The original project was designed by our co-founder Mr. James T. Mitchell in 1967; it was called the Labor Education Advancement Program (LEAP). LEAP was a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL) and multiple construction and building trade local union halls. The goal of LEAP was to prepare members of the African American community to pass the union entrance exams. Mr. Mitchell and the LAUL continued LEAP into the early 1980's, and they were able to help change the lives of a few thousand Black Angelinos.

 

After almost a 30-year hiatus, LEAP alumni decided to bring Mr. Mitchell out of retirement to address the dwindling number of African Americans in the trades. Since this rebirth in 2013, we have provided a pathway for our students into multiple trades: sheet metal (local 105), electricians (local 11 and 40), pipe fitters (local 250), glaziers (local ), carpenters (local 213 and 562), iron workers (local 733), operating engineers (local 12), roofer and waterproofer (local 709) and many others. With the passing of Mr. Mitchell in 2019, the organization decided a name change was fitting: The James T. Mitchell Pre-Apprenticeship Academy. We dedicate ourselves to continue the legacy of the late great James T. Mitchell, one of our unsung heroes who designed and executed an educational system to uplift Black people.

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