For students in the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) 2026 Learn and Earn Mentoring Program, five weeks of mentorship can offer far more than an introduction to a career. It can open doors, build confidence and help young people imagine new possibilities for their futures.

The after-school program brings together career exploration, academic support and meaningful mentorship, all while giving students an opportunity to earn money. Over five weeks, participants connect virtually and in person with mentors who share their professional experiences, educational journeys and lessons learned along the way.

This year’s participants included students from Camp Glenn Rockey, Camp Dorothy Kirby, Camp Afflerbaugh, Barry J. Nidorf, Los Padrinos, Renaissance and Kilpatrick.

Learn and Earn also demonstrates the importance of partnership and relationship building. By bringing together probation staff, educators, technical support teams, mentors and other professionals, the program creates a network of people working collectively to help students grow. These partnerships show students that support can come from many different places—and that the people around them can become part of a network that opens doors to new opportunities.

The experience can be just as meaningful for the professionals who volunteer their time.

LACOE mentor Karen Osuna described participating in Learn and Earn as a “full-circle moment.” Because the students came from communities similar to the one in which she grew up, Karen felt a personal connection to their experiences—and a desire to provide the kind of guidance that had made a difference in her own life.

“The thing that made all the difference for me was meeting people and having a community that could really guide me and support me,” Karen said. “I think this program really provides the opportunity to give these students that—to meet people who can be that support system for them and who can offer the guidance that they need.”

For student participant Joseph, those conversations changed the way he viewed his own potential.

“One thing that I really learned from this program is that whatever I focus on is really possible with education,” Joseph said. “When I put my mind on something, then I could really do it.”

The experience also encouraged Joseph to reconsider how much his current circumstances should determine where he goes next.

Throughout Learn and Earn, students discover a range of career and educational pathways through conversations with mentors and inspirational guest speakers. Industry professionals speak candidly about their achievements, but they also share the challenges, setbacks and personal experiences that shaped their journeys.

Those honest conversations help students understand that success rarely follows a straight path and that where they begin does not have to define where they end up.

By connecting students with adults who listen, encourage and believe in them, Learn and Earn gives young people more than career information. Through the collective support of mentors, educators, probation staff and other partners, students gain a network they can draw from, a stronger sense of possibility and the confidence to begin building a future of their own. You can watch the video about this program here.