JCOD Celebrates Graduation of Dirtbags Academy’s First Cohort

LONG BEACH – The Justice, Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD) celebrated the graduation of the first cohort from Dirtbags Academy, recognizing 20 participants who completed the 12-week pre-apprenticeship course through JCOD’s Skills+Experience for the Careers of Tomorrow (SECTOR) program.

The graduation ceremony took place yesterday at Dirtbags Academy in Long Beach and featured a certificate presentation honoring the first graduating class. All 20 participants completed the program, with 10 graduates already securing jobs and many others moving forward in the hiring process.

The training prepares justice-involved individuals for careers in the skilled trades through hands-on instruction in motorcycle maintenance and repair, fabrication, welding, detailing, print and design, and the manufacturing of specialized parts. In addition to technical training, participants took part in daily morning circles that helped build accountability, peer support and community throughout the cohort.

“Today we are celebrating more than a graduation. We are celebrating 20 people who stayed committed, put in the work and are now stepping into new opportunities,” said JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.). “These graduates showed up for themselves over the past several weeks, and today they are leaving with real training, stronger confidence and a solid foundation for what comes next.”

Dirtbags Academy, based in Long Beach, partners with labor unions, refineries, motorcycle parts manufacturers and aluminum manufacturers to help connect participants to employment opportunities in the skilled trades. The program also works with Project Rebound to support participants pursuing education pathways alongside workforce training.

“Dirtbags Academy wasn’t built on us teaching; it was built on the students putting in the work every day. We gave them the tools, the mentorship, and the support… but they made the decision to grow, stay accountable, and push toward a better future for themselves,” said Mikey Loco, Executive Director and Founder of Dirtbags California. “Watching these students level up in skill, confidence, and mindset is what this is all about. This isn’t just a program; this is family. Once you graduate from Dirtbags, you’re part of this forever. Nothing but love and respect to everybody who believed in the vision, supported the movement, and helped us change lives along the way.”

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