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, the Goldhirsh Foundation and its LA2050 initiative have provided complimentary AI (artificial intelligence) consulting, training, and workshops to the Los Angeles impact community and beyond. The work is led by Jen García, Goldhirsh Foundation’s 

 available in the AI section of our news feed – García shares practical insights, real-world use cases, and emerging research to support nonprofits’ responsible and ethical adoption of AI tools.

s you can imagine, there was much to cover when 75 social impact leaders gathered this month at the headquarters of the Fox Foundation – an 

funding partner – for two-and-a-half hours of AI fluency training.

Here are three takeaways from the session, based on the questions and comments in the room:

Your approach to learning AI tools is important.

 I hear a range of self-talk bubbling up to the surface in conversations during our trainings, ranging from “I’m bad at tech” to “I am old, so I don’t learn as quickly.” And although these admissions may 

 true, we need to reframe our approach entirely. Let’s trade any limiting self-talk with curiosity, playfulness, and hope. More effective word choices may sound like: 

“How can I apply what I know so far about AI to my current problems in my org?”

“How exciting that a new technology has popped on the scene at this point in my career. So much to learn!”

“Well, that attempt didn’t work. Let me try another way.”

This type of approach is one we urge our young learners to take – let’s engage in the same manner and watch how spongy our minds become.

 Whenever I hear grumbles about large language models’ (LLMs) outputs, I wonder – or directly ask – what the prompt was. Without a thorough yet concise prompt and added context input, the output will usually be lackluster. Always remember an age-old truth that applies to more than just this context: 

. In the training, we covered a research-backed advanced prompting formula** that ensures the user exhausts their brain first (which is ideal for continued development of cognitive skills – more on that in a future post), providing as much context within the prompt as possible, and then adds any other files or data pertinent to the task. This type of methodical, systematic approach, though time-consuming, will save loads of time later.

 Applying the large language model’s generative abilities to our social impact use cases is very much an art. The non-deterministic nature of the LLMs makes it such that no two answers will be the same. In addition, a creeping dependency on the tools to “think” for us – whether it be in making this email “more professional” or less “emotional,” or communicating with donors – is not the recommended approach for myriad reasons. One is that these tools, as magical as they may seem, do not fully understand the layers of nuance that we do in our day-to-day tasks. Can they learn? Sure, but only up to a point. Instead, we need to think 

 the LLMs. Asking the LLM to provide suggestions along with its reasoning will augment our approach – either by taking its suggestions, keeping them in mind, learning from them, or scrapping them altogether. Whichever we decide, we are critically thinking and applying the vast amount of experience we hold.

** Note: In the workshop, we covered the expanded version of Caltech Center for Technology and Management Education’s RADOE prompt formula (Role, Action, Detail, Outcome, Example).

Think Alongside Your LLM, Context is King, and More: Reflections From Our Latest AI Tools Training For Nonprofits

Excited for NBA All-Star weekend, but can’t make it to the Intuit Dome? We’re with you. The new three-team tournament may be on Sunday, but Los Angeles is celebrating all weekend long: from official events, to sports bars, to family-friendly establishments, our new map features just a few of the many places you can join your fellow Angelenos for all things All-Star.

- LA LIVE 800, W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Free and open to the public, this NBA takeover experience will bring highly anticipated sneaker drops, top athletes, and community programming together to connect fans with the culture and the city that shaped the game.

Thursday, February 12 to Saturday, February 14 (10 a.m.–10 p.m. PST) and Sunday, February 15 (10 a.m.–7 p.m. PST)

 - LA Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA

Family-friendly, this multi-day event spans more than 300,000 square feet and brings together the best of basketball, music, fashion, art, and technology, with appearances by NBA players and cultural icons, plus music performances, immersive activations, and watch parties.

 - 5200 West Adams Boulevard Los Angeles, CA, 90016

21+ and open to the public, this event will feature legends from the NBA, film, music, television, and business, including Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh. The event will take over a full Los Angeles city block with a custom pavilion attached to local businesses.

Friday, February 13, 2026, 3:00 PM 7:00 PM

 - Kia Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 90305

Open to the public, the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will include celebrities from sports, film, TV and music, including Keegan-Michael Key, GloRilla, Jeremy Lin, and more.

