PAL UP Launches To Help Teens With Career Development

For 16 years of working with youth in Boyle Heights, we recognize that many youth are not motivated nor have the intention to pursue college. To help these students, HPAL has launched the PAL-Up Career Program to help high school students explore pathways available through vocational education/licensed certification.  Supported by professional industry volunteers and after-school career/occupational education workshops, coaching, and case management, PAL Up creates a resource network for youth to acquire occupational careers/trades knowledge, develop life/work skills, and learn to effectively navigate diverse fields and opportunities available to them.

One PAL Up student, Fabian Garcia, a senior at Metropolitan High School, decided that college was not suitable for him at this time.  Fabian was struggling academically which impacted his grades and he was not expected to graduate at a traditional high school.  Instead he demonstrated great determination to pursue a career in the field of pipe-fitting. Due to his interest in learning the trade, Fabian worked with PAL Up’s Mac Velazquez, for the opportunity to attend the pipe fitters training facility. He has also enrolled and is completing courses at the East Los. Angeles Skills Center and hopes to graduate next spring.