March 3, 2026

Contact: Evelyn Aleman, Media Image PR, (818) 943-2481, evelyn@mipr.net

Inside Professor Marcela Oliva’s classroom on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College’s (LATTC) Architectural Technology and Environmental Design Program, high school students from August F. Hawkins High School and Thomas Jefferson High School in South Los Angeles learn about architecture and environmental design thanks to a one-of-a-kind program that brings innovation, and creativity to Title 1 public schools. Through virtual reality, AI, digital tools, and access to industry and career-focused field trips, students learn to see themselves as future builders of their own communities, and to think about what’s possible.

“When you’re in high school, they teach you things by subject rather than cohesiveness, which helps you understand your relationship with your neighborhood, the relationship to history – why your city is designed the way it is designed,” said Professor Oliva, who has been teaching architecture at LATTC for more than 34 years. “Through our program, students get a sense of belonging. Once students feel they belong, they transform. It’s an opportunity they would’ve never had were it not for the program,” said Oliva.

The college-level coursework is offered each semester from February through August. From Monday through Thursday between 7 a.m. and noon, LATTC faculty make the trek to teach students at their schools. On Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to noon, students are bused to the community college where they are amazed by the latest technological tools available through the program. Student participants receive college credit upon coursework completion.

The LATTC program is made possible through the Southern California Regional Energy Network’s (SoCal REN) ACES (Architecture | Construction Engineering | Sustainability) program, which is designed to expose students to energy efficiency practices and career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields. ACES is part of California’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and build a local labor force by investing in K-12 STEAM programming. Identifying gaps and challenges in K-12 education for STEAM career pathways is key to securing a strong workforce.

“There is a depth of ingenuity, brilliance, and commitment to protecting our collective future that has long been part of the communities of South Los Angeles. That is why it is imperative that we create pathways to the clean energy economy and expand access to the opportunities it provides for the youth of South L.A. and other communities that have been historically underinvested in,” said L.A. County Second District Supervisor Holly Mitchell. “These investments reflect our shared vision of a clean energy future — one built by local communities and steered by their brightest young minds,” added Supervisor Mitchell.

California has some of the most ambitious climate goals in the country aimed at reducing emissions to 40% of 1990 levels by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality – reduced emissions – by 2045. Billions are invested in Regional Energy Networks that oversee projects in clean energy and workforce development that too often don’t reach disadvantaged communities. The Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC), a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., aims to change this by providing nationwide initiatives ranging from policy, programming, coalitions and technical assistance that create economic opportunities for underserved communities in the transition to clean energy.

“ACES reflects our belief that education, workforce development, and clean energy must work together to create lasting economic opportunity for underserved communities,” said Wendy Angel, Southern California Regional Director, Emerald Cities Collaborative.

Through partnerships with the County of Los Angeles and philanthropic entities, ECC supports school programs, like Professor Oliva’s LATTC class, that offer hands-on learning, paid internships and career opportunities.

“Professor Oliva’s program is a great example of how clean energy investments are changing the way in which communities become engaged in building a skilled labor force in this growing field,” said Lujuana Medina, Environmental Initiatives Division Manager for the County of Los Angeles. “We want students to envision a future for themselves and their communities in clean energy – and become active participants in the design of our cities,” said Medina.

With help from colleges, school districts, and industry partners, ACES paves the way for a future local workforce of engineers, architects, and construction professionals. It is present in communities, creating opportunities for students to explore fields critical to the environment through college courses, field trips, industry days, workshops and paid internships.

For further information about the event and the County’s Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), visit Future Green Leaders Summit. You can also visit and follow us on Facebook @SoCalREN, Instagram @_socalren, X @_SoCalREN, and TikTok @_socalren.

Visuals

• Saturdays 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students and Professor Marcela Oliva in the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) Architectural Technology & Environmental Design Program use virtual reality and AI tools
  • 400 West Washington Blvd., L.A., CA 90015
• L.A. County and Emerald Cities Collaborative partnership

About SoCal REN

The Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) offers public agencies, businesses, and residents a wide variety of services that promote energy efficiency and sustainability throughout Southern California. SoCal REN is administered by the County of Los Angeles and funded by California utility ratepayers through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

About ECC

Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. that advances racial, economic, and climate justice to build communities that are more equitable, economically just, and sustainable.

About the County of Los Angeles Internal Services Department

The Internal Services Department (ISD) is a general services organization that supports the County of Los Angeles by providing a range of support services to other County departments in the areas of purchasing, contracting, facilities, information technology, and other support services, such as energy and environmental programs management, parking, and mail services. ISD administers high-impact public programs, including Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalRen), Electrifyze (which promotes Electric Vehicle adoption), and EBD Program. ISD has also been designated by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors as the lead department for residential broadband service and digital equity initiatives. For more information on ISD, visit isd.lacounty.gov.

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