LA's New Digital Media Workforce Training Academy

Access to tech and creative industry employment

West LA City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit) 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)

The issue we seek to address is the systemic exclusion of youth especially youth of color from meaningful leadership development, creative workforce pathways, and social-emotional learning opportunities. In historically marginalized communities like the Pico Neighborhood, young people often face barriers such as underfunded schools, exposure to trauma, and limited access to STEAM education and culturally-relevant programming. Santa Monica’s vibrant Creative Economy offers a platform to document and share youth stories of resilience through our challenging times. As families recover from the pandemic, they now face increased economic and environmental strain due to the recent fires and national-level defunding of public programs. Many low-income families have suffered the loss of homes, businesses or employment. This moment presents an ideal opportunity to unite our families in creating new content that creates bridges and fosters healing and mutual understanding in our communities.

The mission of Pico Digital is to create a pipeline of job training in competitive industries to equip young adults in underserved communities with the means to excel in their chosen fields. To accomplish this, we approach partners im institutions across all industries to invite them to work more deeply with their community. Pico Digital is an advanced vocational preparedness program specializing in the multimedia and entertainment industry, with an overarching goal of racial and income equity which allows young people to envision themselves in these competitive spaces without traditional barriers to entry. By pioneering our own creative marketplace, Pico Digital seeks to combat the upheaval and oppressive forces the entertainment industry has been notorious for presenting to BIPOC communities.
The duration of every Pico Digital professional development program leaves students with a tangible set of skills and materials which assist them as they move forward, chief among them an Electronic Press Kit (EPK), their own creative stamp to present to potential employers and new project partners. Each of our participants works with one or more of our team members such as our creative director. Pico Digital guides youth through every stage of production — from concept to festival — and has already launched projects like “Chasing Daylight” by 16-year-old Genesis Santiago, which premiered at the 2025 Beverly Hills Film Festival, showcasing the caliber of our talent development.

Pico Digital has become a well-known gem in the community: as a young artist-run, community-led multimedia hub servicing and engaging Greater Los Angeles to build equity through creative endeavors across the film and music industry. Our recruitment and retention strategies have been honed across the years and include a combination of classroom presentations, school assemblies and community events.
We work with our dynamic team and cutting edge tools help students develop and enhance their individual brands. From coaching and guidance in social media platforms to use of creative suites provided by Microsoft, Canva, and Adobe, our goal is to break down barriers to a fruitful and kinetic life in the entertainment industry.
We also understand that from local economic and statewide reports that the Creative Economy is one of the healthiest industries to invest in; even during economic downturns, the Music, Film, Digital Arts and overall Entertainment Industry is resilient.