The Center for Creative Workforce Equity (CCWE)

Access to tech and creative industry employment

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

The creative industry field represents the 2nd largest labor sector in Los Angeles, yet minority representation with the field remains stubbornly and disproportionately low. This disparity distorts representation, silences voices, and leaves far too many on the outside, looking in. Talented, economically and systemically marginalized young people have had limited entry-ways into creative sector work, competing against their more affluent peers. They must have the self-confidence and drive to find a pathway into a career where, in many cases, none formally exists; have the resources and tools that demonstrate their creative, intellectual, and/or technical abilities; and have the relationships and networks that so often open doors to success.
We believe that this is a unique time to foster meaningful change: The arts and entertainment landscape has been slowly shifting toward building a more diverse workforce, accelerating the demand for diverse content and storytellers.

The Center for Creative Workforce Equity (CCWE) serves as the umbrella for career pathways programs targeting low-income young people ages 16-24. Priority is given to former foster, unhoused, or justice-involved youth, and/or those who are BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+. Programs develop industry-recognized knowledge, skills, and certifications required for entry into economically viable job pathways. They include:
Creative Conversations, a virtual series featuring industry professionals discussing career pathways, including their own.
Digital Storytelling Pre-Apprenticeship Training, a paid (earn-and-learn) immersive program that prepares participants for internships, apprenticeships, jobs, and advanced learning. Participants complete four portfolio projects: a narrative sketch, a documentary short, a 30-second commercial, and a personal project.
Creative Industry Internship Program, placing program graduates in internships, apprenticeships and entry-level jobs at partner companies, and helping prepare them for other competitive opportunities.
Training participants receive wrap-around support, career counseling and attend Master Classes and special events that further their networks and learning.
Our theory of change posits that Opportunity Youth most benefit from an educational approach that engages their imagination and curiosity, develops knowledge and skills that have real-world applications, and creates an environment where young people feel seen, heard, and valued.

CCWE programs expand opportunity with a pipeline of diverse young talent, ready and excited to embark on their creative career journey. They are grounded in workforce development best practices, with tiered learning—from exposure to training to placement—that expand participants’ ideas of what might be possible. Programs are aligned with economic data on trending sector needs and our employer-partners are actively engaged in shaping curriculum to assure that it stays current and relevant. Free access to high-caliber arts and creative youth development programs builds equity for LA's low-income youth and creates life-changing opportunities, including jobs, networking and award recognition. By teaching arts-based technology skills using state-of-the art equipment we close the digital divide. Ultimately, we hope that the young people we are currently nurturing will be active agents in the present and future diversification of creative content throughout the entertainment landscape.

CCWE outcomes data includes: activity participation; internship/job application and placement rates; awards and special opportunities. We survey each participating cohort, teaching artists, and teaching assistants, to formally evaluate our programs and elicit feedback. Employer partners complete evaluations that reflect on both the individual placed and the overall employment experience. Since formally piloting our creative career programs in 2021, we have graduated 8 cohorts, placed 75 youth (62%) in paid internships, jobs and/or apprenticeships, and exposed 967 young people to creative work. Of note, in the past 12-months alone, program graduates have also won career-defining and industry-specific awards: 9 paid apprentices placed with NBCUniversal to work with professional producers/directors, cinematographers, and editors; 6 (out of 10 County-wide) hired as filmmakers by the CBS Pipeline Challenge; 2 received $5,000 Power of Storytelling grants from NBCU and Arts2Work.