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The LA Fed and LA/OC Building Trades Team Up to Bring Opportunities to Local High School Students

04.22.25

On Tuesday, April 22nd, the LA Fed’s Outreach and Civic Engagement Team brought the LA/OC Building Trades and the Miguel Contreras Foundation together to speak to over 200 students at Long Beach Polytechnic High School about apprenticeships and union jobs. 

“These youth were excited and asking great questions. I think we found a program worth repeating at other schools,” said Director of Outreach Steve Neal. 

After a panel discussion moderated by Outreach Assistant Director Devin Ablard, featuring President Gerry Morrison from Long Beach Teachers (TALB), Representative Andrew Gonzales from the LA/OC Building Trades, Director Armando Loza from the Miguel Contreras Foundation (MCF), and Director Steve Neal, students got to talk to apprenticeship experts from several trades and High Road Training Partnership programs. 

A special thanks to TALB Poly Area Director Annete Quintero for helping to coordinate this great event, and of course thank you to LA/OC Building Trades, MCF and all the trades that came to speak to students: Sheet Metal Workers Local 105, IUOE Local 12, Laborers Union Local 1309, IBEW Local 11, and LA/OC Building Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Fund.

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