STEAM, Stability & Success: Bridging Gaps for Inner-City Youth

K-12 STEAM education

South LA

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

A Place For Youth understands that many teens in inner-city Los Angeles lack access to quality education, safe spaces, and the supportive resources they need simply because their families cannot afford them. These barriers limit academic success, personal growth, and future opportunities. We address this gap by providing free, year-round programs that offer academic support, hands-on STEAM learning, enrichment camps, life skills training, leadership development, civic engagement, and career exploration. By creating a safe, inclusive space rooted in equity and opportunity, we empower youth to thrive and provide peace of mind to the working families who rely on us.

Receiving the LA2050 grant would play a critical role in helping sustain and expand A Place For Youth’s existing programs, which have become a trusted resource for underserved teens and working families in inner-city Los Angeles. Our free, year-round programs address systemic inequities and provide teens with a consistent, reliable space where they can find their sense of self, feel empowered to grow, stay on track academically, receive the necessary tools for career and college readiness, and develop the confidence and skills required to shape their futures.
The value of our work is evident in the trust we have built with our growing community, the number of families we increasingly serve, and the progress our youth have made when given the support they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. As enrollment numbers and the demand for our programs increase, grant funding is crucial to expanding our impact. It would enable us to reach more teens by increasing outreach, enrolling more students, hiring additional staff, and purchasing more equipment and supplies to meet program needs.
Investing in our community and equity-driven program would allow us to expand our ability to empower more youth and families who need it most.

By helping A Place For Youth succeed, Los Angeles County will grow to have a new generation of empowered, educated, and community-driven youth. Teens from under-resourced neighborhoods will gain access to quality education, hands-on STEAM learning, and mentorship, directly supporting the closing of equity gaps and opening doors to college, careers, and leadership. Working families will be more supported, our neighboring communities will be safer, and the local workforce will be more diverse and better prepared. We are committed to empowering our youth because our impact will ripple outward, creating a more just, inclusive, and vibrant LA where every teen has the opportunity to thrive.