Youth Employment Program (YEP)

GAP’s Youth Employment Program (YEP), formally the Summer Youth Employment Program was first started in the summer of 2006, under the Los Angeles Harbor Gateway Weed and Seed funding, through the US Department of Justice. The pilot program was a success, and sustained its program through the support of the City of Los Angeles, Office of Community Beautification (OCB). Every year, GAP hires intern youth between the ages of 15 to 18 years old. Youth representing Los Angeles communities such as Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Eagle Rock, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, South Los Angeles, Watts and Wilmington come together to take back their communities by working on community beautification projects, weed abatement and trash removal throughout the City of Los Angeles. 

GAP’s vision is to prevent young people from joining gangs, aligned with the YEP program in place, is able to achieve its goals in helping young people to stay away from trouble, and at the same time, give them the sense that this is their community and it is their responsibility to keep it clean.

GAP youths build a sense of pride, leadership and discipline skills that are necessary to become future leaders of tomorrow. Youth also participate in weekly educational workshops focused on a variety of topics such as health and safety, employability skills and employer expectations, personal money management and career preparation and development.

For more information on the YEP Program, email us at contact@gangfree.org or call (888) 293-9323.