Netflix Partners with LATTC for Work Study Program Benefitting CMU Pathway Students
(Left to right): LATTC President Dr. Alfred McQuarters, LATTC Employment Placement Specialist Ms. Doris Driver, Netflix Integration Office Director Mrs. Amber Payne, Kamara Barnett, Ireri Ray, Adrianna Miller, Janay Johnson, Jocelyn Aguilar, Netflix Systems and Technology Manager Ms. Robin Rose, Netflix Global Security Program Manager Ms. Naz Amirsoleymani, Netflix Workplace Experience Manager Ms. Adrienne Kelley, and LATTC Dean of Pathway Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness Dr. Marcia Wilson
This past January, Netflix partnered with LATTC to host a paid three-week work study program for students in the college’s Construction Maintenance and Utilities (CMU) pathway. During the program, students were exposed to real world work situations, and enhanced their proficiency in leadership development, building operations, and construction. Students shadowed Netflix professionals to learn skills in building automation systems; environmental, health and safety; security; space planning; sustainability; and work order tracking. The program also provided important networking opportunities as students worked alongside and built relationships with Netflix’s vendor partners.
The program’s cohort of students was unique in that it comprised of all women. The construction industry is a major contributor to the U.S. economy, employing eight million workers and creating nearly $2.1 trillion worth of structures each year according to the Associated General Contractors of America. In spite of these impressive industry numbers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women only make up 10.9% of the national building trades workforce. Opportunities such as the Netflix work study program supports and trains women to reduce skill gaps and create a more equitable workforce.
"At Netflix, we're committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our business, and our partnership with Trade-Tech for the Work Study Program is a testament to that. This initiative underscores our dedication to connecting people through meaningful work opportunities that align with our values of innovation, collaboration, and empowerment," says Amber Payne, Netflix Director, Integration Office.
CMU student and Netflix work study program participant Janay Johnson during her program-end presentation at Netflix.
On February 1, 2024, Netflix hosted a special culmination ceremony for the students who completed the program. Program participants and LATTC Construction, Maintenance and Utilities students Jocelyn Aguilar, Kamara Barnett, Janay Johnson, Adrianna Miller, and Ireri Ray each gave a formal presentation of their experience in the three-week program at Netflix. Each student talked about the positive impact the program had on their personal career paths and how it challenged them to think differently about what a future in their chosen field could be.
“This Netflix partnership enabled LATTC’s Employment and Career Success Pathway to operationalize our vision to work with Pathways to strengthen the pipeline from education to careers,” says Dr. Marcia Wilson, Dean of Pathway Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness and Ms. Doris Driver, LATTC Employment Placement Specialist. “The encouraging, enlightening and supportive work study program Netflix designed and implemented, greatly enhanced the educational journeys of the women from our CMU Pathway who were fortunate enough to be selected. We look forward to our continued partnership!”