SoLa Foundation Opens New AI & Entertainment Center, Powered by Live Nation in Crenshaw

Images of The Center and the event can be found here

The SoLa Foundation today announced the opening of the SoLa AI & Entertainment Center Powered by Live Nation, a creative and workforce training hub within Los Angeles’ Crenshaw neighborhood. Developed in partnership with Live Nation, the 9,000-square-foot Center will prepare local youth and young adults for careers across entertainment, media production, AI, and technology, while deepening SoLa’s long-term investment in economic mobility and opportunity.

“At SoLa, our mission has always been about creating access: access to education, to careers, and to industries that have historically excluded marginalized talent groups,” said Sherri Francois, Executive Director, SoLa Foundation & CIO, SoLa Impact. “Our new AI & Entertainment Center represents the next phase of that work. As technology continues to evolve, especially with the rapid rise of AI, we are committed to equipping our community with the tools, skills, and exposure needed to participate and lead.”

The SoLa AI & Entertainment Center celebrated its public opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and remarks by Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marqueece Harris-Dawson, President of the Los Angeles City Council, SoLa leadership, Live Nation executives, and program participants, in addition to a live demo of the technology and production capabilities in the Live Nation Lounge. The Center will begin rolling out programming over the next year, with continued expansion planned as partnerships and curriculum evolve.

“One of our core beliefs at SoLa is that access to opportunity changes everything.  That has never been more true than in today’s AI-driven economy,” said Martin Muoto, CEO, SoLa Impact. “The AI & Entertainment Center reflects our commitment to ensuring that communities like South LA do not get left behind.  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.”

The Center’s curriculum is designed to evolve in response to industry needs and community input. Central to this model is a collaborative partnership with Live Nation that goes beyond sponsorship to embed industry expertise directly within the Center. A dedicated 1,650-square-foot space serves as a flexible classroom and creative production environment where students can engage with SoLa educators, Live Nation professionals, and industry mentors.

“This center represents what’s possible when investment turns into real opportunity,” said Liz Dyer, SVP, Human Resources at Live Nation. “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. That kind of access is essential to developing the talent that will shape the future of our business.”

Live Nation has played a central role in shaping SoLa’s entertainment-focused workforce pipeline through the SoLa Live Accelerator Program, which trains a new generation of live entertainment professionals from South LA through a 6-month intensive that includes guest speaker engagements, immersive field trips, experiential learning, and guidance from Live Nation staff, including CEO Michael Rapino.

The AI & Entertainment Center connects to SoLa Impact’s Crenshaw Lofts development, which is expected to open in late Q1 2026 and will include amenities such as a wellness studio, lockers, and direct access to the Center. In addition, the Center hosts the Crenshaw Cafe, SoLa’s second culinary training kitchen and social enterprise. Designed to provide vocational training and state-recognized certifications, with the majority of participants expected to come from low-income backgrounds. The Cafe complements SoLa’s broader workforce development strategy and the existing 60th Street Cafe by creating additional career pathways into the food and hospitality industries.

The new Center represents SoLa’s second major education and workforce hub in the neighborhood. Located within The Beehive, SoLa Impact’s 104,000-square-foot flagship innovation campus, the Technology & Entrepreneurship Center, powered by Riot Games, has served thousands of local youth and young adults through educational programs and on-site mentorship across the technology and creative industries.