[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

As a grantee of LA2050, we at Kaimore are proud to share the outcomes and impact of our Market Ready Program, which empowers Opportunity Youth to secure stable employment, launch meaningful side hustles, and build long-term financial and personal stability. Over the past year, we have witnessed profound transformations in the lives of the youth we serve, and we are honored to highlight both quantitative outcomes and the personal stories that bring our work to life.

Opportunity Youth, youth aged 16-24 who are foster, justice-involved, or experiencing homelessness, face severe economic and educational barriers. In California, only 20% of transition-age foster youth receive essential federal employment or vocational training, leaving nearly half unemployed and economically vulnerable (Annie E. Casey Foundation). Similarly, justice-involved youth face high recidivism rates due to limited education and job skills, with more than half lacking a high school diploma upon system exit. Homeless youth contend with school instability, high dropout rates, and ongoing housing insecurity. In Los Angeles, where housing costs are at historic highs and youth homelessness continues to rise, these barriers are particularly acute. Without intervention, many young people have limited pathways to economic independence and the security of sleeping in their own home each night.

Kaimore’s Market Ready Program addresses these challenges by providing Opportunity Youth with essential skills and resources to secure stable employment and simultaneously create a secondary income stream through meaningful side hustles. Our program combines job readiness training, entrepreneurial internships, masterclasses, and one-on-one coaching, creating a holistic ecosystem that equips youth for both immediate career entry and long-term financial stability.

This year, 342 youth participated in Market Ready. Our participants reflect the diversity and resilience of Los Angeles: 100% of recent participants were from BIPOC backgrounds, aligning with LA2050’s focus on equity. 15% of participants are in transitional housing; 69% were unemployed prior to entering the program. 53% received public assistance (SNAP, CalWORKS, Medi-Cal). 7.6% have a foster system background. Our structured curriculum ensures measurable growth across career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy: Career Readiness: 100% of participants took career-related steps post-program, including resume updates, mentoring, and interviews. Workshop Impact: 94–96% rated workshops as relevant and helpful to their financial goals. Financial Confidence: 87% reported increased confidence managing finances. 80% showed measurable improvement in our Business 101 class, (20% major, 60% moderate), with up to 44% increase in comprehension. 100% participation in Career Exploration; pre/post comprehension improved by 12-33%. Our program also engages alumni and volunteers, further extending our reach and impact: 14 volunteers contributed in various capacities, including marketing, peer mentorship, and program tasks. Alumni participation included two Market Ready interns and six UCLA BAFA students serving as peer mentors. Eight volunteers from Financial Institutions contributed specialized financial expertise.

We recognize that each participant arrives with unique circumstances: some are unhoused, others face unstable households, while some come from supportive low-income families.

Engagement and access vary widely, with differing levels of parental support and logistical challenges. In response, we developed a hybrid program model: All materials are available online. Additional support includes transportation stipends, Uber rides, and multiple workshop locations for easier access. Programming accommodates varied learning modalities, ensuring participants can fully comprehend material and graduate successfully. Mentorship and peer connections are central to our approach: Peer-to-Peer Learning: Career exploration days, internships, workshops, and Pitch Days foster collaboration, inspiration, and networking. Mentorship: Participants are paired with trained mentors aligned by goals, expertise, and personality, using Kaimore’s Youth Adversity and Resilience Assessment (YARA) to tailor support. These relationships leverage the science of neuroplasticity: repeated positive interactions with caring, non-parental adults build emotional resilience, confidence, and long-term success.This year, we expanded partnerships to increase program reach and quality with Wrigley Coffee, Covenant House, Door of Hope, LAUSD’s Alfonso B. Perez CTC, and LAUSD. These partnerships exemplify the LA2050 vision of cross-sector collaboration, ensuring youth access to actionable skills and opportunities.

Over the past year:

● 67 individuals secured full-time jobs.

● 39 pre-launch entrepreneurs received coaching.

● 18 new jobs were created.

● Three idea-stage entrepreneurs were supported.

● 79% of clients improved their economic standing.

● 76% maintained employment for 6+ months, with a 42% average increase in savings.

Success continues to be measured by: employment and retention rates, engagement in masterclasses, side hustle launches, permanent housing, and wellness across eight dimensions of life.

Through Market Ready, we have seen first-hand that every young person possesses the internal tools to succeed. With mentorship, resources, and community support, they can transform hardship into opportunity, uncertainty into stability, and dreams into tangible impact. Here are some stories to share:

Anita

Anita’s journey embodies the transformative power of the Market Ready Program. Once an orphan, married at 17, and raising four children under extraordinary circumstances, Anita was left to rebuild her life alone.

In early 2024, Anita discovered Kaimore. She reflected, “It felt like a door opening. For the first time, I could see a path forward that was mine.” She joined Market Ready, learning business fundamentals and building a side hustle.

“The first day I set up the stand, I was terrified. But every smile from a customer, every sale—it reminded me that I was capable of creating something from nothing.”

Anita went on to win first place at Pitch Day, using prize funds to expand her shaved ice business. She also secured full-time employment as a teacher’s aide, achieving stable income and housing for her family.

“Kaimore gave me more than business skills—they gave me a family,” Anita said. “They made me feel seen, heard, and capable. I finally have stability, and my kids get to see what’s possible when you don’t give up.”

Daye

Since winning Pitch Day last year, Daye has pursued music education and professional internships, working toward establishing his own business as a music producer. While building financial stability and seeking independent housing, Daye has also embraced a leadership role as a peer mentor, guiding current participants in their entrepreneurial and career journeys.

“Mentoring others reminds me that growth is a process. Kaimore helped me start, but I’m learning how to keep going and build something lasting.”

Chizu Ukachi-Nwata

Chizu, a recent Pitch Day winner, is refining his animation projects with the goal of starting a production company that uplifts Black and queer voices. With stable employment supporting his creative pursuits, Chizu is actively working toward permanent housing while developing his side hustle.

“Kaimore helped me see that my story—and the stories I want to tell—have power. Now I’m working to turn that vision into something real. Every penny from my award is going straight into building my dream.”

Our participants, like Anita, Daye, and Chizu, represent the potential of Los Angeles youth to create meaningful change not only in their lives but in their communities. By continuing to scale, refine, and invest in these programs, we aim to ensure that by 2050, every youth has the opportunity to realize their potential, achieve financial independence, and thrive in the city they call home. Over the next year, we hope to continue supporting youth in securing full-time employment, with 20% launching side hustles. in 2026, we aim to launch or Demo Day portion of the Entrepreneurship program, which will allow youth to demo their actual product to investors to raise grant money or funding from investors. By 2050, we aim to bridge the opportunity gap for youth, doubling program reach annually and establishing Market Ready as a sustainable incubator for side hustles that drive economic revitalization and community well-being.