Legendary Nights: Youth Employment in Live Production

Access to tech and creative industry employment

South LA

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

South LA youth face systemic barriers accessing LA's $50+ billion entertainment industry despite living in the entertainment capital. With only 55.7% high school completion rates compared to 84.7% statewide, young people lack professional work experience and technical skills needed for creative industry careers. Traditional job training doesn't exist for specialized entertainment fields like audio engineering or live event production. Youth witness the entertainment industry around them but have no pathways into well-paying technical roles that don't require college degrees. This creates a cycle where South LA communities remain economically excluded from an industry built on their cultural contributions. Without access to professional equipment, mentorship, and real work experience, talented youth cannot develop the skills, confidence, and industry connections needed to pursue careers in recording studios, concert venues, or event production companies throughout Los Angeles.

Legendary Nights creates a direct employment pipeline by hiring 20 South LA youth monthly in professional live event production at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. Participants earn $15-20/hour while gaining hands-on experience in audio engineering, lighting design, hospitality management, and food preparation during our monthly soul music concert series. Building on our award winning See A Man Be A Man program's 100% graduation rate, we recruit from Locke High, Crenshaw High School, King Drew Magnet High School, LAUSD Boys Academic Leadership Academy and Animo South LA High. Youth work 8-10 hours monthly alongside veteran soul musicians, learning technical skills and professional behavior in real entertainment industry settings. The program includes pre-event training, live production work, and post-event evaluation. Participants receive industry-recognized certificates and connections to internship opportunities throughout LA's entertainment sector. This isn't simulation—it's actual paid employment creating immediate income while building transferable skills for recording studios, concert venues, and event companies. Our youth develop professional portfolios documenting their technical competencies and gain mentor relationships with established industry professionals, creating lasting networks for career advancement.

By 2030, Legendary Nights graduates will be employed throughout LA's entertainment industry as audio engineers, lighting technicians, and event coordinators, earning 40% higher wages than typical entry-level positions. Our model will expand to two additional venues across LA County, employing 60+ youth annually and creating a recognized pipeline between South LA communities and creative industry careers. Successful participants will launch their own event production companies, keeping cultural wealth within their communities. Other cities will replicate our veteran musician mentorship model, scaling impact nationally. Most importantly, South LA youth will no longer see entertainment industry careers as inaccessible—they'll have proven pathways, professional networks, and confidence to pursue these opportunities and generate sustainable economic development.