Workplace Hollywood

The mission of WH is to ensure that historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles can effectively compete for and gain access to jobs and business opportunities within the entertainment industry.Workplace Hollywood is an industry-driven, workforce development initiative created and led by representatives from the entertainment industry, and community-based organizations.Workplace Hollywood’s target/priority group, as defined in its mission, includes “historically under-represented and economically disadvantaged communities in Los Angeles.” These consist of diverse constituents including youth, disadvantaged/minority young adults, criminal offenders, welfare-to-work recipients, diverse college graduates, diverse professionals and minority owned businesses. Workplace Hollywood seeks to leverage the entertainment industry on behalf of these constituents to open doors that lead to jobs and business opportunities Workplace Hollywood has three basic initiatives: 1) Internships, 2) Entry-level Job Training and 3) Placement and Management Recruitment. Workplace Hollywood implements these initiatives through identifying and supporting community based, non-profit organizations. Community education and outreach events, recruiting and preparing candidates through Career Strategies Workshops, individual Career Coaching and presenting diverse candidates for open positions to entertainment companies. Workplace Hollywood currently partners with 32 non-profit organizations. Workplace Hollywood provides an access point to employment for diverse candidates who often have the skills but lack access and connections in the industry. It has been stated that Entertainment is a “ Who you know business” and Workplace Hollywood has become the “who you know” for those who are qualified and talented but disconnected.Workplace Hollywood carries out a variety of central services. Workplace Hollywood conducts Career Strategy Workshops for all candidates; facilitates active job searches on behalf of the candidates; refers candidates to one of the many community-based partners for the necessary training and education; and conducts active case management and career coaching. Workplace Hollywood also conducts targeted recruitment events for entertainment companies that introduces them to diverse candidates and hosts a series of networking events where candidates meet, interact and expand their knowledge of and contacts within the entertainment industry. Workplace Hollywood currently maintains a database of 3,400 diverse candidates.Coupled with strong leadership and support from the entertainment community, Workplace Hollywood’s early success in job placement suggests that it is in a unique position to serve as the entertainment industry’s primary job training and placement vehicle.The total number of candidates who have been hired through Workplace Hollywood and its Partners to date are 2484. The total number of people who have received training is 6575.Workplace Hollywood’s Board includes senior executives from nearly all the major entertainment companies and unions, as well as elected officials and community leaders. In addition to delivering unparalleled expertise, the Board also provides access to industry employers, enabling Workplace Hollywood to identify labor market trends and to respond by developing appropriate programming.