LAWA PROVIDES LOCAL YOUTH WITH FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

(Los Angeles, CA - January 12, 2001) Members of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the local community joined LAWA Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard in celebrating the success of the GATEWAYS Internship Programs at Dulan’s Restaurant in the heart of the Crenshaw community.

GATEWAYS, established in 1998, is focused on recruiting students from nearby communities and providing them with valuable work experience and career opportunities in the aviation industry. Both high school and college students work full-time during the summer and move to a part time schedule during the school year, making as much as $9.35 an hour for high school students and $11.42 an hour for college students. Participating school districts include Centinela Valley Union High School District, El Segundo Unified School District, Inglewood Unified, and Los Angeles Unified.

Both Kennard and Board of Airport Commissioner Warren Valdry shared their enthusiasm and excitement for what the program has already accomplished. "We are pleased to offer this tremendous opportunities for students from neighborhoods in Inglewood and South Central Los Angeles," said Commissioner Valdry. "We’ve been able to provide a much needed link between local schools and the workforce." Kennard said, "Instead of a knowledge-based curriculum, we have created a performance-based curriculum that provides students with actual skills employers want." Many of the program’s participants have moved on to full-time employment with LAWA or in the aviation industry.

Two program participants, Christopher Guerra and Porshia Williams, were able to share their experiences with the audience. Williams, a student at Morningside High School currently working in Information Technology at Los Angeles International Airport, wishes to attend Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga. and eventually work within the aviation industry in public relations. She said her interpersonal skills and computer skills have improved a great deal since starting her internship. "It’s been great learning about jobs I didn’t even know existed within the aviation industry. I had no idea that LAX had an Information Technology department," added Williams. "I’m very excited about my opportunity at GATEWAYS and I look forward to a future in public relations."

David Johnson, program manager for the Gateways Program, said "Although the Gateways Internship Program is currently only at LAX, we plan to expand the program to our other airports in the future."

Besides, LAX, the other airports operated by LAWA are Ontario International, Palmdale Regional, and Van Nuys (general aviation) Airport.