Build Hope Inc. Awards $300,000 in Scholarships to Nearly 200 Los Angeles Youth in Public Housing at Cal State LA

Los Angeles, CA - On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Build Hope Inc. celebrated a major investment in Los Angeles' future by awarding $300,000 in scholarships to nearly 200 young residents from HACLA public housing communities across the city at its annual Pathways of Hope Scholarship Awards Ceremony at California State University, Los Angeles.

"Congratulations to each scholarship recipient, you inspire us and continue to make us all proud," said HACLA President & CEO, Lourdes Castro Ramirez. "Build Hope Inc. is an important extension of HACLA, grounded in our shared mission to invest in our residents and strengthen pathways to higher education, access to technology, and to good-paying job opportunities."

This transformative initiative directly addresses educational inequity in Los Angeles neighborhoods, providing crucial financial support to promising students from Watts, Boyle Heights, East LA, South LA, and other communities where educational opportunities have historically been limited.

This year's theme-"Pathways of Hope: Tools, Access, and Opportunity"-highlighted Build Hope's commitment to breaking cycles of poverty in Los Angeles by empowering local youth with resources to transform their futures and their communities. The organization continues to fulfill its mission of "Building hope today for the leaders of tomorrow" right here in Los Angeles.

"At Build Hope, we're not just waiting for change, we're building it" said Jasmine Taylor, Founding Executive Director of Build Hope Inc. "These scholarships represent Los Angeles investing in itself. When we support these brilliant young Angelenos, we're strengthening our city's future workforce, leadership, and community. With every scholarship, every internship, every computer lab we establish in LA neighborhoods-we're planting seeds of hope that will bloom throughout our city."

The ceremony featured a keynote address by Patrick Day, Vice President of Cal State LA, a cornerstone educational institution serving East Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The event celebrated the achievements of a rising generation of Los Angeles leaders from neighborhoods that have faced systemic barriers to educational advancement.

This year's initiative was made possible through partnerships with Los Angeles-based organizations including the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), AltaMed, Yardi, PASSO, the CSP LAPD Foundation, and the California Community Foundation-demonstrating a city-wide commitment to educational equity.

Board Chair Cielo Castro emphasized the local impact:

"This event represents Los Angeles coming together to create pathways of opportunity within our own communities. Every dollar invested in these scholarships stays in Los Angeles, supporting students who will become our city's next generation of teachers, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders. We're building a stronger Los Angeles by ensuring every young person, regardless of which LA neighborhood they call home, has the chance to thrive."

Build Hope Inc. continues to address critical needs in Los Angeles communities by providing educational funding, paid internships with local businesses, and digital training labs in public housing developments across the city-serving youth ages 16-24 who face barriers including poverty, unemployment, and limited access to higher education.

Lourdes Castro Ramirez is looking ahead to a bright future for students in LA. "Together, we are working to ensure that housing becomes a platform to opportunity for young people in Los Angeles to succeed in college, career, and life."

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https://www.buildhopeinc.org