Our Mission

In communities throughout the California 55th Assembly District, individuals continually seek opportunities to ensure the well-being of their families. The demand for “middle-skills” jobs, which necessitate more education and training than a high school diploma but fall short of a four-year college degree, remains robust. However, a concerning disparity has emerged as the availability of skilled workers has failed to keep pace with this demand. Each year, millions of skilled trade positions remain vacant, even as millions of individuals experience unemployment or underemployment.

Economists now assert that the most elusive workforce is not composed of computer engineers, but rather middle-skilled professionals like carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders, and cement masons. Bridging this skills gap is contingent on effective training, with apprenticeships offering a transformative path to becoming skilled workers, a gateway to improved earning potential and overall quality of life for workers and their families. Simultaneously, for employers, investing in hiring skilled workers translates to a valuable enhancement of their workforce, heightened business productivity, and long-term success.

In 2019, Hammer Hunger officially established itself as a nonprofit organization, guided by the vision of directly addressing the demand for specific trade skills among workers. Collaboratively, we join forces with individual employers, community labor organizations, community colleges, and local labor unions. Together, we endeavor to ensure equitable access to accredited apprenticeship programs and credentials for careers in high-demand sectors, with a particular focus on the construction and utility industry. This commitment extends to communities facing structural or systemic barriers to participation, including low-income workers and at-risk youth.

Presently, our support network encompasses donors and volunteers from diverse backgrounds, all united by a common concern for their neighbors in need. While we acknowledge the value of immediate assistance, we firmly believe that the enduring impact lies in empowering individuals with the skills they need to secure their own livelihoods for a lifetime.