Pico Leadership Academy for Youth (PLAY)

K-12 STEAM education

West LA 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 grant will support the Pico Leadership Academy for Youth (PLAY), a year-round, culturally-rooted leadership and creative workforce program based at the Pico Youth & Family Center in Santa Monica. PLAY addresses systemic inequities by equipping teens ages 13–18 with the tools, mentorship, and experiences necessary to become confident leaders, critical thinkers, and social justice advocates. Through an integrated curriculum that blends STEAM education, project-based learning, and hands-on film and music training, youth will explore their identities, analyze community issues, and create multimedia campaigns that amplify their voices.
Participants will engage in daily mindfulness and dialogue circles to promote healing, empathy, and emotional resilience—an essential foundation for young leaders impacted by trauma and disconnection. The program also includes field trips, public speaking workshops, and leadership training rooted in past and present social justice movements. Each youth will produce a culminating creative project, such as a short film or music video, that reflects their lived experience and vision for a more just world.
This grant will directly support program staffing, technology upgrades, youth stipends, and expanded cohort capacity, ensuring that more youth especially those from underrepresented communities gain access to meaningful, transformational learning experiences that prepare them for higher education, creative careers, and community leadership.

If PLAY is successful, Los Angeles County will be home to a new generation of youth leaders—particularly youth of color—equipped to drive change through creativity, critical thinking, and community healing. Our vision is to cultivate teens who not only advocate for justice but who also produce powerful films, music, and campaigns that influence public narratives. Youth will emerge with digital portfolios, confidence, and skills for college, career, and civic leadership. We will track impact through increased youth engagement, leadership, and workforce readiness. Long-term, we plan to scale PLAY across the County by developing a replicable curriculum, training community-based facilitators, and partnering with local schools and nonprofits. Our goal is to build a movement of empowered youth creators leading cultural and systemic change across Los Angeles, starting with historically marginalized communities.