UCLA Extension and the SoLa Foundation today announce a first-of-its-kind partnership to bring tuition-free UCLA Extension programming directly to South Los Angeles, expanding access to university-level education and workforce development opportunities for young adults across the city.
Launching this fall through UC Excelerator @ UCLA Extension, the collaboration will offer workshops and continuing education courses in high-demand fields and topics, including AI, product design, storytelling, entrepreneurship and project management. Beginning in fall 2026, participants will embark on a learning experience for three academic quarters that includes an exploratory workshop, followed by a credit-bearing course aligned with their discovered interests and finishing with a project management course. The program will conclude with a special engagement event on the UCLA campus to connect participants to their university community.
“This is exactly the kind of collaboration we envisioned bringing to the Crenshaw District," said Sherri Francois, executive director, SoLa Foundation and CIO, SoLa Impact. “Welcoming UCLA Extension into this space gives our community access to an institution and experiences that many people never imagined would be available in their own neighborhood. Our community is full of talented people who are eager to keep learning and growing, and we’re proud to partner with UCLA to make that happen.”
Courses will be hosted primarily at the SoLa AI & Entertainment Center in Crenshaw, which opened in May 2026 and serves as the Foundation's innovation hub for workforce development initiatives across entertainment, production, and more. Courses will also be offered at The Beehive, a cultural campus in South Los Angeles that is home to SoLa’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Center Powered by Riot Games, which provides educational resources and technology programming for local students. Through this partnership, UCLA Extension is bringing one of the nation's leading continuing education programs directly into the community, making high-quality educational opportunities more accessible than ever before.
“Together, UCLA Extension and the SoLa Foundation are investing in the future of South Los Angeles by creating accessible pathways from learning to employment, strengthening the region's talent pipeline and equipping the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and creative professionals to lead in an AI-driven economy,” said Eric Bullard, dean of the Division of Continuing education and UCLA Extension. “This collaboration represents more than workforce training — it is an investment in people, economic mobility and the long-term prosperity of South Los Angeles and the Greater Los Angeles region.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to making higher education and career development more accessible for South Los Angeles residents. By bringing UCLA Extension programming directly to the Crenshaw neighborhood and to The Beehive, the organizations are creating new opportunities for learners to gain in-demand skills, pursue meaningful careers and strengthen the region's workforce for years to come.
About UCLA Extension
For over a century, UCLA Extension has helped prepare people to live better lives through the power of education. As one of the nation’s oldest, largest and most comprehensive continuing and professional studies providers, UCLA Extension provides a wide range of options to advance students in their careers, prepare them to switch careers, or help them achieve personal growth. This collaboration is based on the UC Excelerator @ UCLA Extension model, which launched in 2024, providing no-cost courses in high-demand career areas to provide access to a UC educational experience for students who may not otherwise have attended one of the University of California campuses.
About the SoLa Foundation
The SoLa Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit affiliate of SoLa Impact, aims to improve the lives of South LA residents and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by providing opportunities for education and economic mobility. SoLa's Technology and Entrepreneurship Center Powered by Riot Games is a state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind center at the heart of South Central Los Angeles. SoLa provides the community with skills-based technology programming, as well as scholarships and career development opportunities for underinvested communities to ensure Angelenos get increased access to jobs, mentorship, and placement in the most competitive fields of business. Learn more at www.thesolafoundation.org.
