Columbia Urban League’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program
2024 Application is now closed!
The Columbia Urban League’s Pre-Apprenticeships (CULPA) program provides opportunities to earn certifications, through apprenticeships, for underserved youth and young adults ages 17 and older. A pre-apprenticeship is a program or set of services designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship program. CULPA follows a four-week schedule that identifies wrap-around support, career readiness, soft skills training, and technical skills training. Participants will earn an Essential Skills Certificate from Midlands Technical College after completing the program. Our primary focus areas are Advanced Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology. We also have several service and customer service positions available.
To be eligible to participate in the program, interested youth and young adults (ages 17 – Older) must complete a CULPA application.
The application requires personal information and prior work experience, a reflection stating the applicant’s skills and most outstanding achievements, and a photocopy of formal identification.
- Please download, complete, and save the application.
- Submit this form and all supporting documents to culpa@culsc.org
- Copy of some form of identification that shows proof of age or
- date of birth (i.e. Medicaid Card, Driver’s License, Birth Certificate, etc.).
For more information, contact rlabrew@culsc.org.
PROGRAM ORGANIZATION
- CULPA is a four-week program.
- Participants work twenty hours per week.
- Participants must participate in Essential Skills Training before receiving assignments.
- Parents are required to attend orientation sessions if participants are under the age of 18.
- Participants are required to participate in in Coaching Sessions bi-weekly during work assignments (Dates will be provided at orientation).
Essential Skills Training is Weekly beginning Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Benedict Community Business Center at 2601 Read Street, Columbia, SC 29204.
- Participants must complete work assignments in person (Monday-Friday) beginning June 10-July 12) (Will be provided during work experience orientation)
- Participants must wear professional business attire during scheduled ‘Business Professionals’ sessions.
- Participants earn a bi-weekly $300 stipend upon completing a four-week work assignment and receipt of required documentation.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide career shadowing to introduce participants to Registered Apprenticeships and/or employment opportunities.
- To mentor participants to increase their business etiquette and work ethics knowledge.
- To offer structured environments to help build participants’ self-esteem.
- To encourage networking opportunities for exposure to different career fields.
- To develop and sustain a competitive workforce of youth in South Carolina.
**Although we desire to serve all eligible applicants, the number of students served by this program is contingent upon the funding we receive.
