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Mid-City BSC Helps Entrepreneur Obtain $125K Loan to Expand Studio

Mid-City Region BusinessSource loan counselor Phong Le (left) hands local business owner Sam Rypinski (right) obtain a $125,000 SBA loan to expand Riverside Studios, LLC
The Mid-City Region BusinessSource Center recently helped longtime client Sam Rypinski obtain a $125,000 Small Business Administration (SBA) Community Advantage loan to expand Riverside Studios, LLC.

The studio has been providing services to the needs of artists, film, and photo professionals since 2014. Sam previously worked with the Mid-City BSC for assistance with a start-up loan to launch Everybody Los Angeles, a fitness center that primarily serves the LGBT community by providing them a safe place to strengthen and heal.

EWDD Launches Social Media Videos with Tour of YO Watts YouthSource

YO! Watts youth participant gets assistance with college applications
EWDD is launching a series of social media videos across its @laewdd Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. The goal of the series is to provide information about EWDD’s YouthSource, WorkSource and BusinessSource Centers, including the various services available to Angelenos.

The first video is a tour highlighting the Youth Opportunity Movement, Watts YouthSource Center in Watts (referred to as YO! Watts).

Harbor-Watts BusinessSource Helps Watts Street Vendor Launch Tamale Stand

Alexander Mendez, owner and operator of R&A's Tamales
The Harbor-Watts BusinessSource Center (BSC) provided extensive business coaching to Alexander Mendez, helping him launch R & A's Tamales, a street vending business located in Watts.

Alexander first came into contact with the Harbor Region BusinessSource on June 21, 2019 at a business outreach event in Watts. A Harbor Region BSC Business Coach noticed Alexander as he was setting up a tent and preparing to begin selling his food and beverages.

50 Youth Kick-Off Hire LA’s Youth Internships at UCLA Campus

50 Hire LA’s Youth internship participants begin their summer job at the UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) campus
More than 50 youth participants started their Hire LA’s Youth internship Monday July 8, 2019 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. Participants will work at the UCLA campus in various departments including the UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, Materials Management, Law School, School of Education and Athletics.

Hire LA's Youth is a year-round youth employment program designed to give young Angelenos ages 14-24 their first work experience and place them on a career path as lifetime earners. The program helps young adults make the transition to

EWDD Supports Launch of Summer Youth Employment Programs

(left to right) Citi Vice President Laura Peralta, HIRE LA’s Youth participant Destiny Nguyen and EWDD Interim General Manager John L Reamer Junior
Nearly 60 youth from six EWDD YouthSource Centers and two Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) partners showed up July 2, 2019 in support of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s press conference launching the 2019 Hire LA’s Youth program.

Held at the Los Angeles City College campus, youth from the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center, Brotherhood Crusade, Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), El Proyecto Del Barrio, Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) and Youth Policy Institute (YPI) attended, representing YouthSource Centers from South and Central LA, and the North Valley region.

Metro Bridge Training Academy Graduates Excited for New Careers

Seven graduates of the June 2019 LA Valley College Metro Training Academy program pose with their certification awards
Seven graduates celebrated their graduation from the Los Angeles Valley College Bus Operations Training Academy Thursday June 27, 2019.

EWDD provides funding for the 70-hour training program, which helps job seekers become bus drivers for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). For several graduates, the program represented an opportunity to start over after losing long-held jobs.

Compass Rose Collaborative Celebrates Apprenticeship Graduates

June 11, 2019 graduates of the Compass Rose Collaborative Labor Ready Apprentice Certificate training program
Approximately 19 participants from the Compass Rose Collaborative (CRC) completed six weeks of training on June 11, 2019, earning a Labor Ready Apprentice Certificate along with certificates in Multi-Craft Core (MC3), OSHA10, CPR, Forklift, Hazardous Waste Operations, and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER).

The CRC training series is currently offered at the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center. The program is geared toward youth participants between ages 18-24 who have recently been paroled or are on probation.

National Dislocated Worker Grant Ceremony Honors Creek Fire Team

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez (center) hosted a culmination ceremony honoring the 2017 Wildfires National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) clean-up crews; EWDD Interim General Manager John L. Reamer (far right) gave the keynote speech
EWDD partner Managed Career Services (MCS) held a ceremony Thursday June 20, 2019 to celebrate the culmination of the 2017 Wildfires National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) and honor the workers who restored the landscapes scorched by the Creek Fire.

The $1.12 million NDWG, awarded by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to EWDD and administered by MCS, provided paid work experience to 90 workers. Of the workers hired through the NDWG grant for the cleanup effort, 100 percent had significant barriers to employment and 75 percent had some form of previous involvement with the justice system.

East LA BusinessSource Assists Entrepreneur with Opening Guatemalan Restaurant

Sandra Hernandez with staff of her Jefferson Park restaurant, Casa de las Delicias Chapinas
The East Los Angeles BusinessSource Center provided extensive business consulting, strategic planning and one-on-one assistance to restaurateur Sandra Hernandez, helping to launch her restaurant Casa de las Delicias Chapinas.

The BusinessSource Center helped Sandra establish strong financial planning skills, obtain a retail location that passed County Health Standards, and also obtain necessary licenses and permits.

Para Los Niños Hosts Graduation for Students First to Attend College

the 71 Para Los Niños high school graduates from the Central and East YouthSource Centers at their graduation ceremony in June 2019
Para Los Niños (PLN) held a graduation ceremony Monday June 24, 2019, to celebrate 71 high school graduates from the Central and East YouthSource Centers, many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college.

The graduates were participants in PLN’s Escalera Taking Steps to Success curriculum, a two-year program designed to provide social, emotional and financial support to youth participants, giving them the keys to gain entrance to higher education.

City of LA DPW Bureau of Sanitation Welcomes Hire LA’s Youth Interns

30 Hire LA's Youth participants pose for their 2019 summer youth employment orientation picture at LADWP's Bureau of Sanitation
The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (LADWP) Bureau of Sanitation recently held an orientation welcoming this summer’s Hire LA’s Youth interns. The interns will work as assistants to various positions, shadowing engineers, office clerks, and analysts.

The Bureau of Sanitation has been a great partner of EWDD and a long-time supporter of the Hire LA’s Youth Program. They typically hire 30 interns each year.

Creek Wildfire Grant Provides Job Seeker Stability, Inspires New Career

Boris, a participant of the 2017 California Wildfires National Dislocated Worker Grant, at his work site at McGroarty Arts Center
Boris was searching for a job when he first heard about the 2017 California Wildfires National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) through the Hollywood WorkSource Center, run by EWDD partner Managed Career Solutions (MCS).

Boris had tried out different jobs after struggling through a conviction, probation, depression, substance abuse issues and rehabilitation. Boris enrolled in the NDWG Program through the Hollywood WorkSource Center.