The SoLa Foundation

Happy Thanksgiving from the SoLa Foundation! As we reflect on the past few years, we are deeply grateful for the incredible community that inspires and uplifts us every day. Our SoLa Scholars continue to amaze us with their ambition and drive, fueling our passion for creating meaningful pathways to success. Parents have shown unwavering belief in our mission, offering constant support that strengthens our efforts. The dedication of our team has been instrumental in advancing career development and expanding access to education for our youth. Partners, volunteers, and supporters have shared our vision and commitment, making it possible to uplift the South LA community in transformative ways. This journey wouldn’t be possible without each of you. We are thankful for your contributions and wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love and gratitude. #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #SouthLA #SoLaFoundation #CommunityImpact

Thank you, Los Angeles Sentinel, for featuring our impactful work at the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center powered by Riot Games and beyond! This article not only highlights our marquee programs and the accomplishments of our SoLa Scholars but also provides a glimpse into the promising future of the SoLa Foundation: -Our 2nd Tech Center coming to the heart of Crenshaw: The SoLa Tech & Entertainment Center powered by Live Nation Entertainment -The SoLa Material Science & Innovation Lab powered by the Howmet Aerospace Foundation – the newest addition to our Tech Center -The Product Innovation & Material Science Fellowship -The Chris Conley Film Fellowship We’re proud to continue investing in South LA’s future by providing programs to support the next generation of innovators and creatives. Stay tuned for more updates and learn more by reading the article here: https://lnkd.in/g579HRNu #SoLaTech #Innovation #STEMEducation #CommunityImpact #SoLaScholars

I’ve rarely been prouder than when attending the first Model/Z vocational training graduation. This was our very first cohort of 11 young men, all of whom have faced many challenges in life. All live in the surrounding community. Three of the participants had learning challenges and were on the autism spectrum, while two had experienced significant periods of homelessness. With the support of The SoLa Foundation, WLCAC, Behr Paint Company, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and California Community Foundation (CCF), we launched our pilot vocational training program, which provided each participant with two weeks of technical training followed by several weeks of on-the-job training on the Model/Z assembly line. Each of them earned their OSHA-10 certification, which is portable to other jobs. Francisco Zepeda, who led the program, and Victor Guerra, the lead instructor, put in countless hours of preparation and mentorship with the first class. The families of these 11 individuals attended the graduation, beaming with pride and happiness. We are still in the early stages of developing an extensive vocational training program, but we’re learning quickly and iterating rapidly. Vocational education is a critical component of long term community impact. Much more to come…stay tuned. #SocialImpact #SouthLA #WorkforceDevelopment #OSHA

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of the SoLa Material Science & Engineering Lab, powered by the Howmet Aerospace Foundation! ?? This new lab at the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center powered by Riot Games is fully equipped to train the next generation of engineers and product innovators. With cutting-edge 3D modeling stations, sewing machines, woodworking tools, laser cutting technology, electronics and more, this space brings groundbreaking STEM programs to SoLa. Through collaboration with students from USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy, we’ve developed an inspiring curriculum for our SoLa scholars: the Product Innovation & Materials Science (PIMS) Fellowship. A heartfelt thank you to Vagner Finelli from Howmet, Jimmy Iovine, Andrew Dr. “Dre” Young, Dean Thanassis Rikakis, Jen and Nico Bossi, Jennifer L., Malcolm Jones, Shawn Jackson, Kia McCormick, Ayonnah Tinsley, and USC IYA students for making this vision a reality. Sign up for the PIMS Fellowship and learn more about the upcoming workshops at the lab here: https://lnkd.in/g9FYH3SY

Thank you to all of the students who participated in our first-ever Hackathon powered by Microsoft ????????? We had a great time learning about AI's capabilities and how we could use it to find solutions to some of our community's biggest problems. From food deserts to affordable housing, our students took on the challenge of using AI. We were also proud to honor the team with the most impressive project with medals and gift cards. We’d like to extend our thanks to. We’d like to extend our thanks to Raymond Nassar, Linda Nguyen, Samantha Huerta, and the Microsoft volunteers for making this event possible. ? If you missed this event, don't worry; we'll have plenty of upcoming workshops and events. Keep?your post notifications on or subscribe to our email list by clicking here: https://lnkd.in/gqSrqu8S ??

Applications are NOW OPEN for the fourth annual cohort of the Live Nation Next Gen program! We’ve teamed up with Live Nation Entertainment to launch a program that empowers the next generation of aspiring Black and brown young adults eager to break into the live entertainment industry. Now in its 4th year, we will recruit 20 talented SoLa Scholars (ages 16-22) to embark on a 6-month career development pathway that gives them hands-on experience in merchandising, ticketing, marketing, event production, artist, and talent management. In addition, SoLa Scholars will gain invaluable insights and skills from immersive field trips, mentorship from Live Nation professionals, and guest speaker engagements. For their final project, participants also collaborate to produce their own culminating community event which is hosted at the SoLa Beehive at the end of the program! We’re grateful for Live Nation’s commitment to fostering pathways into the industry, and we can’t wait to welcome the 2025 cohort! Learn more & apply here: https://lnkd.in/g5a_XVGp #LiveEntertainment #SoLaImpact #LiveMusic #LiveNation

We’ve teamed up with Target to empower South LA’s entrepreneurs and small business owners! We are excited to be the first non-profit in the nation to bring Target’s exclusive Forward Founders Business Accelerator program to South LA. This incredible initiative provides local business owners with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need to scale their businesses and prepare their products for retail success. So far, 12 Founders have completed the program and 6 founders have been selected to receive 8 weeks of mentorship from Target Forward founder leaders. Participants will also have the chance to compete in the Pitch Forward Competition on December 10th with prizes up to $30k towards their business. Too often we see small businesses based in underinvested communities face significant barriers to growth, and sustainability due to limited access to resources, mentorship, and capital. This is why partnerships like the one between the SoLa Foundation and Target are critical–they provide the support entrepreneurs need to thrive, creating lasting economic impact in their communities.? We extend our gratitude to the Target team for their commitment to uplifting underrepresented entrepreneurs and small businesses. #SmallBusiness #SupportSmallBusinesses #Target

AI has arrived at the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center! We're teaming up with Microsoft, to bring an exciting Hack-ai-thon event to our SoLa Scholars. This event provides a remarkable chance for students to engage with tech industry leaders, acquire valuable knowledge, and benefit from mentorship that has the potential to influence their future careers. Know a student who would be excited about this event? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gEGzFiWF

?? Reminder: Early voting is NOW OPEN ??? Whether you're planning to vote in person or drop off your mail-in ballot, don’t wait! Now is the time to make your voice heard. ???? Find the open in-person polling places and mail-in ballot drop-off locations nearest you at caearlyvoting.sos.ca.gov #VoteEarly #MakeYourVoiceHeard #2024Election #SoLaImpact

The incredible work of our SoLa scholars, in collaboration with SELF-HELP GRAPHICS AND ART, INC., has a new home at Magic Johnson Park! ?? As part of an AR fellowship, our talented scholars teamed up with local artists to bring "Sinks: Places We Call Home" to life through augmented reality. This project not only celebrates the rich history of the land surrounding the park but also envisions a future filled with sustainable and safe green spaces for the South LA community. ??? The installation has been unveiled and is now open for all to experience. Congratulations to our SoLa scholars Mia C. (14), Kianni H. (15), and Darin G. (14) for their outstanding contributions! ?? #CommunityImpact #SoLaScholars #AugmentedReality #SouthLA #MagicJohnsonPark