Over the past month, we checked in with our 2024 grantees to learn how their funded programs, projects, and initiatives are progressing – and to better understand the impact they’re making across Los Angeles. Now, we are excited to share these interviews, with stories of growth, challenges, and community transformation.

New Earth received funding through the LA2050 Grants Challenge from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to support its workforce development program for systems-impacted youth offering paid training, fellowships, and wraparound support. Below is an edited transcript of our conversation with their team.

LA2050: You received funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for your innovative workforce development programming. Tell us more about how your program is unique, including your various social enterprises and fellowships.

New Earth: What makes our program stand out is that we offer paid digital media training for youth in high-growth, underrepresented careers. Unlike many other programs targeting our population, we provide a livable wage from day one. We know that unpaid training simply isn’t feasible for the young people we serve, many of whom need to support themselves or their families while they build new skills.

Our approach is outcomes-driven; we design the program to remove as many barriers as possible to participation and success. That includes offering daily meals, transportation support like Uber and Lyft rides, and personalized care management. These wraparound services allow our youth to focus on their goals without worrying about basic needs.

Looking ahead, we’re exploring AI-based certifications that will open up new and emerging job paths, giving our participants access to skills and credentials few others in their communities have. It’s one more way we’re helping them carve out a future that’s sustainable, competitive, and uniquely theirs.

LA2050: What is the FREEE model that you use to measure impact, and where have you seen the most growth in the young people you serve?

New Earth: Developed in partnership with our clinical team and board member Dr. Laura Abrams of UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, the FREEE model is a proprietary outcomes framework that tracks five key indicators for every youth we serve. These are: Family, Relationships, Education, Employment, and Emotional Wellbeing. We believe that when all five areas are strong, a young person is set up for lasting success. Conversely, if they’re weak or underdeveloped in these areas, it can lead to outcomes like recidivism, housing instability, or unaddressed mental health needs.

This model helps us tell the story of why we offer such a wide range of services, it’s because each part matters. Our goal is for every young person who comes through our doors to leave truly “FREEE.” While the journey looks different for everyone – some achieve this in six months, others in four years – the model gives us a clear north star. Last year, our goal was to have 60 youth reach “fully FREEE” status, and we reached 55. This year, our goal is 75 out of 140 total youth engaged. It’s not always apples to apples; some youth come in needing only a few more credits to graduate, while others start much further behind. But year over year, we’re seeing more young people reaching this milestone, and that growth is what we’re most proud of.

LA2050: What do you hope to achieve in the last six months of the grant, and how can the broader LA2050 community support?

New Earth: In the final stretch of the grant, we’re focused on three key areas: growing our donor base, expanding our board, and scaling our social enterprise initiatives, including new workforce pathways in AI.

We’re launching a Giving Circle to encourage monthly contributions and deepen community engagement. Supporters will get exclusive access to quarterly networking events, youth expression showcases, and New Earth swag, creating a deeper sense of connection with the organization and our young people. We’re also looking to welcome three new board members by the end of the year, leaders who are aligned with our mission and ready to help guide the next phase of our growth. Lastly, we’re redesigning our social enterprise programs to include AI-based certifications. We see this as a powerful opportunity to equip our youth with skills for the future, and give them a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving job market.

We invite the LA2050 community to join us, whether through donations, board service, or simply sharing our work, to ensure more young people find healing, growth, and long-term success.

Interview Participants:

Yana Grammer, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Jeremy Drake, Development Consultant

Learn More About New Earth:

• Explore its website here.
• Contact Jeremy Drake at jdrake@newearthlife.org.
• I AM NEW EARTH (video)