Shero Talks Masterclass: Pathways to Creative Tech

Access to tech and creative industry employment

San Fernando Valley Central LA South LA West LA

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

California has one of the lowest adult literacy rates in the nation, with over 23% lacking basic reading skills. Among K–12 students, especially in underserved communities, literacy proficiency continues to decline. At the same time, the creator economy is growing—yet access to creative tech education remains limited. Meanwhile, AI is transforming every industry, including entertainment and media, reshaping how stories are told and who gets to tell them. Without early exposure to both storytelling and tech, many young people risk being left behind in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Shero Talks Masterclass bridges these gaps by boosting literacy through comics and media creation while teaching kids and adults how to harness AI and creative tools for future-ready careers.

Shero Talks Masterclass: Pathways to Creative Tech is a hybrid program designed to improve literacy, spark creativity, and build tech skills through storytelling. This grant will support the development of an online learning platform, paired with an ongoing series of in-person workshops at local schools, youth organizations, and adult literacy centers across Los Angeles. Our courses—including comic book creation, game design, short filmmaking, AI for creators, and more—blend reading and writing fundamentals with visual learning and hands-on creative tech skills.

Each course is designed to meet learners where they are: using comics to engage reluctant readers, games to teach logic and design, and AI tools to introduce future-forward thinking. Participants will build confidence, communication skills, and a portfolio of creative work that prepares them for careers in the growing creator economy. We’re targeting youth ages 10–19 and adult learners, especially those from underserved communities, who are often left behind in tech-based learning opportunities.

By making literacy fun and connecting it to real-world creative and tech careers, Shero Talks aims to build a pipeline of storytellers and creators who are ready for the digital age.

If successful, Shero Talks Masterclass will help transform Los Angeles into a hub for youth-driven innovation in the creative tech space. Students and adult learners—especially in under-resourced communities—will gain critical literacy and digital skills while building portfolios in comics, gaming, film, and AI. Our vision is to create a pipeline of diverse storytellers and tech-savvy creators prepared for the future of work.

In the long term, we aim to scale the Masterclass statewide and nationally through our online platform, making our curriculum accessible to schools, libraries, and youth programs across the country. By blending creativity with career-readiness, we’ll boost literacy rates, close opportunity gaps, and empower the next generation of creators, thinkers, and leaders from Los Angeles and beyond.