Creative Hustle: From Passion to Profession

Access to tech and creative industry employment

San Fernando Valley 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)

Youth of color in the San Fernando Valley face systemic barriers from decades of underinvestment and the lasting impacts of the War on Drugs. Areas like Pacoima and Canoga Park experience concentrated poverty, racial inequity, and limited access to trauma-informed support, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 143,000 disconnected youth ages 16–24 in LA County, addressing economic exclusion is urgent. Los Angeles is the creative capital of the world but many San Fernando Valley youth are excluded from this sector because they lack access to professional networks and paid opportunities to develop experience. The GR818ERS internship provides paid, culturally responsive pathways into media, marketing, event production, and youth development. By integrating interns into operations, building skills, and fostering leadership, we reduce barriers and open living-wage career paths for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Opportunity Youth, advancing access and economic inclusion in the creative economy.

The GR818ERS internship program immerses youth ages 17-26 in AWOKE’s daily operations, providing direct training in arts instruction and administration through learning experiences, peer leadership opportunities, and immersive field learning. Interns are paired with seasoned staff to develop meaningful mentorship relationships, gaining guidance and support throughout their journey. Interns build valuable skills while contributing to marketing campaigns, facilitating youth programs, and producing public arts events. AWOKE partners with established production companies and cultural brands to provide interns with field experience at large-scale events—expanding access to professional networks and exposing them to industry-standard practices. The program addresses barriers in the competitive job market by cultivating culturally responsive spaces for youth development and providing stipends to ease financial burdens. Interns work across three specialized teams:

Media & Marketing: Creating content, managing campaigns, and promoting AWOKE’s work to engage broader audiences.

Youth Development: Leading arts, athletics, and cultural enrichment programs, organizing family-friendly activities, and fostering caregiver involvement.

Event Planning & Production: Handling logistics, budgeting, vendor relations, and talent management to execute flagship events and projects.

This initiative empowers underrepresented youth—opening pathways to creative careers while strengthening community ties.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will be a place where underrepresented youth—especially BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Opportunity Youth—have clear, supported pathways into the creative economy. The San Fernando Valley will serve as a model for equitable investment in young talent, where youth not only gain technical and leadership skills but shape the cultural and economic future of their communities. Through the GR818ERS internship program, AWOKE will establish cradle-to-career pipelines, preparing youth for creative industry jobs and leadership roles in community-based arts and cultural work. Interns will emerge with experience, mentorship, and networks that propel them toward living-wage careers or entrepreneurial ventures. Long-term, AWOKE aims to scale the program across LA County and deepen partnerships with employers, cultural institutions, and schools to ensure the creative industry becomes more inclusive, reflective, and accessible for all Angelenos.