Our Partners

The AHLA Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the hospitality industry through education, research, and workforce development initiatives. It provides scholarships, grants, and professional development opportunities to individuals pursuing careers in hospitality, as well as support for hospitality-related educational programs and research projects. The foundation also focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry and works to address critical workforce challenges by providing training and resources to hospitality professionals at all levels. Through its various programs and initiatives, the AHLA Foundation plays a vital role in shaping the future of the hospitality industry and supporting the success and advancement of its workforce

Alliance for Community Empowerment (ACE) is a community-based 501(c)3 organization located in the West San Fernando Valley. Since its inception in 2013, ACE has assisted thousands of individuals whose lives have been impacted by trauma and poverty. To support empowerment, ACE provides education, workforce development, gang intervention and prevention programming integrated with counseling, mentoring, case management, and other support services for marginalized individuals and families.

The Rancho Dominguez AJCC, operated by KRA, serves communities in the Rancho Dominguez region of the County.

Aramark is a massive global provider of food services, facilities management, and uniform services, operating in the US, Canada, and 14 other countries. Headquartered in Philadelphia, it serves millions of students, patients, employees, and sports fans daily across industries like healthcare, education, and sports.

Nanette Barragán was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2016, becoming the first Latina ever to represent California’s 44th Congressional district.

The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) in California oversees various programs and initiatives aimed at improving public safety and reducing crime at the local level. One of its key initiatives is the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) grant program. CalVIP provides funding to local governments and community-based organizations to support evidence-based violence prevention and intervention strategies. BSCC administers the CalVIP program, distributing funding to eligible recipients based on established criteria and priorities. Through CalVIP, BSCC aims to support efforts that address the root causes of violence, promote community engagement, and enhance public safety across California.

The Burlington Stores Charitable Foundation is a private philanthropic organization funded by the discount retail chain Burlington Stores, Inc.. Formally established in 2021 and headquartered in Burlington, New Jersey, the foundation operates to manage associate-nominated grants, disaster relief efforts, and corporate donations.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages the State of California's prison system with an emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, community reintegration and restorative justice.

California State University Dominguez Hills Foundation is the vision of the Board of Directors of the Foundation to become a comprehensive financial resource and service provider for the University through the development of innovative programs and proven revenue-generating strategies. By becoming a critical and active link between the University and the local community, the Foundation will consistently support the University’s ever-expanding educational mission and objectives. Values The Foundation will achieve its mission and vision by developing and implementing programs effectively, as well as by adhering to the following values and qualities: Demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service Have an on-going dedication to support University needs Maintain efficiency and quality Demonstrate a concern for the community and for bringing together the community and the University (“the Communiversity”) Maintain open communication among University administration, staff, faculty, students and the community Think creatively about solutions.

Centinela Youth Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization, was founded in the Centinela Valley in 1975 to provide youth counseling; physical and mental health, academic, and developmental intervention; and juvenile crime prevention services. In the mid-90s, due to the strong outcomes achieved by the youth served, CYS services were expanded into many of Los Angeles County’s high-needs communities.

Compton greeted the 21st century as a multiracial, multicultural community of nearly 100,000 residents. The 2000 census recorded 56.8% of the population as Hispanic or Latino; 40.3 percent, Black or African American; 1.1%, Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 0.7% Native American or Alaskan Native, and the balance Asian, White or other race. Compton’s easy accessibility to and from five freeways and the affordability of its housing (median home price was $407,000 in December 2006) has drawn additional residents and sparked the interest of developers. In the first few years of the century, developers constructed over 100 new homes and built a new Rite Aide, Wells Fargo Bank, two Starbucks, and a number of retail/commercial centers. The burgeoning student population required the Compton Unified School District to construct William F. Jefferson Elementary School, the first new school in the district in 35 years. In February 2007, construction began on the Gateway Towne Center, a 51-acre mixed-use commercial/residential project on Alameda Boulevard that will include a Target, Staples, 24-Hour Fitness, Marshalls, Home Depot, and Chili’s, among others. The center is expected to open in October 2007. Construction has also begun on 136 condominium units in a gated, mixed use complex on Tamarind Avenue.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. HHS administers more than 100 programs across its operating divisions. HHS programs protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

