Creative Career Lab

Access to tech and creative industry employment

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)

Over the last two decades, Get Lit has uplifted thousands of young Angelenos through our spoken word-based programs. But we have also seen many of our creative youth struggle mentally and economically after graduation. According to recent American Community Service data, over 143,000 people ages 16-24 in L.A. County are disconnected from both school and work. This is 25,000 more than at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disconnected youth are predominantly BIPOC, disproportionately live in low-income neighborhoods, are vulnerable to poverty and harm, and lack access to entry-level jobs and post-secondary education. In their recent Employment Literature Summary, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated, “Those who are unemployed report feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, demoralization, worry, and physical pain. Unemployed individuals tend to suffer more from stress-related illnesses.”

Get Lit’s programs serve youth from the classroom to career. To create a bridge to success from high school or college graduation to young adulthood, we developed our Creative Career Lab (CCL) that serves diverse Angelenos ages 18-28. CCL is a year-long job training program in creative fields that culminates in participant placement in paid full-time jobs with our entertainment and nonprofit partners, plus an additional year of tracking and support. Participants receive professional-level training on state-of-the art equipment, hands-on workforce preparation, portfolio development, and 1 on 1 mentorship. It includes not only technical training in a wide variety of high-demand creative fields but also financial and media literacy training; “soft” skills such as communication, teamwork, and professionalism; career planning; and invaluable networking.
Our current employment partners and career advisors are Hyphenate Media Group (Eva Longoria), Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Netflix, FOX, Harness (America Ferrera), Writers Guild, Disney, the NBA, Venice Arts, United Friends of the Children, SoLa Impact Foundation, Cal State L.A., and Paak.house. Training takes place at our office on Sundays from 10am-4pm, with lunch provided, during three 12-week series plus an 8-week intensive.
Our goal in 2025-26 is to place at least 40 Fellows in creative endeavors or industries, and place a total of at least 110 Fellows between 2025-27.

Our ideal outcome is that CCL will be a model for valuing, buoying, inspiring, and training disconnected young people in L.A. Each of our well-prepared young people will be placed in employment situations where they can excel and grow, ultimately uplifting all of L.A. In CCL, L.A. County will have a system that moves creative youth from classrooms to fulfilling creative careers, and that provides a network for those who have had none. CCL vets candidates so that employers can rest assured that they are hiring creatives who can speak to Gen Z and Alpha, as well as others, in a moving and effective way in media, entertainment, and in nonprofit development and communications work. This will help level the economic playing field and impact the futures of many young Angelenos. As the program grows, we envision collaborating with and inspiring other organizations that do similar work. Our 2025-26 goals are to serve at least 60 participants and place a minimum of 40 in full-time jobs.