About us

Mission
Our mission is to build a pipeline of diverse, well-qualified young people for the career opportunities of the green economy.

Background
The Infrastructure Academy was launched in the offices of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in mid-2007.  Other utilities later joined the partnership including The Gas Company, the Metropolitan Water District, and Southern California Edison.  The Academy enrolled its first students in January 2008 at Los Angeles Trade Tech College.  A second site at the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology at Cal State University Los Angeles was opened in July 2008.  Two high school sites (West Adams Prep and Grant High School) began operating in February 2009.  In its first year of operation, the Infrastructure Academy has delivered instruction to over 200 students in technical areas such as water conservation, renewable energy, electricity, robotics, and construction.  In addition, all students have had “soft skills” training to prepare them for work.  Many graduates of the initial class were placed into internships and/or college. 

Goals

1. Provide academically rigorous Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education that expose high school students to infrastructure industries and green careers. 
2. Develop workforce readiness skills and the motivation to succeed in college, an apprenticeship, or a job in the green economy
3. Provide opportunities for youth employment and internships as students do meaningful work greening their schools and communitie
4. Develop a fundamentally better model for high school instruction that combines the best of service learning, school to work, and technology-enabled instruction

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