Partnership for Growth LA: Building sustainable community wellness and cooperative development among South and West Los Angeles

Youth economic advancement

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

PFGLA aims to address critical needs in South/West Los Angeles by enhancing food access, job/economic security, education support, and workforce development. Operating primarily in low-income, BIPOC communities, we serve systems-impacted youth, income inequality, green space, and social support networks through its programs. These communities face entrenched challenges such as food insecurity, high violence rates, educational disparities, and economic instability. Project Jubilee offers comprehensive support for violence-impacted and formerly incarcerated youth, providing job training, and trauma interventions. Freedom Farms democratizes urban farming to combat food deserts, promoting healthy eating and local food economies. Freedom Schools addresses literacy/learning gaps through culturally competent education programs. PFGLA aims to foster community ownership and development, addressing systemic issues through innovative, localized solutions that enhance overall community well-being.

Partnership for Growth LA (PFGLA) will use this grant to support three innovative programs aimed at addressing systemic inequalities and enhancing community wellness in South and West Los Angeles. Founded in 2020, PFGLA focuses on food access, job security, education support, and workforce development through sustainable and cooperative development.
Project Jubilee offers a paid workforce development program targeting violence-impacted youth, those pushed out of traditional schooling, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Participants receive job training, social and financial support, and trauma-informed interventions to enhance well-being and job readiness.
Freedom Farms aims to democratize urban farming, enhancing food accessibility by creating a network of urban farms managed in coordination with master farmers. This program addresses food insecurity and fosters a local, sustainable food economy.
Read Lead Freedom Schools provides free summer and after-school programs focused on culturally competent literacy and academic enrichment for school-aged children, helping to mitigate summer learning loss and promote educational success.
These programs collectively address the core needs of systems-impacted youth, combat income inequality, enhance green spaces, and strengthen social support networks. PFGLA’s innovative approach lies in its holistic, community-centered strategies, integrating healing, mentorship, and sustainable development to create long-term positive impacts.

PFGLA aims to uplift systems-impacted youth and vulnerable populations by providing paid workforce development, trauma-informed care, and mentorship through programs like Project Jubilee. Moving forward, we plan to expand Project Jubilee to serve more youth annually and integrate additional career tracks to meet evolving job market demands. Concurrently, our efforts in urban farming with Freedom Farms seek to democratize access to fresh, nutritious food while creating green spaces that enhance community wellness. We are committed to establishing a network of 37 urban farms within three years, fostering a sustainable local food economy. Our approach not only aims to reduce income inequality and improve food security but also to strengthen social support networks and promote educational equity through Read Lead Freedom Schools. By leveraging collaboration and innovation, PFGLA strives to build resilient communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.

Project Jubilee: We track impact through participant engagement, stability, job readiness, and employment outcomes. We enroll 60 youth annually, striving to achieve job readiness for at least 80% of participants. Success is also measured by job placements/financial stability, aiming for 60% of participants to maintain employment for three months post-program.
Freedom Farms: We measure success by the number of farms supported, the volume of produce distributed, and participant feedback. Since 2022, we've granted over $780,000 to 13 farms, with plans to establish 37 farms in three years. Success is defined by increased access to a sustainable food supply chain.
Freedom Schools: We assess success by mitigating summer learning loss and improving attitudes toward reading. We use reading assessments and pre/post-program surveys. Since 2011, we've served 500+ students. Annual goals include preventing summer learning loss for 80% of students, and 100% improving their attitude toward education.