The YIC Program is a 12 month program consisting of two on-site 21st Century career skill courses, 2 days/week for 2 hrs/day, community-based training and career exploration 3 days/week for up to 6 hrs/day through a variety of our industry corporate partners.

The program moves beyond classroom instruction and offers program participants real‐world practical training and work experience in community-based settings. Click here for information about funding.

Individuals must have graduated from high school with either a diploma or certificate of completion and have also been found eligible for North Los Angeles County Regional Center funding to participate in the program.

This program is designed as a closed cohort, and participants must be committed to finishing the cohort.

Program participants will receive:

• Comprehensive functional assessment

• Person-centered service plan with individualized goals

• Career exploration within the entertainment industry

• 21st Century career skills training taught across multiple community-based settings by credentialed educators

• Cover letter and resume writing skills

• Interviewing skills training

• LinkedIn profile creation and optimization

• Executive functioning skills training (e.g., organizing, prioritizing, time management)

• Social and communication skills development

• Support with pursuing post-secondary options; i.e. vocational/trade school, community college

• On campus and in-class support at College of the Canyons (COC) in partnership with COC's DSPS office

• Paid internship placement

• Career exploration & networking opportunities through our Industry Professional Guest Speaker Sessions

• Opportunity to collaborate with peers and industry professionals to produce a Concert Event or Film Project

21st Century Career Skills Training

Employers and human resources teams look for applicants who balance both hard skills (technical) and soft skills (social) because these well-rounded candidates are valuable in a variety of positions. 21st century skills are considered by industry leaders, HR professionals, and educators to be the knowledge, work habits, and character traits necessary for workers to succeed in today’s rapidly changing work environment.

While 21st century skills are often discussed in terms of a wide-ranging body of knowledge and skills, researchers agree on ten critical areas for development: 1) Adaptability; 2) Analysis/Solution Mindset; 3) Collaboration; 4) Communication; 5) Digital Fluency; 6) Empathy; 7) Entrepreneurial Mindset; 8) Resilience; 9) Self-Awareness; and 10) Social Diversity/Awareness.

YIC Program participants receive career skills training with YIC’s Masters level, credentialed educators covering all of the 10 critical areas of development listed above. Through YIC’s community partnership with College of the Canyons (COC), beginning in Summer 2021 all incoming YIC Program participants will register with COC and career skills training will be conducted by YIC instructors utilizing COC’s Learning Management System called Canvas, which will be used to access all training sessions, course materials and assignments including videos, discussions, grades, and other course activities. Once the COVID-19 Safer at Home mandates are lifted, all YIC program participants will attend career skills training classes on the COC campus.

Once YIC Program participants complete their training in each of these skills, participants will earn a printed certificate of completion from College of the Canyons and a digital badge that will be displayed on their LinkedIn profile that participants create while in the YIC Program. This will increase your value to future employers, giving you something to show for all your hard work, and strengthen your resume and/or LinkedIn profile!