Code Access LA: Building Digital Pathways in Underserved Communities

K-12 STEAM education

City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

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

Los Angeles is home to a thriving tech industry, yet many youth in low-income and historically marginalized communities remain disconnected from this opportunity. While areas like Silicon Beach flourish, schools serving underserved populations often lack the resources, trained educators, or curriculum to offer meaningful STEM or computer science education. In LAUSD, only 39% of high schools offer any computer science course, with access lowest in South and East LA. Over 400,000 households also lack reliable broadband. Just as critically, students often grow up without seeing role models in tech who come from their own communities—making it harder to envision themselves in these careers. The absence of representation and opportunity creates a compounding barrier to upward mobility in a city full of potential.

This grant will support the expansion of our proven tech mentorship model in Los Angeles. Our initiative trains university students from underserved communities to become coding and AI mentors for younger students in their neighborhoods. These mentors receive stipends and advanced training in areas like programming, AI, and data science—helping them build their own career readiness while inspiring the next generation.
Middle and high school students participate in up to four 10-hour hands-on courses where they create projects like video games, chatbots, and interactive apps. These experiences build confidence, foster creativity, and introduce real-world applications of technology in a way that is engaging and relevant.
The program is currently operating in areas like South LA in partnership with schools and grassroots organizations. With this grant, we will increase our reach in Los Angeles by training more mentors, offering more courses, and improving access to high-quality tech education in schools and community centers where opportunities are limited.
By building a community-led ecosystem where youth guide and uplift other youth, we are closing the digital divide and nurturing long-term change in communities that have been excluded from the region’s booming tech economy.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will see more young people from historically underserved communities entering the tech pipeline with the skills, confidence, and vision to thrive. Schools and community centers in low-income areas will become vibrant spaces for innovation, where students not only consume technology but create it. University students from these same neighborhoods will gain meaningful experience, financial support, and career readiness through mentorship roles—leading to a stronger, more inclusive workforce. Over time, we will help shift the perception of who belongs in tech by ensuring that the region’s tech future reflects the diversity of its population. This community-driven cycle of support and growth will strengthen social mobility and help make LA a model for equitable access to 21st-century opportunity.