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The SoLa Foundation is putting South LA youth closer to the front door of the entertainment business.
The nonprofit has opened the SoLa AI & Entertainment Center Powered by Live Nation, a 9,000-square-foot training hub in Crenshaw designed to prepare young people for careers in live entertainment, media production, artificial intelligence and technology.
Built in partnership with Live Nation, the center will combine classroom learning, hands-on production training and direct access to industry professionals. A dedicated 1,650-square-foot Live Nation space will operate as both a flexible classroom and creative production environment, where students can work with SoLa educators, Live Nation staff and entertainment mentors.
The opening was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, SoLa leadership, Live Nation executives and program participants. The event also included a live demo of the center’s tech and production capabilities inside the Live Nation Lounge.
SoLa leaders framed the center as a response to the rapid rise of AI and the need to ensure South LA communities are not shut out of emerging career paths.
“Our goal is to ensure that a young person in Watts who understands how to use AI has the same access to opportunity as a kid from Palo Alto,” SoLa Impact CEO Martin Muoto said in a statement.
Live Nation’s involvement builds on its work with the SoLa Live Accelerator Program, a six-month training initiative for South LA residents interested in live entertainment careers. The program includes guest speakers, field trips, experiential learning and guidance from Live Nation staff, including CEO Michael Rapino.
Liz Dyer, SVP of Human Resources at Live Nation, said the new center gives students a direct look at how the live business works from the inside.
“It creates a space for youth to learn directly from those working in the industry — building skills through hands-on learning and gaining a clear understanding of how live entertainment comes to life,” Dyer said.
Programming at the AI & Entertainment Center will roll out over the next year, with curriculum expected to evolve alongside industry needs and community input.
The center is tied to SoLa Impact’s broader Crenshaw footprint, including the upcoming Crenshaw Lofts development, expected to open in late Q1 2026. It also houses the Crenshaw Cafe, SoLa’s second culinary training kitchen and social enterprise, which will offer vocational training and state-recognized certifications for participants, many from low-income backgrounds.
The new facility marks SoLa’s second major education and workforce hub in the neighborhood. Its Technology & Entrepreneurship Center, powered by Riot Games and located at The Beehive innovation campus, has already served thousands of local youth and young adults through tech, entrepreneurship and creative industry programming.
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