Igniting Creative Futures in South LA

K-12 STEAM education

South LA

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

Youth in South LA, especially in Westmont where our program is most concentrated, need a new educational model. The traditional one is failing: up to 25% of youth are “disconnected”—neither in school nor working (USC). Over 60% are below grade level. When students lose interest in learning, they become more vulnerable to gangs, drugs, and violence—especially when those paths seem to offer status or resources. HAS Center sits at the crossroads of multiple gang territories, giving us the urgent task of helping youth choose better routes. Most schools lack the capacity to offer individualized instruction or trauma-responsive models like arts-based education, which has been shown to increase engagement, performance, and problem-solving when paired with tech (Gallup, 2019). Youth in our communities need more modern, creative, technologically-savvy, and fast-paced modalities that keep pace with the fast-changing, competitive world around them.

HAS Center is at a pivotal moment. For 18 years, we’ve built a trusted reputation in South LA, helping more than 1,000 young people transform their lives – and in turn, their communities. We've achieved this with a small, under-resourced team and limited visibility, but it’s time for us to grow.
Our programs are in high demand. As young people continue to grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic, school closures, and learning loss, we’ve seen a sharp increase in requests from families, schools, and partners. We’re known locally for our impact – but we need the capacity and visibility to meet this moment and scale effectively.
LA2050 funding will help us build the infrastructure to do so. We’ll strengthen our team through strategic hiring, training, and professional development, and invest in branding and communications to position HAS Center as a visible, credible leader in creative youth development locally and beyond.
While building capacity, we’ll deliver hands-on multimedia education to 350 K-12 students in South LA. At our state-of-the-art facility – as well as through our onsite school visits – youth build creative and technical skills in video, editing, photography, graphics, 3D printing, and more, preparing for careers in media, arts, news, and entertainment. Students engage through our afterschool programs, summer camp, and a workforce program for ages 16-24 that includes mentorship, paid internships, and job placement in LA’s creative economy.

If our work is successful, youth in South LA, especially in Westmont, will no longer be left behind by outdated, one-size-fits-all education. Our dynamic, trauma-informed multimedia programs re-engage disconnected youth by making learning both exciting and practical.
Our unique approach provides real alternatives to gangs, violence, and disconnection by helping young people build skills, confidence, and purpose.
As we scale, we’ll grow our alumni mentor network (which is currently 50+ people) and expand our footprint across LA County, fueled by rising demand for our programs. By scaling, we will connect more disconnected youth to LA’s creative economy. Our vision is a safer LA with more engaged students and a thriving, diverse creative workforce.