The future of South LA is in tech and innovation, and the SoLa Foundation is taking measures to prepare future generations.
As one of the largest digital deserts in LA County, South L.A. faces a massive digital divide, creating significant barriers to education, employment, and future opportunities. The SoLa Foundation, the non-profit arm of the SoLa family of organizations, is a key player in bridging this gap through an array of programs.
Daniel Rosa, senior director of Partnerships, commented, “We’re really driven by four pillars of social impact, and it’s around access: access to housing, access to jobs, access to capital and ownership, and access to education.
“Our theory of change is that if you’re able to open up the channels to those four critical areas, you could make significant progress in curbing intergenerational poverty in South LA.”
In January 2022, the SoLa Foundation opened the Tech and Entrepreneurship Center at The Beehive to train and inspire the next generation. Since then, nearly 5,000 students, ages 8 to 24, have participated in workforce development programs focused on fields such as cybersecurity, entertainment, and engineering. The Foundation’s College Scholarship Program has awarded 161 scholarships, totaling over $1.7 million, with 92% going to first-generation college students.
The Tech and Entrepreneurship Center offers diverse curricula and opportunities, powered by partnerships with noteworthy leaders in tech, including Riot Games and Microsoft, hosting events such as hackathons — teaching students how to wield the latest technology and tools to address real problems.
Other notable partnerships include Live Nation, Howmet Aerospace Foundation, and NFL player Chris Conley, who established the Chris Conley Film Fellowship, pairing LA and Atlanta students with mentors to create short films. The center offers programs in music, sound engineering, sewing, graphic design, e-sports, and more, providing a broad spectrum of opportunities for youth exploring their skills and interests.
A major focus of SoLa’s programs is entrepreneurship. Nia, a 17-year-old student who began at the Tech Center at 14, developed a business making candle molds shaped like shoes. With the Tech Center’s support, she created a prototype, developed a business plan, and secured vendor opportunities with LAUSD and local markets.
John, another success story, joined the Live Nation Next Gen Fellowship, where he trained in live event production before joining SoLa Studios as a music coordinator, quickly advancing to a full producer role.
This exposure to real-world experience supports SoLa’s commitment to nurturing South LA’s future entrepreneurs and creators. The success of this program has also led to the development of a model being replicated internationally by Live Nation.
SoLa is expanding its educational initiatives with the Operation Impact mentorship program, matching students with mentors based on shared interests to help build careers and supply local businesses with emerging talent.
“Everything we do is really about expansion,” SoLa Studios Executive Director Monty Marsh stated.
“Expansion with what we are doing, expansion in education, expansion in the lives that we’re touching, and expansion in the bank accounts that are growing.”
Another expansion, scheduled to open in 2025, is a tech center in Crenshaw, which will be housed within a 195-unit affordable housing complex, contributing to the “Destination Crenshaw” ecosystem. The SoLa Foundation collaborates closely with community leaders, including L.A. Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, for community development.
Congresswoman Kamagler-Dove secured a $1 million federal grant for the Crenshaw expansion, and in partnership with Live Nation, the new SoLa Tech and Entertainment Center will provide the same opportunities to more youth, with plans to expand to adult education.
For more information and to explore available opportunities, visit the SoLa Tech Center at The Beehive to see their work in action. Visit the website www.thesolafoundation.org and follow on LinkedIn and Instagram @thesolafoundation for updates.