Family-friendly, free, and open to the public, this festival event brings the All-Star energy without the All-Star price tag, with a 5x5 Celebrity Game, a 3-Point Shootout, a Dunk Contest, and more, plus a special guest appearance from NBA Champion and Hall of Famer Paul Pierce.

Day-Of Places to Watch - February 15, 2026, 2 p.m.

 - 6801 Hollywood Blvd Suite C3-343, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Looking for a place to watch the game with the whole family, with extra entertainment to boot? Head to old reliable: Dave & Buster’s in Hollywood.

 - 2711 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90026

This Indian-fusion restaurant in Silver Lake isn’t just known for their pastas and pizzas — it’s also a sports bar, perfect for grabbing a late lunch while watching the game.

 - 1714 North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90027

This Los Feliz gay sports bar also has its original LA location in West Hollywood, where the stars of 

 - 3725 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90026

Speaking of multiple locations, you can take your pick of locations to watch the game at sports bar 33 Taps – in addition to Silver Lake, they have outposts in Culver City, Downtown LA, and West Hollywood.

Get in the thick of it at Tom’s Watch Bar at LA Live, with 360 degree screens that boast “all the sports, all the time.”

 - 8447 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069

This multi-location bar is a Los Angeles classic, so if you can’t make it to their original West Hollywood location, you can head to the Barney’s in Pasadena, Westwood, Burbank, or Santa Monica.

 - 5570 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90042

A Highland Park bar that just opened its second location in Glendale, The Greyhound is the place to go for fans of FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, the Dodgers, and all things sport.

This Long Beach spot is a Southern California staple sports bar, known for its enormous screen projection system.

 - 3110 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, US

 far west, Busby’s features multiple rooms, games, and an essential game day vibe.

 - 3387 Motor Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90034

Looking for something a little more chill on the West Side? Head to The Garage in Palms, a sports bar that boasts 30+ screens throughout the bar and patio.

 - 7921 Canoga Ave, Canoga Park, CA, 91304, US

Valley-based with the kids? This family-friendly restaurant and sports bar in Canoga Park guarantees that everyone can enjoy, no matter what side of 21 you’re on.

NBA All-Star Weekend is being hosted at the Intuit Dome from Friday, February 13, to Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Here is a list of events of places to enjoy All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles County.

The list includes weekend-long events, including official NBA activations and games.

The list also includes establishments showing the three-tournament game on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

The establishments showing the game include sports bars and family-friendly restaurants.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2026: Where to Celebrate

Take the first step – LA2050 Grants Challenge App Pt. 1 is due April 22nd.

Begin the 2026 Application Today!

⁠The Goldhirsh Foundation and its LA2050 initiative announced today that Brenda Macuil has joined the staff as a social impact and research fellow.

Goldhirsh Foundation and its LA2050 initiative announced today that Brenda Macuil has joined the staff as a social impact and research fellow.

Macuil is a fourth-year undergraduate student at UCLA, majoring in International Development Studies with a minor in Community Engagement and Social Change. Raised in Pacoima, she holds a strong personal and academic commitment to immigrant advocacy, education access, and environmental justice. She has participated in various nonprofits, including Pacoima Beautiful and STEP UP Tutoring, and has engaged in year-long community participatory action research fellowships at UCLA.

"Being at the Goldhirsh Foundation is being at the forefront of meaningful change," Macuil said. "Continuing the Goldhirsh Foundation’s work means a lot to me, as I have personally benefited from the opportunities nonprofits provided that helped make my neighborhood a better place."

Macuil is already working on a number of projects, including bolstering the LA2050 Youth Ambassador Program, supporting outreach and research focused on grantee experiences and long-term organizational impact, and assisting in the forthcoming 2026 LA2050 Grants Challenge communications.

is an initiative driving and tracking progress toward a shared vision for the future of Los Angeles. We are centered around five unique goals that in 2050 Los Angeles will be the best place to learn, create, play, connect, and live.

To stay engaged with news, information, jobs, and history about the social impact community in Los Angeles County,

 and connect with us on at LA2050.org, goldhirshfoundation.org, and on 

 seeks to advance human life and well-being, and catalyze human potential. We achieve this by connecting the best emerging innovations with the financial, social, and human capital to make them thrive. We think of ourselves as a fund for social good.

LA2050 Blog

Social Impact and Research Fellow Brenda Macuil Joins Goldhirsh Foundation

At a Glance