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L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


Emiliana Lopez, mother of La Placita Market owner Ricardo Lopez, proudly shows off healthy food offerings at their Pico-Union community market
EWDD provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to the Los Angeles Food Policy Council (LAFPC), which spearheads the Healthy Neighborhood Market Network (HNMN). The program improves the healthy food offerings of corner stores in Los Angeles by transforming corner markets and liquor stores into convenient and healthy food retail options for residents in food deserts.

La Placita Market is a

Stock image of a group counseling session comprised of young adults
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) recently recognized EWDD’s YouthSource Peer-to-Peer Counseling Program, which will train youth to provide mental health support to youth ages 18-24. The program, which will be launched later this year, is designed to create a pipeline for youth to pursue careers in mental health services. An excerpt of the article, which explains how the program works, is included below.

CLASP’s mental health work has consistently shown that

LA City Councilmember Tim McOsker of CD 15 at the Job Resource Fair featured in Juneteenth 400’s annual Juneteenth Celebration (pictured above center with EWDD staff members Aron Thompson and Elisa Lam on the left and Harbor Gateway WSC staff Peter Phou and Jennifer Angeles Weyh on the right)
In an effort to continue to support employers and job seekers post-COVID, EWDD has been coordinating with its workforce development system providers (WorkSource, YouthSource, and BusinessSource Centers) to host job fairs and hiring events throughout the city of Los Angeles. These job fairs have created opportunities for employers to gain access to qualified candidates and for job seekers to find work.

In partnership with Juneteenth 400, a nonprofit organization that

The forty-two graduates of the first Spanish language Entrepreneur Training Program led by ICON CDC, operator of the North and South Valley BusinessSource Centers
Forty-two students recently graduated from the first Spanish Entrepreneur Training Program led by ICON CDC, operator of the North and South Valley BusinessSource Centers.

Over the course of eight weeks, entrepreneurs learn

Salvador Medina, owner of Medina Truck and Transport, obtained access to capital through the South Valley BusinessSource Center to purchase a state-of-the-art 2023 Peterbilt 579 Electrical Vehicle (EV)
The South Valley BusinessSource Center recently helped Salvador Medina, owner of Medina Truck and Transport, obtain access to capital to purchase a state-of-the-art 2023 Peterbilt 579 Electrical Vehicle (EV). This new EV truck will reduce the company's carbon footprint and improve its overall efficiency, leading to significant long-term cost savings and increasing the possibility of hiring an additional driver.

“Thanks to

Nicole Petrou and Jesse Gomez, co-owners of Raven’s Nest Tattoo in Highland Park, expanded from a startup studio to an established boutique space where they can develop apprenticeships for new artists
The Pico-Union/Westlake BusinessSource Center (BSC) helped Nicole Petrou and Jesse Gomez, co-owners of Raven’s Nest Tattoo in Highland Park, expand from a startup studio to an established boutique space where they can onboard and develop apprenticeships for new tattoo artists.

The BSC

LA:RISE participant Deshanae was on the brink of homelessness, now she is employed full-time with a local non-profit organization
An LA:RISE Success Story

Manuel was at-risk of experiencing homelessness when he connected with LA:RISE. Through the program, Manuel, 22, entered a 13-week hands-on training program with GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles and is now poised for a career in the solar industry.

"My past few months with GRID has been

LA:RISE participant Deshanae was on the brink of homelessness, now she is employed full-time with a local non-profit organization
An LA:RISE Success Story

Before joining LA:RISE, Deshanae struggled with finding and keeping a job, leading her to the brink of homelessness. Today, she is employed full-time as a transportation coordinator at the social enterprise New Earth.

"The benefits of being connected to a program like LA:RISE made me want

Dominique Burrell, owner of Blacker the Berry Juicery in Inglewood
A dozen food trucks that received business assistance from the City's BusinessSource Centers and Incubators were also present at the LA Region Small Business Summit, offering flavorful goods ranging from fresh fruit smoothies to DIY ramen kits and soul food.

One of the food trucks was operated by Dominique Burrell, owner of

Los Angeles City Mayor Karen Bass (center) and EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull (second from left) at the 2023 L.A. Regional Small Business Summit on May 3, 2023
More than 3,000 small business owners attended the first ever LA Region Small Business Summit, held May 3rd at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) in South LA. Outside the LATTC Culinary Arts Hall, dozens of booths were set up, offering resources to small businesses. The aisles were crowded shoulder to shoulder, filled with entrepreneurs browsing the booths.

Inside the venue, Mayor Karen Bass addressed

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