Future-Proofing K-16 Learners in Los Angeles County with Generative AI & ClimateConscious Workforce Pathways
Submitted To: Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 2
Submitted By: Dakar Foundation, in collaboration with regional K-16 institutions, workforce boards, and civic tech partners
Umbrella Framework: Community Benefits Agreement (CBA)
This initiative will be guided by a Community Benefits Agreement, ensuring that diverse, noncompeting stakeholders from education, workforce development, civic technology, arts/media, and climate justice ecosystems are equitably recruited, resourced, and represented. This agreement will serve as the scaffolding to:
! Build trust among local families, learners, employers, and educational institutions
! Ensure transparency in outcomes, funding, and evaluation
! Align public and private investments in a cohesive, community-driven workforce ecosystem
! Prioritize historically disinvested communities by codifying their participation in planning, delivery, and feedback cycles
! Integrate Climate, Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, Community Stewardship
Overview
As Los Angeles County undergoes a rapid transformation toward a digital and AI-powered economy, it is imperative that we equip our K-16 learners especially those in historically disinvested and overburdened communities with the tools, literacies, and mentorship needed to thrive. This proposal outlines a county-wide initiative to integrate generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) across educational, apprenticeship, and community spaces to create a future-ready, inclusive, and environmentally conscious workforce.
Goals
! Digital Literacy & AI Fluency: Teach foundational skills in AI, machine learning, prompt engineering, and digital ethics.
! Workforce & Economic Alignment: Target high-growth sectors being transformed by AI (healthcare, media, advanced manufacturing, fintech, the clean green/blue economy).
! Equity & Access: Leverage Universal Design for Learning and culturally responsive teaching for neurodiverse, multilingual, and justice-impacted youth.
! Sustainability Oversight: Embed climate-focused applications of AI and reduce the program’s carbon footprint in line with County goals for 2030.
! Apprenticeship Integration: Infuse GenAI into pre-apprenticeship programs and career pipelines tied to District 2 economic and civic development goals.
Key Strategies
Curriculum Integration
! Co-create project-based AI modules with LAUSD, LACCD, CSU/UC campuses, and community schools
! Embed AI tools such as ChatGPT, ML, and Copilot into courses across English, CTE, art/media, and science
! Launch student-led research labs to tackle real-world issues like public health, climate equity, and housing justice
Career Simulation Labs
! Deploy platforms like Roblox Studio, Unreal Engine, and NVIDIA Omniverse for handson career experiences
! Students role-play as journalists, animators, med-tech analysts, or AI developers, powered by real-time AI tools
Educator Capacity Building
! Offer county-supported micro-credentials and professional development on ethical AI, pedagogy, and curriculum design
! Launch a District 2 AI Educators Fellowship to create a community of practice among schools
Youth Innovation Studios
! Set up “AI Studios” at public libraries, community centers, and colleges to foster cocreation and community-centered AI projects
! Engage youth in civic tech projects like building transit data bots or climate dashboards
AI-Enhanced Support Services
! Use Gen AI to deliver personalized academic coaches, mental health bots, and language translation tools
! Customize IEP content and instructional material for neurodiverse and special needs learners
