representing careers in construction, entertainment, hospitality, and healthcare, including:

IBEW Local 11 – Electrical Training Program
Laborers Training School JAC
Operating Engineers Local 12
Cement Masons Apprenticeship
SEIU-UHW – Healthcare Careers
Hospitality Training Academy (HTA)
Hollywood CPR – Cinema Production Resources
Building Skills Partnership (BSP)
Labor Community Services (LCS)
Miguel Contreras Foundation (MCF)

Together, these organizations showcased the power of union careers, which allow students to earn while they learn and build debt-free futures.

Why It Matters

The fair directly supports MCF’s Pathways Impact Goals:

Increasing student awareness of union careers and apprenticeships
Helping students understand how to access these opportunities
Strengthening collaboration between schools, unions, and workforce programs

This event was the first of four we hope to host in the 2025-2026 school year, expanding access to equitable career pathways across LAUSD schools.

Building Pathways to Union Careers: Garfield High School Apprenticeship Fair