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L.A. stories of inspiration and success

L.A. stories of inspiration and success


Watts YouthSource Youth Council members work with staffers from Council District 15 to make their December 2023 Winter Wonderland event a success for local families
On December 8, 2023, in partnership with Council District 15, students of the YO! Watts YouthSource Center (YSC) volunteered in the Watts community to make the annual Winter Wonderland event a success. Councilmember Tim McOsker’s Office asked the

The City of Los Angeles Public Works department hosted a successful Career Fair on November 2, 2023, specifically targeting job seekers looking for pathways to City employment
On November 2, 2023, the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works hosted its 4th Public Works Career Fair at the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center. Over 800 job seekers attended to learn how to apply and gain information about the City and other job employment opportunities.

Two of EWDD's WorkSource Centers,

Bijal Desai-Ramirez, founder of Masalawali, a chai shop and collective liberation space that reclaims and decolonizes South Asian traditions
This past summer, Grid110 wrapped up their 6-week ‘Idea to Launch’ Bootcamp, the nonprofit startup incubator’s latest initiative to support underrepresented startups and small business founders in Los Angeles. The bootcamp consisted of 6 weeks of intensive self-directed work and weekly live sessions, including mentorship, accountability, and

BusinessSource Center reps ready to assist local business owners negatively impacted by the I-10 freeway fire
On November 20-21, 2023, the City of Los Angeles partnered with government agencies and community-based organizations to provide resources, assistance, and services to businesses suffering from economic hardships from the 10 freeway closure. EWDD's Southeast, East, and Hollywood BusinessSource Centers (BSC) were in attendance on both days to provide in-person resources

attendees pose at the entrance to the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Summit hosted by the YO! Watts YouthSource Center
On October 7, 2023, the YO! Watts YouthSource Center (YSC) hosted the 2023 Women’s Empowerment Summit. The summit aimed to provide an enriching and inspiring experience and to expose 30 young girls from Watts to a diverse range of career opportunities. The summit featured panels and discussions with experts in various fields, including

Graduates of the 2023 fall HireLAX Construction Career Training Program pose with their City of Los Angeles completion certificates at the cohort culmination ceremony on October 20, 2023
The Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center (WSC), managed by EWDD’s partner Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), excitedly shared that 12 of their participants became HireLAX Construction Career Training Program graduates on October 20, 2023. The participants successfully completed the 8-week HireLAX training program that included

Mayor Bass at a "Fireside Chat" alongside entrepreneur Tracee Ellis Ross and BMO Vice Chair Eric Smith at the October 2023 LA Small Business Financial Empowerment Summit
On October 28, 2023, EWDD partnered with BMO Bank to host the LA Business & Financial Empowerment Summit, held at BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. With over 1,000 attendees, the summit connected over

an attendee of the October 2023 East & Central Regional Connect L.A. Job Fair gets employment information from a County of LA staffer
EWDD’s Workforce Development System has made progress in increasing employment activities to revitalize the economy post-pandemic. The Workforce Development System noticed the difficulties employers are experiencing in finding the right candidate to meet the needs of their businesses. To support them and job applicants, EWDD has been leading

The JEDI Zone Team, with EWDD Executives and CD15 Councilman Tim McOsker, toured businesses in South LA; (pictured left to right) Rosa Penaloza- EWDD Assistant Chief Grants Administrator, Kwesi Hanciles- EWDD JEDI Zone Coordinator, CD15 Councilman Tim McOsker, and Alvaro Correa, owner of L.A. Waterfront Pizza in Wilmington
On September 28, 2023, EWDD along with Councilmember Tim McOsker, took a tour of the JEDI Zones in CD15, which consists of the Wilmington and Watts communities. On this walk through the neighborhoods, the team spoke with businesses such as Watts Cyclery, Orangebag, L.A. Waterfront Pizza and Original Richard to inform the business owners about the resources available through the

On September 29, 2023, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) held a soft opening for the 6,000-square-foot Tresa McCoy Regional Training Center, designed to usher in a new era of hands-on employment and skills education programs
On September 29, 2023, EWDD’s partner, Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), held a soft opening for the Tresa McCoy Regional Training Center, named after retired Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. The 6,000-square-foot training facility was designed to usher in a new era of hands-on education for training in