The Festival Project - Access to Creative Industry Employment

Access to tech and creative industry employment

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

There are over 500,000 working-age Angelenos with disabilities, yet only 22.8% are employed, compared to 74.4% of those without disabilities. This disparity is pronounced in the creative industries, where most internships require at least 1 year of relevant experience. This creates a significant barrier for job seekers with disabilities, who often struggle to secure internships due to a lack of prior experience. Internships are now prerequisites for many jobs and exclude those without relevant experience. Societal stereotypes and stigmas further hinder the hiring of applicants with disabilities. This trend persists today, with employers consistently favoring candidates with prior internship experience. Consequently, individuals with disabilities face compounded difficulties in obtaining their first internship, creating a cycle of exclusion from the workforce. This systemic issue underscores the urgent need for more inclusive hiring practices and accessible internship opportunities.

This program serves adults with disabilities who have expressed an interest in developing the skills needed to pursue creative industry employment. This business partnership focused program fosters employer awareness of the skills/abilities of people with disabilities, promoting inclusive employment opportunities and assists in increasing the hiring rates of people with disabilities in skilled occupations that employers are seeking to fill. The program brings together people from different neurotypes, physical abilities, racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to develop mutual understanding and real connections by working on a common work-based project, and promotes the collaboration of people from diverse backgrounds learning about, understanding, and celebrating participants' and employers' unique contributions, differences, and similarities. Over the course of a year, participants complete 5 hrs/wk of production role-based training that provides participants with clarity, alignment, and expectations of all roles in each department and promotes effective communication between various departments facilitating the full integration of the department and company as a whole. Participants also receive 10 hrs/wk of hands-on project based training in industry workplace settings, working alongside live event industry employers on all aspects of production. Participants will gain 1 year of relevant work experience qualifying them for creative industry internships and employment.

It is crucial that employers create inclusive workplaces to ensure that Angelenos with disabilities can thrive and fully participate in the workforce.Employment offers numerous benefits to Angelenos with disabilities, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives, contribute to society, and realize their potential.The short-term objective of this program is to continue to provide innovative services and support(s) that are tailored to each participant,enabling participants to build professional industry connections by performing skilled work alongside industry employers, as well as continue to provide participants with relevant work experience to add to their resumes making them stronger candidates when applying for internship/job opportunities.The long-term objective of this program is to continue to provide business focused services that respond to creative industry employers needs and further increase the hiring of workers with disabilities in skilled, creative jobs in Los Angeles County

In 2023, YIC served 12 Angelenos with disabilities in this program funded by the Department of Developmental Disabilities. 83% of these participants secured internships or employment in creative careers. Utilizing surveys and assessments, data is collected throughout the duration of the program. Surveys are conducted at the beginning and end of the program utilizing a standardized set of measures. Assessments are conducted to track participant outcome data and to collect data on all performed activities to ensure the program is on target with the approved work plan. Data is solicited from program participants, YIC staff and directors, employers, and other community stakeholders. A quarterly report will be submitted to stakeholders reporting on performance measures, activities, and financial data. Data is evaluated internally ensuring compliance with standards, identify trends in services, detect areas needing improvement, track financial data, and for strategic planning purposes.