INSPIRE on Wheels

Public transit

San Gabriel Valley

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

Many of the at-risk youth we serve face significant geographic, economic, and social barriers that limit their access to enriching, educational, and inspiring experiences. Due to a lack of resources, these young people are often confined to their immediate neighborhoods, with limited exposure to cultural institutions, natural spaces, or career pathways beyond their lived environment. For some, even traveling a few miles to a museum, college campus, or the beach is an unattainable opportunity. This lack of access not only stifles curiosity and learning, but reinforces cycles of disconnection, disengagement, and hopelessness. By addressing transportation as a barrier, we can open the door to new possibilities—supporting youth in imagining a brighter future and making positive, empowered choices.

This grant will support INSPIRE on Wheels, a transportation-based expansion of our youth diversion program designed to give at-risk and justice-involved youth greater access to enriching and educational experiences throughout Los Angeles County. The program will fund the purchase and operation of a multi-passenger van that will be used to transport youth to museums, science centers, college campuses, nature-based outings, and cultural events—places that are often inaccessible due to geographic isolation and financial limitations.
By providing safe, reliable transportation, INSPIRE on Wheels will allow our organization to bring services directly to youth across the city and to connect them with opportunities that spark learning, build self-esteem, and encourage goal-setting. The van will serve not only our diversion program, but also other youth-focused initiatives within our organization—creating a sustainable and shared resource that expands our overall impact. Through this mobile model, we aim to increase engagement, reduce recidivism, and inspire youth to envision a future full of possibility.

If INSPIRE on Wheels is successful, Los Angeles County could be the beginning of a place where young people—regardless of zip code—have access to the kinds of experiences that expand their world and inspire future success. At-risk youth who were once confined by the boundaries of their neighborhoods will gain exposure to new environments, ideas, and opportunities that connect them to their community and their own potential. Schools and diversion programs will have stronger support in engaging youth outside the classroom, and families will see their youth become more curious, confident, and future-oriented.
Over time, we’ll see more youth connected to supportive programs, more families engaged in their children's growth, and more young people making empowered choices about their future. Our communities will benefit from a generation that is not only better informed, but also more inspired, resilient, and connected to the diverse opportunities this city has to offer.