Under fluorescent shop lights, Mustafa, a current student in the Vehicles for Change (VFC) program, works through a brake system, learning how every component must function together to keep a vehicle safe and in control.
Midway through his 10-week course, he’s discovering the same is true of his own path.
“They teach you more than just being under the hood,” he said. “It’s not only about the cars – they teach you how to get ready for a job and keep the job.”
Vehicles for Change is a San Diego–based nonprofit that provides workforce training and wraparound support for justice-impacted individuals pursuing careers in the automotive industry.
That means showing up on time, communicating clearly, working as part of a team, and building confidence. Alongside technical instruction, students develop social-emotional and professional skills to succeed and build a career.
Mustafa is motivated by what drives him forward.
“One day I want to own my own car dealership,” he said. “I’ll need to know about what I’m selling.”
A Model that Works
For VFC Executive Director Ivan Corona, the program is built on high standards and steady support. At its National City training facility south of downtown San Diego, students move between classroom instruction and hands-on shop work each day, applying theory in real time.
“We don’t like to teach people just to turn a wrench,” he said. “We focus on the whole person and all that is needed to thrive in the automotive industry.”
That focus extends well beyond the 10-week training. Graduates remain connected to mentors and staff, reinforcing accountability and building stability long after they leave the shop floor.
Since launching in 2023, VFC has quickly gained traction across the region. A recipient of multiple grants from San Diego Foundation, the nonprofit is already showing measurable impact: a 0% recidivism rate among graduates and an 80% pass rate on Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams – a nationally recognized credential that signals industry readiness.
“Ten weeks can change somebody’s life. People are thriving,” he said. “They’re going into careers now, not just jobs.”
VFC operates as a registered apprenticeship program with the U.S. Department of Labor and the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards – a designation that reflects the rigor of its curriculum and the expertise of its instructors.
Employers are taking notice. Local businesses regularly reach out seeking qualified mechanics – a reflection of both the strength of the training and the reliability of the graduates.
The investment by SDF, part of its Workplace Development initiative, has supported the growth of a model designed not only to train technicians but to create lasting stability for people impacted by the justice system.
From Student to Staff
Phil Murphy understands the journey because he has lived it.
Now a Case Manager at VFC, Murphy once sat in the same classroom as the students he mentors today. As a former participant, he knows the discipline, vulnerability and commitment the training demands, and the confidence it can build.
“This situation has changed my life,” he said. “It taught me that I am valuable.”
That lived experience shapes how he supports each new cohort.
“We stay with them their whole entire journey,” Murphy said. “If they’re having any stumbling blocks, we’ll always be there.”
