Former foster kids, ex-prisoners join new L.A. County Training Center Fire Camp
L.A. County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath joined the county’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department and others on Thursday, March 21, to welcome the first group of men who will live in the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas.
The camp is a live-in, voluntary project that offers firefighting training and other training especially to “those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted, and veterans,” according to a prepared statement.
The program, officials said, “is a tangible example of the Board of Supervisors’ commitment to youth justice reimagined.”
Among those who gathered on Thursday was cadet Lawrence Henderson Jr., who hugged his mother Latanya Henderson after a ceremony to launch the first phase of the training center fire camp.
Director of the Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.) speaks during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cadets listen to speakers during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cadet Shawn Cooley speaks during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cadets line up during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cadets listen as Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone speaks during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition Sam Lewis speaks during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mayor of Calabasas Alicia Weintraub speaks during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
(L-R) Director of the Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.), Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone and Mayor of Calabasas Alicia Weintraub cut a ribbon
during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp on Thursday, March 21, 2024 in Calabasas. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Cadets listen to speakers during a ceremony to launch the first cohort of the Los Angeles County Training Center Fire Camp in Calabasas on Thursday, March 21, 2024. The live-in, voluntary camp provides firefighting and other training, with a priority those who are justice involved, former foster system impacted and veterans. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Speakers and other attendees included L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone; Alicia Weintraub, the mayor of Calabasas; Judge (ret.) Songhai Armstead, director of the L.A. County Justice Care and Opportunities; Sam Lewis, executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and many others.