Community-Based Learning

70 Powell Library Building 163504 Campus

Phone 310 206-5130 Fax 310 206-1455

The UCLA Community Based Learning Program (CBL) is part of the Office of Instructional Development at the University of California, Los Angeles. CBL was founded as a vehicle to bring the resources of the university, especially its faculty and students, to the under-served communities of Los Angeles. The mission of CBL is to assist youth, both teen-agers and young adults, with the transition from youth to adulthood. This includes encouraging youth to move from secondary to post-secondary education and on to meaningful careers and productive adult lives. For the past 15 years, the program has worked with partners in the community, including schools, religious institutions and community based organizations, to provide youth development activities, job training and educational services to young people throughout the City of Los Angeles. Historically, CBL has been engaged in communities of color with young people who have limited education and work experience. An important objective of the program is to introduce young people to cultural, educational and work experiences that take them outside their immediate communities.

The target population for all of CBL projects is youth up to 21 years old. The focus is middle and high school aged young people, many of which are still in school, but have been identified as at risk of dropping out. The program also serves young adults just past high school age who have histories of joblessness and educational challenges. In addition, all of the project participants come from economically disadvantaged homes.  

The primary project is the Workforce Investment Act Youth Opportunities program whose funds are administered by the City of Los Angeles. UCLA CBL is the lead agency in two of the City’s seven planning areas and is members of six collaborative partnerships. Staffs located in communities throughout the City and have strong ties to locally based agencies. Program services include the following:
       

Basic skills remediation
Work readiness training
Work experience, internships and job placement
Job coaching
Youth and leadership development
Mentoring
Preparation for post-secondary education and training.

In addition, CBL is providing tutoring and college preparation services to Los Angeles and Belmont High Schools as part of their 21st Century Afterschool Learning Programs. 

The latest endeavor has been the development of a Multi-media curriculum and training for teachers in the program. The project is a joint effort between LAUSD, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc., and UCLA CBL. LAUSD Adult Division has recently adopted the curriculum.