JCOD Launches Partnership with Dirtbags Academy to Expand Skilled Trades Training for Justice-Involved Individuals

LONG BEACH — The Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD) today celebrated the launch of a new partnership with Dirtbags Academy, expanding workforce development opportunities for justice-involved individuals through JCOD’s Skills+Experience for the Careers of Tomorrow (SECTOR) program.

The launch event, held at Dirtbags Academy in Long Beach, marked the start of a 12-week pre-apprenticeship training program designed to prepare 21 participants for careers in the skilled trades. Through this partnership, participants will receive hands-on instruction in motorcycle maintenance and repair, fabrication and welding, detailing and coating, print and design, and the manufacturing of specialized parts.

Based in Long Beach, Dirtbags Academy serves young adults through practical training, community-building, and career pathway development. The program also incorporates daily morning circles to foster accountability, peer support, and a strong sense of community.

“We are proud of the work Dirtbags Academy is doing to create real opportunity for JCOD’s justice-involved and transitional youth participants,” said JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.). “This partnership gives participants the chance to build marketable skills, restore confidence, and move forward with purpose as they create a stronger future for themselves.”

Dirtbags Academy works closely with labor unions, refiners, motorcycle parts manufacturers, and aluminum manufacturers to help establish employment pathways in the trades. The program also partners with Project Rebound to support participants pursuing educational goals alongside workforce training.

“At Dirtbags Academy, we believe goals are meant to be achieved, and our students already have what it takes within them,” said Executive Director and Dirtbags California Founder Mikey Loco. “We’re here to provide the space, tools, and community to help bring that out. With the right support and real effort, we believe in every one of them and where they’re headed.”

JCOD’s SECTOR program supports justice-involved individuals through employment-focused training and career pathways in high-growth industries. This partnership with Dirtbags Academy advances that mission by creating another pathway for participants to gain marketable skills, industry exposure, and meaningful opportunities for long-term success.

For more information about JCOD programs and services, visit jcod.lacounty.gov.

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