The US Department of Labor receives an annual appropriation from Congress for the federal YouthBuild program, which it operates effectively with close attention to quality, performance outcomes, and community need. The federal YouthBuild appropriation for FY15 is 79.7 million dollars. Each YouthBuild program in the United States is operated by an autonomous non-profit or public entity that secures its own funding – a mix of public and private support. The US Department of Labor is the primary public funding source. YouthBuild USA does not directly run any local programs nor does it participate in the selection of DOL YouthBuild grantees. Roughly half of the current funding for local YouthBuild programs in the United States comes from the US Department of Labor (DOL) under the federal YouthBuild program whichwas reauthorized within the Workforce Opportunities and investment Act passed in 2014. DOL grants funds directly to the local YouthBuild program through an annual competitive process that rewards performance and prioritizes low-income communities. There are two ways that a local non-profit or public entity can obtain the right to use the YouthBuild name. It can win a competitive YouthBuild grant directly from DOL; or it can be licensed by YouthBuild USA as a YouthBuild program through the YouthBuild USA Affiliated Network. All local non-profit and public entities are eligible to apply to DOL and/or to apply for affiliation with YouthBuild USA. The DOL requires all YouthBuild grantees to raise a minimum of 25% in matching non-federal funds. Individual program grants range from $700,000 to $1.1 million and cover two years of programming with nine months of follow up support for about 40 students. In 2015, DOL is funding the full program year for 143 YouthBuild programs including 4,800 young people across 31 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. DOL’s eligibility requirements for YouthBuild students focus on low-income young people who have left high school without a diploma, are exiting foster care, or have been adjudicated. There is a flexible 25% waiver in order not to exclude any applicant in need of the program’s services. YouthBuild programs licensed by YouthBuild USA that do not win one of the limited competitive grants from the DOL must raise all their funds from other public and private sources. This is difficult, and some of them go dormant or close for lack of funds when they do not receive a DOL grant. DOL receives many more qualified applications than it can fund, and virtually all local programs receive many more youth applicants than they can accept. This high demand and high need creates an urgent mandate for expanded federal funding. YouthBuild was first authorized as a federal program in 1992 under Subtitle D of Title IV of the Cranston-Gonzalez national Affordable Housing Act and administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was transferred at the initiative of the George W. Bush administration with unanimous consent of Congress to the US Department of Labor in 2006. On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) within which the DOL YouthBuild program was reauthorized. This signifies a major vote of confidence in the YouthBuild model from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, who passed this legislation with an overwhelming majority (95-3 in the Senate and 415-6 in the House of Representatives). Bi-partisan support over 22 years has led to a total of 1.4 billion dollars being distributed directly to hundreds of local communities for independent non-profit and public entities to produce excellent YouthBuild programs for over 130,000 young people who have produced over 28,000 units of affordable housing while working toward their own high school diploma or its equivalent and a variety of industry recognized credentials.

Relationship Skills for Teens The non-profit Dibble Institute promotes relationships training for youth especially in the context of dating and romantic connections. Our goal is help young people build a foundation for healthy romantic relationships now, and for lasting, positive family environments in the future. Dibble materials teach teens and young adults how to be successful in friendships, dating, and love. Themes include: Dealing with emotions What makes a healthy relationship Recognizing dangerous relationships Effective communication Conflict management Low-risk dating strategies The social and emotional sides of sex The Dibble Institute (click here to read more)

Eat.Sleep.Work. is a brand and digital design agency headquartered in El Segundo California. Founded in 2005, ESW is a collaborative of graphic designers. coders and content strategists whose mission is to create awesome brand experiences.

