Empowering Foster Youth Through Life Leadership

Support for foster and systems-impacted youth

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)

Each year, over 30,000 children in Los Angeles County experience the foster care system, and more than 1,000 age out annually without stable family support or preparation for adulthood. National data shows that 20% become instantly homeless after aging out, 25% are involved with the justice system within two years, and only 50% are employed by age 24 (Chapin Hall, 2021). Emotional trauma, frequent moves, and inconsistent education create major barriers to long-term stability. Without reliable mentorship or basic life skills training, many young people face significant disadvantages in employment, housing, education, and financial independence. The Life Leadership Academy directly addresses these gaps by providing a structured, nurturing space to build skills, confidence, and networks that foster youth are typically denied.

The Life Leadership Academy is a year-round leadership development program for foster and systems-impacted youth ages 14 to 24. Through weekly workshops, one-on-one mentorship, group retreats, and community events, participants gain critical life and career skills in areas such as financial literacy, communication, emotional regulation, resume-building, and navigating adulthood. What sets this program apart is its trauma-informed approach, sustained mentorship beyond graduation, and emphasis on building long-term peer and professional networks in the entertainment industry. Participants work closely with mentors who have lived experience in the foster system, ensuring cultural relevance and deep trust. With LA2050 funding, She Ready Foundation will expand the Academy to support an additional 60 youth, host three new cohort cycles, and enhance its alumni support services. The grant will fund teaching staff, transportation and meals, mental health support, and stipends for youth who complete the program. In the long run, the Life Leadership Academy aims to disrupt cycles of poverty, incarceration, and isolation by helping youth become connected, confident, and career-ready.

If this work is successful, more foster and systems-impacted youth in Los Angeles will transition into adulthood with confidence, skills, and supportive networks. Participants will enter college, get job training, or obtain employment with stronger mental health and stability. Over time, we will see reduced homelessness and incarceration rates among alumni and increased upward mobility. The alumni network is designed to create long-term mentorship chains and peer support that extend beyond the program. These outcomes will ripple outward to schools, workplaces, and families across LA County, creating a more connected, compassionate, and self-sufficient community.