Expanding the Makers Hub Club

Access to tech and creative industry employment

South LA Gateway Cities Long Beach

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

Los Angeles is a global hub for creative and technical industries, yet access to these fields remain profoundly unequal. Youth from historically underserved communities, like Compton and the surrounding area, face persistent barriers to entry, including under-resourced schools, lack of industry exposure, and limited access to tools, mentorship, and hands-on experience. These inequalities disproportionately impact Black and Brown students who are often excluded from career pathways that demand both creative thinking and technical skill. Without early access to relevant training or visible role models in these industries, students are less likely to pursue or even see themselves in these careers. The result is a missed opportunity for young people and industries in need of diverse talent and fresh perspectives. Addressing this issue means creating tangible, culturally responsive pathways that connect students to the real-world opportunities shaping LA’s creative economy.

The Makers Hub Club is an after-school program that introduces high school students to hands-on skills in creative and technical fields. Through a weekly curriculum, students explore different trades and crafts, such as sewing, laser cutting, woodworking, and more. They gain practical experience with tools that are often missing from traditional classrooms. The program is designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and develop problem-solving skills. Outside of the scheduled curriculum, students can also utilize the equipment and workspace on their own. This open access creates a safe, welcome space where students can experiment, explore, and grow at their own pace.
Each year, a Maker’s Fair, giving students the opportunity to display and sell their creations. In preparation for the event, students learn foundational entrepreneurial skills like how to price their creations, track costs, and present their products. To complement the hands-on learning, our Career Connections speakers series brings in professionals from creative and trade industries who own businesses, work with their hands, or have built careers through practical skills. These sessions help students explore real career options they might not have considered and what’s possible beyond traditional pathways.
With this grant, we’ll be able to expand this program to additional schools, opening the door for more students to take their first steps toward careers in fields where they’ve been historically excluded.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will have a more inclusive and accessible pipeline into creative and technical industries, starting in high schools. Students across the Greater Compton Area will see these careers as real options and gain the skills and support needed to pursue them. We’ve already laid the foundation, engaging nearly 100 students through the Makers Hub Club and connecting over 250 students to 22 career professionals through our Career Connections series. Some students have chosen to continue their craft beyond the school year, regularly using our main facility to build their skills. This early impact shows that when students are given space, tools, and mentorship, they show up with creativity and drive. Expanding this proven model to additional schools will create lasting change in how local schools prepare students for the future, while helping shape a workforce that better reflects the diversity and talent of Los Angeles County.