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L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


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

LA:RISE participant Christopher completed 300 hours of job and skills training which resulted in a full-time, stable job offer with a competitive salary from a local security company
Before joining LA:RISE, Christopher struggled to find employment after his job was eliminated due to the pandemic. Since Christopher had no immediate family living in Los Angeles and his funds were running low, he moved in with friends and former co-workers. This living arrangement worked fine until his girlfriend found out she was pregnant. Not comfortable with his pregnant girlfriend living in what he felt was a

The 70 entrepreneurs who successfully completed the second Spanish language Entrepreneurship Training Program by ICON CDC show off their completion certificates
On July 27, 2023, at the Panorama City Mall, EWDD’s BusinessSource partner ICON CDC held a graduation for 70 entrepreneurs who successfully completed the second Entrepreneurship Training Program (ETP).

ICON’s Entrepreneurship Training Program, which is tailored specifically for fluent Spanish-speaking individuals, is an 8-week initiative designed to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to launch a successful

EWDD staff fill a section of Dodger stadium on July 25, 2023, for a department wide team building event
With new team members joining the department and in an effort to initiate more team-building, EWDD's leadership team sponsored its first EWDD Dodgers Night! Over 90 team members attended the Dodgers vs. the Toronto Blue Jays game held at Dodgers Stadium on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. EWDD staffers

LAX Pups handlers visit the Watts YouthSource Center to teach the youth participants about the benefits of dog therapy
Last Friday, July 14, 2023, the Southeast YouthSource Center (YoWatts YSC) was honored to welcome LAX Pups, an LAX Airport Guest Services therapy dog program designed to provide stress relief and comfort at one of the

a LADWP representative shows a job seeker at the Central-Downtown LA Regional Connect-LA Job Fair how to apply for jobs through their app
More than 120 job seekers braved a scorching hot day to attend the Central/Downtown Los Angeles Regional Connect-LA Job Fair on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Held in the Culinary Arts Building at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) campus, 64 employers and 15 resource providers filled

five of the 2023 participants in the LA River Rangers program through the LA Conservation Corps, including Genesis (far left) and Jennifer (second from left)

In collaboration with L.A. Conservation Corps, EWDD is seeking to hire 127 young Angelenos through the Hire LA’s Youth program to become L.A. River Rangers. The program, managed by the Corps, offers 18 to 30 year olds 12 months of full-time employment, providing critical maintenance and operation services

LARCA Participant Alfredo at the Watts Los Angeles WorkSource Center
Alfredo is an active Los Angeles Reconnections Career Academy 2.0 (LARCA) member through the Watts Los Angeles WorkSource Center, operated by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA). The program, administered by EWDD, allows class members to take advantage of job training services that prepare them to enter the workforce, such as vocational training or apprenticeship programs that connect them with employment in high-demand industries. In addition, LARCA provides free access to entrepreneurial and business services at the City’s BusinessSource Centers.

Prior to participating in the LARCA program,

LARCA Participant Sergio at the Watts Los Angeles WorkSource Center
Sergio grew up in the Mar Vista Gardens housing community and was impacted by the Gang Injunction Curfew Settlement. He used his benefits to invest in his education and earn several degrees. Here is his story in his own words.

“With the support of Watts Los Angeles WorkSource Center and the invaluable services offered by the Los Angeles Reconnections Career Academy 2.0 (LARCA), I embarked on