Mayor Karen Bass has officially thrown her support behind the Creators @ Laboratory project in South Los Angeles, marking a significant step forward for local creative industry job opportunities and training. Alongside Grammy-winner James Fauntleroy and Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the mayor commemorated the start of construction for the new entertainment workforce development hub, which aims to bring diverse talent into the spotlight, according to a statement from the Mayor's Office.
James Fauntleroy, hailing from South LA himself, is passionate about "bringing an entrepreneurship program and easily accessible entertainment production to this area for each and every individual," as he put it in a statement. Fauntleroy's vision has garnered city support and aims to show that creativity knows no bounds of appearance or origin. Mayor Bass emphasized that "the entertainment industry is core to our local economy and to our city’s identity," citing the Creators @ Laboratory as a means to maintain South LA's status as a hub for accomplished creators.
The facility will be equipped with cutting-edge resources, including a production studio, podcast recording spaces, and a soundstage to support burgeoning content creators. It promises training in various media formats that are now pillars of the creator economy. This project, funded in part by a Catalyst Grant from the California Jobs First Los Angeles Collaborative, represents a collaborative effort among Fauntleroy’s Laboratory, the BRIC Foundation, the Handy Foundation, and CVL Economics.
Ri-Karlo Handy, CEO of The Handy Foundation and member of the mayor's Entertainment Industry Council, believes the Creators @ Laboratory is not just about a physical space but also about opening doors for underrepresented talent. With the mayor since her tenure as Speaker of the California State Assembly, the industry has seen initiatives like Executive Directive 11, facilitating easier filming processes in LA, and Executive Directive 8, creating a more industry-friendly service culture in city departments, as per the information shared by the Mayor's Office.
