Vocational education for in-demand industries

Five Keys offers a range of self-paced, in-person or online Career Technical Education (CTE) training programs for students enrolled in its high schools. The courses integrate core academic knowledge with occupational skills to prepare students for careers in growing industries. Teachers have industry experience and a California Department of Education CTE credential to teach in their field. Programs align with industry standards and prepare students for industry certifications, union apprenticeships, or college. CTE Pathway students have direct access to union apprenticeship representatives, transition counseling, job site visits, college tours, internship opportunities, and guest speakers. CTE pathways are described in more detail here.

Location: Online and in-person in Los Angeles County

Contact: registration@FiveKeys.org

Job readiness and temporary employment with transitions to permanent employment

Participants in Five Keys Transitional Employment receive robust support to help them find permanent employment, progress along educational pathways, or enroll in progressive job training. We provide job readiness workshops, reentry support, access to high school completion, and host resource groups. Our programs operate in San Joaquin, Los Angeles, San Diego, Stanislaus, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara counties. Transitional employees staff the Los Angeles Pit Stop and Shower Stop programs offering safe, clean restrooms and showers in neighborhoods identified as having public health risks associated with a lack of accessible restrooms for homeless populations. They also assist Caltrans teams with litter abatement, vegetation control, replanting, storm damage, erosion repair, and other highway beautification projects. Learn more about our Transitional Employment programs here.

Location: San Joaquin, Los Angeles, San Diego, Stanislaus, San Francisco, and Santa Barbara counties

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org

Employment readiness in San Francisco Jails

Five Keys established the Reentry job Center inside San Francisco County jails in 2017 to prepare people to obtain employment or pursue their educational goals upon their release from jail. Our career navigation staff work with participants to identify their career and education goals and map a pathway to achieve them. We assist them in obtaining documentation needed for employment, develop resumes, practice for job interviews and professional communication, and connect them with our employment partners in the community. We follow up with clients after they return to the community to assist them in obtaining and retaining jobs, and assist them in accessing other needed services, such as housing. We use evidence-based curriculum to prepare clients socially and emotionally to deal with challenges that arise in the workplace. This program is funded through the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Location: San Francisco County jails and in the San Francisco community

Location: Online and in-person in Los Angeles County

Alameda County reentry employment program

People incarcerated in Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail may participate in Five Keys’ life skills and Career Technical Education program to prepare for employment when they return to the community. Five Keys offers a range of classes including job readiness preparation, digital literacy, anger management, parenting, and substance use treatment. We also offer Career Technical training including cosmetology; computer coding; intro to the trades; horticulture; environmental literacy to prepare people for jobs in “green” industries; food handlers’ certification for hospitality careers; and baking for commercial kitchens.

Location: Alameda County

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org

Five Keys provides college and career navigation to participants of our programs in San Mateo County through funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Location: San Mateo County

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org

Job training and mentorship in a Malibu juvenile detention facility

Five Keys works with youth to develop life skills and introduce them to construction pre-apprenticeship skills at the Campus Kilpatrick juvenile rehabilitation center operated by the Los Angeles County Probation Department. We provide workforce readiness preparation, life skills development and youth mentorship through the 300-hours of industry-aligned Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) pre-apprenticeship coursework. Each student develops a Personalized Career Path Plan incorporating academic and career assessments and strategies to overcome barriers to their success.

Location: Malibu, Los Angeles County

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org

Tech SF On-Ramps

Five Keys’ TechSF On-Ramps increases access to tech pathways for vulnerable populations. San Francisco is known for being a technology hub, but unfortunately there is little representation from communities of color and formerly incarcerated. This program gives participants at Five Keys programs who are incarcerated in San Francisco, or at one of our community locations, the opportunity to increase their digital literacy skills, earn tech certifications, and enter college programs that focus on technology pathways. We provide computer classes, career and college navigation. Our partners at City College of San Francisco work with students before and after their release from jail to help them explore college tech pathways and enroll. This program operates with funding from the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development.

Location: San Francisco

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org

Training non-traditional farmers in environmentally sustainable urban farming

The Ecological Agricultural Training and Cultural Center’s mission is to train farmers, engage farmer families and create communities around ecologically-based, socially just, and economically sustainable agriculture. It provides a hands-on, in-person small farm apprenticeship program, and serves as a resource center and gathering place for the agricultural community. The EAT! Center hosts a Rural Farmers & Artisans Market each Thursday. Learn more about EAT! here.

Location: Norco, Riverside County

Contact: info@FiveKeys.org