Change will begin from change within

Access to Creative Industry Employment (sponsored by Snap Foundation)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative

The entire Pride In Unity staff comes from underprivileged communities. We have a history within our organization of working directly in group homes, halfway houses, and several community colleges. Our organization works consistently within the community with multiple organizations and community leaders implementing diverse projects to help with safety and inequality that plague the urban communities in the greater Los Angeles area.

Through entertainment, excursions, and Impact Sessions we provide youth/young adults an outlet to relieve stress, openly discuss their dreams, goals, fears and current situations with each other. Establishing goal oriented young adults with networks that can readily be available to them for advancement, mentally, spiritually, and financially. Learn about their chosen field of arts and entertainment, i.e. business, and equipment associated with their chosen craft. Get to know their classmates and future business associates through our Impact Sessions: (a lot of the youth were taught to be separated coming from rival gangs communities and/or different ethnicities/spiritual backgrounds, our goal is to find a commonality through business, athletics, entertainment, and spirituality.) Learn how to work in groups to achieve goals. Learn public speaking and self expression through their art, talents, and gifts. Create a plan of action for their future business aspirations, career, and life.

The Pride in Unity program will help to develop small visual art franchises in Los Angeles where the entire caseload becomes shareholders/owners of their projects , establishing self confidence, higher self esteem, spiritual growth, and positive mindsets that produce positive outcomes for their future. We hope that they in turn will help others within their community with what they learned and we can create a recycling network that helps to promote and advance them in areas they wouldn't normally be included. A lot of the youth/young adults in these impoverished areas grow up in fatherless and/or abusive homes without positive role models or influences. Without being able to dream or achieve obtainable short term goals a lot of the times they are left feeling hopeless. In most cases leading to early incarceration and mental illness. We want to provide a service that diverts that cycle and promotes inclusivity, financial opportunities, and outlets for artistic cultural reflection.

By taking weekly assessments on the caseload that we facilitate we are able to see how caseload is affected. The assessment is based upon short term goal sheets that we take at the beginning of each course of curriculum during one on one impact sessions. The weekly assessments are based upon data collected, family interactions, and community engagement during and after the course. We also stay involved and act like a Big brother system making ourselves readily available providing necessary resources and access to equipment and other materials needed to stay ahead in the field that caseload so chooses for advancement.