SOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

EmpowerBiz MBA "Mastering Business Acumen"

EmpowerBiz is a 6-week entrepreneur education program designed to develop minority-owned business owners (our adult entrepreneur program) with the capacity to create growing businesses that provide jobs in the community. EmpowerBiz achieves its goals by creating innovative pathways to capital and expert coaching and technical assistance. EmpowerBiz is part of SoCal CDC’s overarching entrepreneurship development strategy that empowers entrepreneurs from low-to-moderate income backgrounds to create financial self-reliance while building job-creating businesses. Participants complete two modules: 1) Business Essentials; Formation and Structure, financial management, operations, sales and marketing, 2) Access to Capital; Credit and Financial Preparation, Leadership, and Business Plan Development. Finally, participants have an opportunity to showcase their business ideas by participating in our pitch competition events. Pitch winners can earn cash prizes up to $500.00.

Youth Entrepreneur Academy

The Youth Entrepreneur Academy is an 8-week educational program and grant fund aimed at promoting youth entrepreneurship in underserved communities. The program empowers young high school entrepreneurs from low-to-moderate income backgrounds to create and grow jself-sustaining businesses, as well as to pursue higher education and career endeavors. Participants complete three modules: 1) Business Basics; Leadership, and Business Idea Development. Each class culminates in a public pitch competition event where finalists present their business ideas to a panel of business leaders for a chance to win a $5,000 start-up loan! Since 2015, the program has funded over $130,000 to 27 participants who launched new businesses. YEA includes the SoCal Community Scholarship Fund, dedicated to supporting higher education, and providing tuition-assistance grants to 25 high school students annually.

STEMulateOC Youth STEM Program

Three Cohorts totaling 75 middle school and high school students learn engineering-based concepts that directly boost STEM academic performance and drive STEM career interest and proficiency. Programs include one or more of our 2024 STEM programs: “Video Game Lab” Online program features hands-on learning for LMI Middle High School students to build their own video game that also serves as a functional laptop computer! Rocket Club is a hybrid program (online classroom and finale rocket launch event in the desert) for LMI Middle to High School students that provides access to the illusive world of space and rocket science. Allows students to safely create a flying rocket and earn a certified membership card to the National Association of Rocketry! Finally, our STEAM Youth Camps (Spring and Summer) is a six-week camp that focuses on holistic enrichment of Middle to High School student while building STEaM skills. This program includes “A” for arts including music, film, photography, etc.

Pathways to Prosperity First Time Home Buyer Program

Pathways to Prosperity launched its inaugural pilot program in 2024. The goal was to establish a first-time home buyer (FTHB) workshop model where participants engage in interactive lessons aimed at providing knowledge on how to position for a first-time home purchase. This program allows participants to create a personal financial plan that they can follow for weeks and months after the initial workshop. To improve the success rate, SoCal CDC and designated volunteers provided technical assistance in the form of financial coaches who are tasked with guiding alumni participants towards their FTHB/Financial goals over a period of one year.