Emerald Cities Collaborative's (ECC) commitment to building a sustainable and just economy for the next generation of young people from disadvantaged communities has taken unique form in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Students (ACES) Pathway Program in Los Angeles, where the Washington, DC-based non-profit network of organizations working together to advance a sustainable environment while creating economic opportunities for all has a local office.

The ACES Pathway Program is giving more than 170 LA-area high-schoolers from diverse backgrounds the chance to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) careers by earning community college credit for related courses and gaining hands-on work experience alongside industry professionals during paid summer internships.

The college credits are transferrable to campuses within the California State University and University of California systems, giving the students a head start toward a degree.

According to Emerald Cities Los Angeles Program Director Veronica Soto, who oversees ECC's involvement in the program, “ACES is a win-win-win” for young people who might not otherwise find fulfilling, family-supporting careers in the STEAM disciplines - or even attend college at all.

ACES partners with local schools, including Alhambra High School, Legacy STEAM High School, Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, San Gabrielino High School, Mark Keppel High School, SIATech Charter, YouthBuild-Boyle Heights and 5 Keys Charter.

Participating campuses within the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) - where ACES students take courses in engineering, surveying, building information modeling (BIM), robotics, geographical information system (GIS) mapping and design by computer - include East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles Trade Technical College.

ACES creates academic pathways regardless of participants' GPAs and socio-economic challenges by employing a collaborative, proactive case management approach that engages high school principals and teachers, community college faculty and administrators, charter school executive directors and counselors at Boyle Heights Youth Technology Center.

Besides the introductory STEAM-related college courses, field trips to construction sites and universities and work-related seminars prepare ACES students for summer internships with industry partners. 

“The ACES Program aims to increase the diversity of students pursuing academic pathways in the design and construction disciplines and to develop mentoring between industry professionals and students,” Soto observes. “Seminars focusing on topics such as work-readiness and financial literacy gear up ACES students for their summer internship experiences.”

Soto said upon securing the necessary funding, ACES will be expanded to other Los Angeles regions, specifically South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.