LEARNThe Careers in Entertainment Mobile Classroom
Careers in Entertainment (CIE) would like support for the launch & creation of a mobile classroom. Housed in a customized vehicle underrepresented young people and their families will learn, and gain skills in the short & long term to become working professionals in the field of entertainment. CIE will directly bring industry experts to teach specific skills and discuss what a career in entertainment can look like to those often overlooked. The initial target audience will be focused on homeless and foster youth living in LA county.
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Central LA
East LA
San Fernando Valley
South LA
County of Los Angeles
In what stage of innovation is this project?
Pilot project or new program
Please list the organizations collaborating on this proposal.
The Peggy Beatrice Foundation
If you are submitting a collaborative proposal, please describe the specific role of partner organizations in the project.
The Peggy Beatrice Foundation will play a role in participant recruitment, curriculum design and staffing of the mobile classroom.
What is the need you’re responding to?
There is a persistent and significant lack of diversity and representation—both on and off screen— in the global entertainment industry. Through access, opportunity, and inclusion, Careers in Entertainment (CIE) aims to create a fundamental shift in this under-representation by diversifying the industry and amplifying the career pipeline for young people & families from overlooked communities.
CIE seeks to change the narrative by identifying and mentoring this next generation of content creators and creating a network of inspired and trained professionals who share a vision of inclusion through action, with a long-term goal to enable a self-sustaining cycle of employment opportunities in the entertainment sector.
The Mobile classroom allows us to directly educate and empower underrepresented young people (special focus on homeless, foster & “opportunity youth”) and their families to learn, and gain skills in the short & long term.
Why is this project important to the work of your organization?
This project is important to the work of our organization because central to CIE is the premise that every young person, regardless of life circumstances, should have an opportunity to realize their dreams—and be given access to the resources necessary to fulfill them, including ancillary supports for their parents. CIE founded by the Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation is uniquely suited to take this on given our ability to partner with production companies, studios, networks, unions and other ancillary entertainment business all in an attempt to help create opportunities for someone seeking a career in entertainment.
Economic opportunities await those who are given “access” and are willing to create new ones for themselves. The “Cycle of Poverty” is broken when people have access to Living wage employment opportunities and can think strategically about the life narrative they want to create. We endeavor to encourage and empower.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this proposal?
Direct Impact: 1,500
Indirect Impact: 5,000
Please describe the broader impact of your proposal.
Los Angeles County represents the best type of challenge in American life: How do we work together to make our shared city better? It is beautiful, strategically located, diverse, and possesses a level of civic pride that can serve as a catalyst for positive change if given the opportunity to express itself through concerted action. This initial investment can play a long term role in allowing for more inclusion in the LA- Region's Creative economy which accounts for nearly1 in 6 jobs and billions in annual revenues ripe for both future entrepreneurs and job seekers with the requisite skill sets. It is an equity imperative for all of us where ever we can to create career pathways that allow for access, opportunity and inclusion.
Please explain how you will define and measure success for your project.
We will define and measure success by:\n*\tPurchasing a customized mobile classroom vehicle\n*\tProviding participating youth with hands-on experience and learning in their local entertainment industry \n*\tProviding an access point into the entertainment industry for up to 1,000 or more young people from traditionally underserved communities across LA county \n*\tUpdating the CIE \“Dream Big Curriculum\” (broken into 7 areas: Mental, Emotional, Physical, Social (family and community), Educational, Professional, Financial).\n*\tWorking collectively with industry partners to identify potential internship, apprenticeship or employment opportunities \n\nOur vision for success for this project is we are playing a role in addressing the challenges for people living in underserved communities. We understand the issues are nuanced but we aim to inspire the pursuit of sensible and sustainable solutions. Simply put: Careers in Entertainment wants to help young people and their families change their own lives through their own efforts.
Which of the LEARN metrics will your submission impact?
Arts education
Enrollment in afterschool programs
Opportunity youth (“Disengaged youth” 16-24 not working or in school)
Are there any other LA2050 goal categories that your proposal will impact?
LA is the best place to CREATE
LA is the best place to PLAY
LA is the best place to CONNECT
LA is the healthiest place to LIVE
Which of LA2050’s resources will be of the most value to you?
Access to the LA2050 community
Host public events or gatherings
Communications support
Capacity, including staff
Strategy assistance and implementation