Edison International's subsidiary, Southern California Edison, is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States and a longtime leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency. With headquarters in Rosemead, Calif., SCE serves approximately 15 million people in a 50,000 square-mile area of Central, Coastal and Southern California. SCE has provided electric service in the region since 1886.

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson was proudly born and raised in the Watts community of Los Angeles. He served as Mayor Pro Tempore before running for the California State Assembly in 2014, where he has served since. Today, Assemblymember Gipson represents the new 65th Assembly District which includes the areas of Watts, Willowbrook, Compton, Carson, North Long Beach, Harbor Gateway North & South, Harbor City, Wilmington, and San Pedro.

Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (SGVHFH) transforms lives and communities by bringing people together to build, renovate, and repair affordable homes for families in need across the 400 square miles of Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley. Since our inception in 1990, as an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, we’ve brought people together to build homes, communities, and hope – driven by a shared vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live! There is a severe and growing affordable housing crisis in Southern California. With more than 58% percent of San Gabriel Valley residents paying more than they can afford in housing costs, we know that we must do more. Over the next two years, we are committed to doubling the number of families our organization has served from 94 families, 428 low-income individuals, to 200 families, approximately 800 low-income men, women, and children. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. SGV Habitat has been recognized with Charity Navigator’s 4-star rating for excellence in sound fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency for eleven consecutive years (2008-2018), placing SGV Habitat in the top 1% of all nonprofit organizations evaluated by Charity Navigator. In 2016, SGV Habitat earned 100%, a perfect score, which it still holds today!

The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) supports nonprofit, community-based culinary training programs that build confidence, improve health outcomes, and create pathways to sustainable employment in the food industry

The LA County Justice Care & Opportunities Department aims to break the cycle of overreliance on incarceration in the County and promote thriving communities through innovative program planning and delivery. Their efforts encompass planning, strategy, policy development, cross-agency coordination, community engagement, metrics, outcome evaluation, and funding recommendations. Additionally, they are involved in program delivery, covering prevention, justice system intervention, diversion, stabilization, rehabilitation, and reentry initiatives

The Compton Library is a branch of the LA County Library system located at 240 W. Compton Blvd, Compton, CA. Originally opened in July 1913, it is the 11th oldest branch in the county.

The LA County Office of Violence Prevention is dedicated to reducing and preventing violence in Los Angeles County through comprehensive strategies and initiatives. It focuses on addressing various forms of violence, including gang violence, domestic violence, youth violence, and community violence. OVP works collaboratively with government agencies, community organizations, law enforcement, and residents to implement evidence-based prevention and intervention programs. These efforts aim to promote safety, support victims, and create healthier and more resilient communities. Through its work, OVP seeks to address the root causes of violence and create lasting positive change in the county.

LocoL is a community-focused organization in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. Founded by chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson, it operates as a non-profit, providing vocational training, gathering spaces, and serving soul food like BBQ, fried chicken, and ribs.

Los Angeles County, one of California’s original 27 counties, was established on Feb. 18, 1850. It is one of the nation’s largest counties with 4,084 square miles, and has the largest population of any county in the nation – nearly 10 million residents who account for approximately 27 percent of California’s population. As a subdivision of the state, the County is charged with providing numerous services that affect the lives of all residents, including law enforcement, tax collection, public health protection, public social services, elections and flood control.

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell represents the 2nd supervisorial district of Los Angeles County which is home to more than two million people. The district covers 176.96 square miles and stretches from the south bay to Koreatown. The 2nd supervisorial district also includes portions of 12 cities, 22 unincorporated communities and 56 neighborhoods in the city of Los Angeles.

The National Restaurant Association is a restaurant industry business association in the United States, representing more than 380,000 restaurant locations. It also operates the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

The Nonprofit Partnership has a direct and profound impact on our community by ensuring thousands of nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers receive the tools and resources they need to be successful and make their organizations thrive. We provide affordable access to high-quality services that are sorely needed by nonprofits today: programming and resources that focus on building the capacity of our local community organizations by promoting collaborative opportunities, enhanced resource development, networking opportunities, custom support services and year round educational seminars and workshops.

