The Watts of Power Foundation seeks to build a pipeline of Black male teachers in Los Angeles, addressing the gaps in recruitment and retention that keep them from completing the path to a full teaching credential. Their flagship Teacher Village Initiative offers a culturally-affirming community space in South LA, pairing affordable housing with wrap-around support for teachers-in-training with a particular focus on transitional-aged foster youth and young people of color impacted by poverty.

Urban TXT: Teens Exploring Technology (TXT) inspires male youth of color in grades 7 to 11 from low-income Los Angeles communities to become leaders and technology entrepreneurs through hands-on coding, business development, and design thinking programs. Since 2009, TXT has helped guide students from initial ideas to a market-ready product with the goal of countering barriers facing young men of color in the tech industry.

Founded and operated by formerly homeless folks, Street Company brings together people currently experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County to work, reconnect, and thrive through a 12-week paid transitional employment program offering job skills training and one-on-one mentorship. Street Company is building an organization and community with the people they serve, not just for them.