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L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


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

Featured speakers at the LARCA Program Extension Press Conference on June 28, 2023, included EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull (center), LA City Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez (far left) and Tim McOsker (far right), and Claudia Valle (fourth from right), Program Director of Healing Urban Barrios
EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull recently joined Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Tim McOsker to announce the one-year extension of the Gang Injunction Curfew Settlement, along with a renewed push to identify and connect class members to services and benefits.

“The extension of this program provides an opportunity for

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