Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training Program

A 40-hour, competency-based program, offered in person or live online, that prepares adults and youth (16+) for entry-level, in-demand jobs in San Bernardino County. It includes pre/post assessments, a participant portfolio and a Certificate of Completion. Job placement help covers resume development, mock interviews with employers, and referrals to America's Job Center of California (AJCC).

Bring your questions. Leave with a plan.

The Future Leaders Academy is a free Saturday workshop for youth and young adults. In one afternoon, participants meet a mentor, explore college and career options, learn money basics, and turn an idea into a plan. Parents, guardians and community mentors are welcome.

• 1-on-1 mentorship with local professionals
• College planning: options, applications and financial aid basics
• Financial literacy: budgeting, saving and credit
• Entrepreneurship & innovation: from idea to first pitch

Youth-led prevention for a fentanyl-era Inland Empire

We follow the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF): assess local need, build capacity, plan, implement and evaluate. Young people ages 12–26 lead the work. They learn the facts about fentanyl and counterfeit pills, train peers in naloxone use, and design campaigns that change policy and environments around schools and neighborhoods.

• Fentanyl and counterfeit-pill awareness workshops for youth and parents
• Naloxone (Narcan) education and distribution with county partners
• Youth Prevention Leadership Council: listening sessions, peer education, policy projects
• Protective-factor building through mentorship, cultural identity and connection to school and work
• Community prevention coalition across 12 sectors: youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, health, faith, business, media and more

Every participant gets someone in their corner

Participants are matched with a screened, trained mentor for at least six months. Mentors include working professionals, local entrepreneurs and program graduates who return as peer mentors. A youth leadership council gives young people a real voice in our programs and in civic life.

• Background-checked mentors trained in youth safeguarding and trauma-informed practice
• Monthly 1-on-1 meetings tied to the participant's 30/60/90-day plan
• Peer mentoring circles led by graduates
• Civic engagement: city council visits, community projects, volunteer leadership

Finding your voice is a job skill

Employers rank communication among the skills they most want. Our speaking labs help participants tell their story with confidence in interviews, at work and in their community. Each cohort ends with a showcase, where participants present to employers, mentors and family.

• Weekly speaking labs: storytelling, elevator pitch, interview answers
• Recorded practice with feedback, plus a before-and-after video in each portfolio
• Community Showcase and Pitch Night each cohort

From side hustle to registered business

We help aspiring entrepreneurs in San Bernardino, especially women, people of color, veterans and returning citizens, turn ideas into viable microbusinesses. Participants build a business plan and practice their pitch. We connect them to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SBA resources and local lenders.

• Business concept and plan coaching
• Licensing, permits and business registration walkthroughs
• Capital readiness: credit, bookkeeping, grant and loan basics
• Pitch competition with community judges

Government Contracting Academy

The Government Contracting Academy prepares small business owners, especially women, people of color, veterans and first-time contractors in the Inland Empire, to compete for and win public contracts. Participants learn how federal, state and local agencies buy, get their business registered and certified, and write proposals that win. Each participant leaves with a capability statement, a target-agency list and a 90-day bid plan.

Microsoft Excel & Office Essentials

Office jobs, warehouses, clinics and small businesses all run on spreadsheets and email. This hands-on course builds the everyday computer skills employers expect, from formatting a report to building a simple budget in Excel.

• Excel basics: formulas, sorting, filtering and charts
• Word documents, resumes and business letters
• Outlook email, calendars and file organization
• A practical spreadsheet project for your portfolio

QuickBooks Bookkeeping Essentials

Learn the bookkeeping skills used in office, administrative and small business jobs. Set up a company file, record income and expenses, reconcile accounts and run the reports owners and accountants ask for.

• Setting up a company, customers and vendors
• Invoices, bills, payments and bank reconciliation
• Profit and loss, balance sheet and other key reports
• Bookkeeping habits for your own small business

Conversational Mandarin Chinese

Learn to speak Mandarin Chinese with confidence. This speaking-first course puts conversation at the center of every class: pronunciation and tones, everyday phrases, and real dialogues you practice out loud in small groups. Join live online from anywhere in the United States, or in person in San Bernardino. Great for travel, business, careers that serve Chinese-speaking customers, or connecting with family and culture.

• Pinyin, pronunciation and the four tones
• Greetings, introductions, numbers, time, shopping and directions
• Role-play conversations in every class
• Recommended textbook selected by your instructor (purchased separately)

Free Info Session & Orientation

Not sure which class fits you? Join a free 45-minute online info session. We walk through every program, schedules (day, evening and Saturday), tuition and county funding options, and answer your questions.

• Overview of all programs and start dates
• Day, evening (online) and Saturday options for working adults
• Tuition, payment plans and county funding questions
• How to enroll and what to bring

Earn the certifications employers ask for

We are adding short, job-focused certification courses taught by certified industry instructors. Each one leads to a credential employers recognize in logistics, healthcare, food service, office and IT jobs across the Inland Empire. Evening, Saturday and online options are planned so you can train while you work. Dates and tuition will be posted on the class schedule; join the interest list to hear first.

• Forklift Operator Certification for warehouse and logistics jobs
• OSHA 10-Hour Safety (General Industry or Construction)
• CPR, First Aid & AED
• ServSafe Food Handler & Manager
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam prep
• QuickBooks Certified User exam prep
• CompTIA A+ and Google Career Certificates (IT Support, Data Analytics, Project Management)