The Friendship Foundation (FF), dedicated to elevating the lives of those with varying abilities for almost 20 years, announced the launch of its Vocational Pathways Program to help neurodiverse individuals find meaningful employment. The program was created in partnership with Els for Autism, founded in 2009 by professional golfer Ernie Els to transform the lives of people with autism and those who care for them. The comprehensive program pairs employment partners with students for paid internships and ongoing training, career development and support. Vocational Pathways, as part of the Bhatia College for Professional Development, is launching this month after a successful pilot program and year of development.

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The Friendship Campus will include a teaching kitchen and creative studio to help neurodiverse students develop vocational skills for long-term employment.

The Friendship Campus will include a teaching kitchen and creative studio to help neurodiverse students develop vocational skills for long-term employment.

“Vocational Pathways is the linchpin of our Friendship Campus,” said Yossi Mintz, FF Executive Director and Co-Founder. “Our Friendship Campus will greatly improve job-skills training, but Vocational Pathways wouldn’t be successful without business partners who are invested in its success and passionate about the unique talents neurodiverse individuals bring to the workforce. These partnerships ensure mutually beneficial employment relationships with acceptance and appreciation for all abilities.”

The new vocational program was adapted from the Els for Autism Work Experience Program, which has had tremendous success providing hands-on learning and developing skills for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities to achieve gainful employment. Utilizing best practices in workforce development, the evidence-based program fosters learning, self-determination and personal growth for adults with disabilities. The Friendship Foundation works with each individual student to identify their vocational passion, create a personalized training program, then find the best business, nonprofit or community partner. Multi-dimensional workforce readiness includes career services, work-based training, paid internships, supportive services such as job coaches and peer mentorship. The program has been created with the goal of long-term employment and inclusion with independence and economic mobility for adults with disabilities.

After a successful pilot program last year conducted with the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, FF increased its partnerships with local businesses, government entities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to create paid internship pipelines and a path to meaningful employment. Corporate partners include Skechers, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Gensler, Lakeshore Learning, APM Terminals, Goodwill, Verdugo Workforce Development Board, Rock n Brews, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, South Bay Workforce Investment Board, and South Bay Parkland Conservancy. Paid interns in Vocational Pathways’ pilot program worked with APM Terminals on shipping logistics, and the City of Redondo Beach at Wilderness Park on native plant restoration, with both interns and corporate partners providing valuable feedback to help the final curriculum development.

“At APM Terminals Los Angeles, we believe a strong workforce is built by creating opportunities for people of all abilities to contribute and grow,” said Jon Poelma, Managing Director, APM Terminals. “Our Friendship Foundation intern exceeded expectations through his commitment, work ethic, and willingness to take on new challenges. This partnership not only delivered value to our organization but also provided a powerful example of how inclusive workforce programs can strengthen our industry and our communities.”

Friendship Campus: The Greenberg Family/Skechers Center will open this winter, a first-of-its-kind facility in Los Angeles County designed specifically for vocational training for adults with disabilities who face an 80% unemployment rate in the U.S. The 62,000-sq foot Campus will house a Culinary Arts Center, Creative Arts Studio, Multi-Generational Programming, the Friendship Café, and dedicated work-based learning classrooms in addition to the Vocational Pathways program. The Friendship Campus will bridge the gap between existing education and the diverse vocational needs of the neurodiverse population as they transition out of the school system.

Construction for The Friendship Campus (850 S. Inglewood Ave., Redondo Beach), estimated to be $70M, has been entirely funded by private donations and grants. Development partners for the Friendship Campus include the extraordinary architecture and design team of Gensler, and brand strategists Saatchi & Saatchi. More detailed information can be found here.

About Friendship Foundation

For 19 years, the Friendship Foundation has provided neurodiverse individuals the same opportunities as their peers to grow, thrive, and belong. Today, it operates 88 Friendship Clubs across 23 school districts, offers 50+ monthly social and recreational programs for youth and adults ages 8+, and provides life skills training in athletics, arts, cooking, financial empowerment, and more. Its six-week summer camp and adaptive sports programming further enrich participants’ lives. Fueled by success and demand, the Foundation is now transitioning into its new innovative campus to transform lives, strengthen the workforce, and benefit society.
https://www.instagram.com/thefriendshipfoundation/ and https://www.facebook.com/FFsouthbay/.

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