L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


attendees pose at the entrance to the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Summit hosted by the YO! Watts YouthSource Center
On October 7, 2023, the YO! Watts YouthSource Center (YSC) hosted the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Summit. The summit aimed to provide an enriching and inspiring experience and to expose 30 young girls from Watts to a diverse range of career opportunities. The summit featured panels and discussions with experts in various fields, including

Graduates of the 2023 fall HireLAX Construction Career Training Program pose with their City of Los Angeles completion certificates at the cohort culmination ceremony on October 20, 2023
The Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center (WSC), managed by EWDD’s partner Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), excitedly shared that 12 of their participants became HireLAX Construction Career Training Program graduates on October 20, 2023. The participants successfully completed the 8-week HireLAX training program that included

Mayor Bass at a "Fireside Chat" alongside entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross and BMO Vice Chair Eric Smith at the October 2023 LA Small Business Financial Empowerment Summit
On October 28, 2023, EWDD partnered with BMO Bank to host the LA Business & Financial Empowerment Summit, held at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. With over 1,000 attendees, the summit connected over

an attendee of the October 2023 East & Central Regional Connect L.A. Job Fair gets employment information from a County of LA staffer
EWDD’s Workforce Development System has made progress in increasing employment activities to revitalize the economy post-pandemic. The Workforce Development System noticed the difficulties employers are experiencing in finding the right candidate to meet the needs of their businesses. To support them and job applicants, EWDD has been leading

The JEDI Zone Team, with EWDD Executives and CD15 Councilman Tim McOsker, toured businesses in South LA; (pictured left to right) Rosa Penaloza- EWDD Assistant Chief Grants Administrator, Kwesi Hanciles- EWDD JEDI Zone Coordinator, CD15 Councilman Tim McOsker, and Alvaro Correa, owner of L.A. Waterfront Pizza in Wilmington
On September 28, 2023, EWDD along with Councilmember Tim McOsker, took a tour of the JEDI Zones in CD15, which consists of the Wilmington and Watts communities. On this walk through the neighborhoods, the team spoke with businesses such as Watts Cyclery, Orangebag, L.A. Waterfront Pizza and Original Richard to inform the business owners about the resources available through the

On September 29, 2023, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) held a soft opening for the 6,000-square-foot Tresa McCoy Regional Training Center, designed to usher in a new era of hands-on employment and skills education programs
On September 29, 2023, EWDD’s partner, Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), held a soft opening for the Tresa McCoy Regional Training Center, named after retired Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. The 6,000-square-foot training facility was designed to usher in a new era of hands-on education for training in

Joshua Molina, pictured here, was able to re-enter the workforce with assistance from the LA:RISE Program
Former gang member Joshua Molina served 14 years of incarceration. After his parole, Molina was at risk of experiencing homelessness. However, with assistance from the LA:RISE program and EWDD’s WorkSource Center partner Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), Joshua was able to re-enter the workforce.

Through the guidance of

August 26, 2023 - LA County’s Film Office, LA City and other regional and local partners hosted a Resource Fair at the History for Hire Prop House for actors, writers, performers, workers and small businesses impacted by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes
On August 26, 2023, LA County’s Film Office, LA City and other regional and local partners hosted a Resource Fair at the History for Hire Prop House for actors, writers, performers, workers and small businesses impacted by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes. At this event, attendees got help connecting with and signing up for services such as

Lenchita's restaurant in Pacoima celebrated a grand reopening after receiving access to capital through the JEDI program and the Northa Valley BusinessSource Center (ICON CDC) for improvements to their existing restaurant
The City of Los Angeles Jobs and Economic Development Incentive Zones (JEDI) Program provides economic development incentives for underserved areas that experience persistent unemployment and underemployment, low and moderate household income earnings, and neighborhood instability.

The program aims to

August 10, 2023 - Watts BusinessSource Center grand opening; CD15 Councilmember Tim McOsker (second from left), LA City Mayor Karen Bass (third from left), and EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull (center)
In a collaboration between EWDD and Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation (VSEDC), the Watts BusinessSource Center (BSC) doors officially opened on August 10, 2023, at the Children’s Institute building in the Watts community.

The Watts BSC will provide

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