I.M.A.G.E. Leadership Lab: Strengths-Based Pathways to Success

Youth economic advancement

South LA South Bay Long Beach County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The Black and Brown youth and young adults in Los Angeles County face limited access to career-aligned opportunities, mentorship, and strengths-based development, which hinders their ability to transition successfully into higher education, leadership roles, and economic mobility. Many come from under-resourced schools and communities where they lack structured guidance, exposure to professional networks, and culturally affirming mentorship to help them navigate their future pathways.
Through this pilot, we aim to help a cohort of Black and Brown youth identify their strengths, develop career-aligned skills, and access mentors who can guide them in applying their strengths in real-world settings. This will serve as a model for expanding career readiness and leadership development in marginalized communities.

This grant will support theI.M.A.G.E. Makers Academy Pilot Program, a strengths-based career readiness and leadership initiative for Black and Brown youth (ages 13–24) in Los Angeles County. Many youth in under-resourced communities lack access to career-aligned skills, mentorship, and professional networks. This program will address these gaps by helping a cohort of youth identify their strengths, develop career-aligned skills, and connect with mentors of color in high-opportunity fields. Participants will engage in strengths discovery, career skills training, culturally affirming mentorship, and leadership development rooted in community impact. The program also includes capstone projects that allow youth to apply their learning in real-world contexts. The pilot will serve as a scalable model for expanding career pathways and leadership opportunities in marginalized communities, with the long-term goal of increasing higher education attainment, leadership representation, and economic mobility for Black and Brown youth.

If our work is successful, Los Angeles County will see increased economic inclusion for Black and Brown Opportunity Youth and NEET youth, ages 16–26. More young people will enter living-wage careers, reducing income inequality and improving economic mobility for families and communities historically excluded from these pathways. Employers will benefit from a more diverse, skilled talent pipeline, while local economies will grow stronger and more equitable. In addition, systems serving youth—schools, workforce boards, community colleges, employers—will be more youth-driven, incorporating young people’s voices in shaping programs and pathways. Ultimately, LA County will move closer to being a place where race, income, and zip code no longer determine a young person’s career opportunities or economic future.