Nordstrom is dedicated to supporting causes that support youth and families. We award over $1 million in Community Grants each year across the U.S. as part of this commitment. The Community Grants program is designed to support hyper-local grassroots organizations addressing critical community needs within our focus areas of: 1. Providing basic needs, food, shelter and clothing to fulfill the essentials necessary for families to thrive 2. Creating opportunities for youth and families to achieve economic mobility, for example through workforce development training, mentorship, scholarships and grants

Rize Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution with a 70-year legacy of service. With a primary focus on Southern California and Southern Nevada, Rize helps individuals, families, and businesses thrive – realizing their potential and taking control of their financial future through personalized support, financial education, and values-driven banking. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Rize is committed to expanding access and delivering impactful solutions, including in underserved areas, to empower lasting financial security.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is a leading national philanthropy advancing health equity through funding, convening, advocacy, evidence building, and impact investing.

SECTOR is a program of the LA County Office of Diversion and Reentry and is funded by a Prop 47 grant. The SECTOR program provides training and paid work experience in high-growth sectors that offer career pathways and family-sustaining wages for people impacted by the justice system. Eligible participants are adults 18 and older who have been arrested, charged, or convicted of a criminal offense and have a history of mental health or substance use disorder needs. For more info, contact Kate Vacanti at kvacanti@dhs.lacounty.gov.

The Urban Institute serves as the national coordinating center for the Local Data for Equitable Communities program and provides grantees with technical assistance. Urban is a nonprofit research organization founded on one simple idea: To improve lives and strengthen communities, we need practices and policies that work. For more than 50 years, that has been our charge. By equipping changemakers with evidence and solutions, together we can create a future where every person and community has the opportunity and power to thrive.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters ws re-elected in November 2022 to her seventeenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 70 percent of the vote in the 43rd Congressional District of California. Congresswoman Waters represents parts of Los Angeles including the communities of Westchester and Playa Del Rey, the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County comprised of Lennox, West Athens, West Carson, Harbor Gateway, El Camino Village, and Watts. The 43rd District also includes the diverse cities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita and Torrance.

Whittier Trust is an independent multi-family office offering investment management, fiduciary trust, and multigenerational wealth strategies for ultra-high-net-worth families.

Charter School Of California YouthBuild Charter School of California (YCSC) holds a unique place in the landscape of California’s public charter schools. As a competency-based dropout recovery school, it seeks to provide a high school education that leads to a diploma for a distinct group of students. YCSC students, who are all between the ages of 16 to 24 years old, come from low-income families and underserved communities, and have previously left or been pushed out of the traditional school system without a diploma. They enroll at YouthBuild programs over-aged, under-credited, or both, in order to receive vocational training, counseling, leadership development and an education.

The LARYBC (Los Angeles Region YouthBuild Collaborative) is a network of Youthbuild programs in Southern California that are committed to unleashing the intelligence and positive energy of low-income youth to rebuild their communities and their lives. Our mission is to strengthen and support the development and resourcing of YouthBuild programs in the furtherance of the YouthBuild movement to benefit our under-resourced communities.

YouthBuild Global is an international nonprofit that transforms communities by empowering opportunity youth, young adults aged 16 to 24 who are currently out of school and unemployed. YouthBuild champions opportunity youth as they realize their goals and aspirations, transform into the leaders of today and tomorrow, and provide valuable service on a global scale—all while paying it forward to the next generation. YouthBuild Global unifies and partners with an expansive network of YouthBuild programs around the world. From training, technical assistance, capacity building, and innovative program enhancements to leadership development, financial stability, and narrative change and public policy, YouthBuild Global serves as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst for the entire YouthBuild movement.