KYCC Environmental Services Hosts Green Careers Speed Networking Event

On July 22, 2025, KYCC Environmental Services’, in collaboration with our Prevention Education’s Koreatown, Pico Union, and Westlake Rooted (KPWR) Youth Project, hosted the Green Careers Speed Networking Event. This event aimed to introduce youth to a variety of green career opportunities in a fun and interactive way.

Utilizing a “speed networking” format, small groups of three youth rotated every 15 minutes to interact with professionals from different green industries. Each room was creatively themed to reflect a distinct National Park, providing an inspiring backdrop for meaningful conversations. The collaboration between Environmental Services and KPWR Youth Project brought together eight panelists, 18 KPWR Youth Project interns, and seven Environmental Service Summer Youth participants, creating a diverse platform for learning and networking.

The KPWR Youth Project focuses on empowering 30 high school students ages 14-18 to advocate for green spaces, such as community gardens. By enhancing access to natural and cultural resources, the project aims to cultivate their environmental leadership skills and address the Social Drivers of Health, fostering health and social connections within Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Every year, Environmental Services hosts 6 to 10 youths aged 14 to 18. The Summer Youth Programs offer an immersive experience for participants to engage in community and urban greening stewardship, focusing on enhancing Los Angeles’ environment. This year participants are exploring urban greening and stewardship resources through workshops led by our City Plants partners as a part of the Tree Ambassador Program. 

“I was able to interact with the people and learn about their experiences and job, as it was interesting to know what they do and how they impact our environment and community,”  says a KPWR youth participant. 

Special thank you to Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Dashboard.Earth, Avian Biologist PHD Student at UCLA, LA Sanitation, and LA Conservation Corp.