Bridging the Learning Divide in the East San Fernando Valley

K-12 STEAM education

San Fernando Valley

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

In Los Angeles, a child’s access to opportunity still too often depends on their zip code. In neighborhoods like Van Nuys and North Hollywood, youth face chronic underinvestment in education, limited access to culturally responsive learning, and a lack of safe, affordable out-of-school programs. For the low-income, single-parent families we serve, barriers to quality learning begin early and compound over time, especially for youth of color navigating systemic inequity. Hands4Hope LA addresses these disparities by creating a continuum of community-based, trauma-informed, and STEAM-integrated programs.

We share LA2050’s vision: a city where every student is college- and career-ready, every family empowered to shape their child’s learning, and every young person equipped to thrive in the workforce of the future. Our work is both a response to what is missing and a model for what is possible.

To meet growing demand and reach youth who cannot currently access services, Hands4Hope LA will expand its free, year-round enrichment programs through a site relocation and transportation enhancement, allowing deeper and broader service across the East San Fernando Valley. Our year-round programming provides free tutoring, STEAM enrichment, mental health workshops, college and career readiness support, and structured summer learning opportunities, all grounded in trauma-informed, culturally relevant practices.

With LA2050 support, we will relocate to a larger program site and purchase a passenger van, allowing us to increase enrollment, expand geographic reach, and eliminate transportation barriers that prevent youth from accessing safe, high-quality learning environments. These infrastructure investments will strengthen our ability to serve more students, particularly where transportation and space limitations currently hinder full participation

Through this project, we aim to close the opportunity gap and demonstrate what equitable, community-rooted education looks like in action. By removing systemic barriers and providing free, holistic, and culturally responsive enrichment, Hands4Hope LA is advancing educational equity in the East San Fernando Valley, ensuring youth and families have access to the kind of learning environments that foster long-term academic, social, and emotional growth.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be closer to realizing LA2050’s vision of a region where all students are engaged, empowered, and equipped to thrive. Research supports the effectiveness of such programs. For instance, a meta-analysis by Durlak et al. (2010) found that participation in afterschool programs is positively related to school attendance. Additionally, wraparound services have been shown to improve educational outcomes, including overall grade point average, attendance, and suspension rates.

As our new site and transportation access remove barriers, more families in underserved pockets of the East San Fernando Valley will benefit from a trusted, high-impact learning hub. Our expansion will not only serve more youth, but will demonstrate what it looks like to scale equity-centered education in community-based spaces