L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


August 15, 2022 - LA City Mayor Erik Garcetti, Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo, Councilmember Kevin De Leon, California's Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, City youth and workforce partners, and LA youth celebrate the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program
On Monday, August 15, 2022, Mayor Garcetti was joined by Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo, Councilmember Kevin De Leon, California's Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, City partners, and LA youth to celebrate the #CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps program (CA4All).

Through this program, the City of Los Angeles will receive $53 million in state funding to expand

Hani "Johnny" Mammo, owner of Caruso's Italian Kitchen, with three locations across LA City
Hani "Johnny" Mammo is the owner of Caruso's Italian Kitchen. He has three locations throughout the City of Los Angeles in Sylmar, Granada Hills, and Sunland. Caruso's Italian Kitchen was established in 1971. Hani obtained ownership 20 years ago, and since then, he has kept the business running and expanded.

Hani reached out to the North Valley BusinessSource

Debt-Free College Enrollment Fair in Boyle Heights on Friday, August 5, 2022, at the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center (BHYTC)
On Friday, August 5, 2022, the Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center and Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) teamed up with Assemblymember Miguel Santiago to host a Debt-Free College Enrollment Fair celebrating the inclusion of AB 2266 in the 2022-23 fiscal year state budget.

The AB 2266 "Free Community College For All" bill extends the

Jaquan (top row, second from left) pictured with 24 members of the 2020 Bobcat Fire restoration crew in the central San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest
Jaquan began his temporary employment experience as a Bobcat fire restoration crew member in May 2022, after struggling to find and maintain employment since the start of COVID-19. Considered one of the largest wildfires in LA County to date, the 2020 Bobcat Fire burned 115,796 acres in the central San Gabriel Mountains, in and around the Angeles National Forest.

Jaquan originally moved to California from Arkansas in search of better economic prospects.

participants from local LA businesses attend an Emancipation and Empowerment Juneteenth celebration and business workshop hosted by the Southeast LA BusinessSource Center on June 17, 2022
Following the May 31st grand opening of the Southeast Los Angeles BusinessSource Center (BSC), the center hit the ground running, hosting a variety of events to assist local businesses.

Overseen by EWDD partner Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), the Southeast LA BSC, on Friday, June 17th, the center hosted a Juneteenth celebration and workshop in partnership with Chase Bank. The ‘Emancipation and Empowerment’ event allowed attendees to

Ezekiel, LA:RISE and GRID Alternatives participant, standing in an office at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
Ezekiel is launching a new career in the solar industry – a long-time interest that he found the opportunity to pursue through the LA:RISE program.

After connecting with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) for support in his

Concepcion Nuñez, owner of Nuñez Hair Styling in Hollywood, wearing a pink peasant blouse and smiling while standing ouside her business
Concepcion Nuñez, the owner of Nuñez Hair Styling, has leased the same location for more than 10 years and never missed a rent payment. “As a child, I was taught to always pay and pay on time. The pandemic hit unexpectedly and everyone’s circumstances suddenly changed,” she said.

Concepcion was heartbroken when she had to close her business temporarily due to the City’s Safer at Home ordinance. When

Hyung Chul Kim, owner and main pâtissier of Brown Bag Cookies in the heart of Los Angeles
Hyung Chul Kim is the owner and the main pâtissier of Brown Bag Cookies, a newly established dessert shop in the heart of Los Angeles.

Graduating from a culinary school of arts and moving to LA about ten years ago, Hyung Chul always dreamt of having his own restaurant,

founder of Sno con Amor Lauda Flores holding a watermelon, one of the many natural ingredients she uses to create her artisanal Mexican paletas and snow cones
Sno con Amor founder Lauda Flores grew up in the kitchen of her mom and dad’s ice cream parlor, Los Alpes Paleteria, in Huntington Park. From the age of 8, she was making Mexican paletas (popsicles), sno cones, and homemade ice cream with unique flavor innovations.

At the time of joining the SEE-LA Seasoned Accelerator program, Lauda didn’t have a clear vision of

owner of Casa de Decor Cristina Salcedo (center, white shirt) with her home staging team
Cristina Salcedo, owner of Casa de Decor, received a $5,000 Comeback Checks grant that helped her cover COVID-19 related expenses during the Safer at Home ordinances. EWDD partner ICON CDC, operator of the North and South Valley BusinessSource Centers, offered her guidance on her application.

For six years, Cristina’s business has offered interior design and home staging services. With a

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