Students of ELAC UAV Program Seeking LA County Aerospace Companies for Internships

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board recently awarded the Tesla Foundation and East Los Angeles College (ELAC) a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant to create the first-ever Aerial Robotics Training and Internship Program. 

The ground-breaking program focuses on youth at risk by giving them access to advanced technology, soft skills, and project-based education to improve the outcome of a young person’s life. Since the program began, a diverse group of 33 community college students have completed 140 hours of intense UAV and workforce development training at ELAC – which includes the following classes:

  • Math Algebra (16 hours):
  • DC Circuits (16 hours)
  • Introduction to UAV (16 hours)
  • FAA Part 107 Small UAS Rule (16 hours)
  • UAV with Arduino (16 hours)
  • UAV with JavaScript (16 hours)
  • UAV with Python (16 hours)
  • UAV Design I (48 hours)
  • Assembling, Programming and Maintaining
  • Troubleshooting: (JavaScript and Python )
  • ParrotAR.Drone2.0
  • Power Edition (JavaScript)
  • 3DRSolo (Python)
  • UAV Demonstration

The curriculum was created and taught by industry experts so that graduates would be an asset to the region’s industry and companies will be able better meet their workforce needs.

However, the students still have another requirement they need to fulfill before they finish the program: 40 hours as an intern at an aerospace company within the Los Angeles region.  The internship can be paid or unpaid as long as it is within the aerospace sector as a tier 1 or tier 2 company within Los Angeles County. Interested companies are not required to to commit to hiring an intern. The deadline for companies to express interest is Friday, April 27, the contact information is listed below:

Contact Person: Keith Coleman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 213.944.7414

“The incredible potential of these young people to innovate cannot be ignored. So many times because of lack of opportunity and exposure to 21st Century Technology and Soft Skills, our young people don’t take the necessary steps to fulfill their dreams of a career or starting an innovative business.” said Keith Kaplan, CEO Tesla Foundation.

Innovation exposure, technology projects, and training is key. The Tesla Foundation has partnered with the right organizations and agencies to create these opportunities for women, and underserved individuals: The City of Los Angeles Workforce Centers, Job Corps LA, East Los Angeles College, Goodwill, and the Los Angeles Area Veterans Service Organizations.

The Tesla Foundation’s efforts to continue to deploy it’s 21st Century Learning Modules and Tesla List are being embraced by public private partnerships such as these. As this work continues, it is imperative that the commitment to the inventive and innovative nature of our young be nourished.

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