Creators @ Laboratory

LOS ANGELES, August 27, 2025 – Multi-Grammy Award Winner, South Los Angeles native, and founder of Laboratory James Fauntleroy has partnered with three leading entertainment workforce development organizations — Handy Foundation, BRIC Foundation, and CVL Economics — to launch Creators @ Laboratory, an innovative community-led content production and workforce development center in the Crenshaw District. The collaboration is funded by a California Jobs First Los Angeles Collaborative Catalyst Grant to establish a comprehensive content production studio and registered apprenticeship hub at Laboratory’s 4707 Crenshaw Boulevard space, a new retail, education, and media production business. 

Creators @ Laboratory will serve as a community-led, operated, and owned content production and distribution house for short form, unscripted, animated, and other digital media. The initiative addresses the critical need for equitable access to entertainment industry training and job creation in South Los Angeles, where creative professionals outnumber available opportunities by nearly 3 to 2. 

“Creators @ Laboratory is about opening doors - literally and creatively,” said Fauntleroy. “We’re building a space where creators and entrepreneurs from our communities can connect to the tools, mentorship, and real-world experience they need to compete and innovate. This is about creating a new blueprint for how the industry and audiences can find and support the next generation of business leaders.”

Adapting to an Evolving Industry

As Hollywood increasingly shifts toward creator-led content, Creators @ Laboratory will provide training and education that allow creatives to adapt and grow their skills toward in-demand industry jobs. In alignment with the Los Angeles County Regional Report, Creators @ Laboratory will build career pathways and enhance the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Participants will be better prepared for the modern entertainment landscape where independent content creators drive innovation and audience engagement. The program’s creative curriculum is complemented by Laboratory’s emphasis on entrepreneurship and career-building, offering participants a foundation in business development, long-term planning, and career readiness training. 

“The entertainment landscape is evolving fast - and with that change comes opportunity,” said Ri-Karlo Handy, founder of the Handy Foundation. “Bringing hands-on access to music, animation, film, television, and emerging technology into the heart of the Crenshaw District has the potential to be truly transformational. Working with experienced professionals to gain the skills and confidence needed to thrive across every area of the industry, the creators coming through this lab won’t just be ready for the future - they’ll be shaping it.”
‍

The facility will feature a state-of-the-art beauty supply and convenience store, classrooms, and a fully equipped soundstage to support training in production, podcasts, unscripted shows, animated content, and Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channel content creation – all formats essential to today’s creator economy. 

‍