Founder Chandra Stovall Focus Mentorship | Type 501(c)(3) Employees 5+ | |
Founded November 2013; 3 years ago (2013-11) Location Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
Community Inspiring Today’s Youth or The CITY is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization founded in 2013. Their primary focus is to develop entrepreneurship programs and mentor opportunities for troubled or previously incarcerated youth. The organization is notable for its annual star-studded CITY Gala.
Contents
History
The pilot program for The CITY began in 2006 by Southern California native, Chandra Stovall, who now serves as the executive director. Stovall developed several youth entrepreneurship programs in the Watts and Echo Park neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Through these programs, The CITY was able to produce an entirely youth-generated revenue that reached over $6000.
The organization was officially enacted in 2013 and its official launch ceremony, Fame and Philanthropy was attended by several notable cynosures including Charlize Theron, Sean Penn, Halle Berry, and a keynote speech from director James Cameron. The event is noted to have raised enough money to provide operating expenses for the entire organization for two years.
Programs
Since its conception, The CITY had provided students in South Central Los Angeles with a unique "Micro-Entrepreneurship" program that lasts 46 weeks. This program encourages students not "enter the field or trade" but to start their own business. They offer specific technical training in several different categories including jewelry design, photography, graphic arts & design, and interior & exterior painting.
In these programs, inner city youth develop a product or service, and obtain mentor-ship from a notable leader in that particular field or an industry professional.
CITY Gala
Since the Fame and Philanthropy gala, The CITY has hosted an annual awards ceremony and speaker summit known as the CITY Gala. This annual gala features speeches from top leaders in the entertainment industry, musical performance from A-list celebrities, and worldwide media coverage. The next CITY Gala will take place at the Playboy Mansion and feature a speech from business mogul Richard Branson. Also during the event, Buzz Aldrin will be awarded a lifetime achievement award, and John Paul DeJoria will be honored. CITY Gala 2016 will be hosted by Sean Combs and 98 Degrees member Jeff Timmons.