Investing in Experience: Eastmont Awarded $50,000 LA2050 Grant to Launch Workforce Program for Older Adults

Eastmont Community Center is proud to announce that it has been selected as a 2025 LA2050 Grantee, receiving a $50,000 grant from the Goldhirsh Foundation to launch a new workforce development program for older adults and adults with disabilities. The initiative—focused on culinary training and entrepreneurship—represents a powerful step toward building inclusive pathways to income generation and economic mobility for communities often left out of traditional workforce programs.

This grant is part of the 2025 LA2050 Grants Challenge, a community-driven initiative that awarded nearly $3 million to 55 Los Angeles-area nonprofits. Supported by a collaborative of twelve local funders; including the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Snap Foundation, and the OpenAI Academy, the LA2050 Grants Challenge invests in organizations and ideas that advance a shared vision for a stronger, more equitable Los Angeles by the year 2050.

A Bold Vision for Inclusive Economic Participation

At a time when fixed incomes fall short of meeting basic needs, Eastmont’s new program aims to tap into a population rich with experience, creativity, and drive. Through hands-on culinary training and small business mentorship, participants will learn how to translate lifelong skills into sustainable income opportunities—whether through catering, food products, or entrepreneurship ventures that contribute to the local food economy.

“Older adults are often excluded from workforce development programs despite having immense potential to lead and create value,” said Isaias Hernandez, Executive Director of Eastmont Community Center. “We’re creating programming that recognizes their strengths and provides real opportunities for economic participation. At a time when government funding is tight, the Goldhirsh Foundation allows us to invest in combating income inequality while still meeting the needs of families today.”

The 2025 LA2050 Grantee Showcase, held at The Huntington Library in San Marino, brought together local and regional leaders from across sectors to celebrate this year’s award recipients. The event featured remarks from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and representatives from the Goldhirsh Foundation and partner institutions. Executive Director Isaias Hernandez attended on behalf of Eastmont, joining peers from across Los Angeles who are transforming the city through education, environmental sustainability, workforce innovation, and community health.

The Showcase highlighted a broad range of creative initiatives, from programs training formerly incarcerated individuals for firefighting careers to new mobility solutions like San Pedro’s electric trolley system. Each project, in its own way, reflects the spirit of LA2050’s mission: to make Los Angeles the best place to live, learn, create, play, and connect.

Since its founding in 1968, Eastmont Community Center has been a cornerstone of support in East Los Angeles, providing programs that uplift families through education, food security, housing assistance, and workforce development. The new initiative builds on that legacy, expanding Eastmont’s economic empowerment work to meet the needs of a rapidly aging and diverse community.

By investing in older adults and adults with disabilities, Eastmont is not only fostering financial independence but also strengthening community resilience. Culinary training will be paired with business literacy and micro-enterprise development—empowering participants to envision, create, and sustain their own income-generating ventures.

Program development will begin in early 2026 with a community-led design process. Eastmont plans to collaborate with local chefs, small business owners, and educational partners to ensure the curriculum integrates both technical skills and entrepreneurial thinking. The long-term vision is to establish a model that can be replicated across other neighborhoods and community centers throughout Los Angeles County.

The Goldhirsh Foundation’s continued investment through the LA2050 Grants Challenge underscores a shared belief: that communities themselves hold the power to shape the future of Los Angeles.

To explore the full list of 2025 LA2050 Grantees and learn more about the Goldhirsh Foundation’s vision for a better Los Angeles, visit la2050.org.