First Partner highlights apprenticeship program helping underrepresented youth break into careers in California’s iconic entertainment industry

What you need to know: To help mark Black Women's Equal Pay Day, the First Partner visits an apprenticeship program that is helping opportunity youth-including women of color-break into careers in Hollywood's below-the-line workforce.

LOS ANGELES-First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom earlier this week visited an innovative apprenticeship program aimed at opening up more career pathways for underrepresented youth in the entertainment industry-including women of color.

In a visit to The Handy Foundation offices and a sound stage and production training facility at the local 80 (IATSE) offices, Siebel Newsom met with program apprentices, instructors, alumni, and a few of the entertainment industry partners that employ its graduates, including Netflix, Lionsgate, and Bunim-Murray Productions, a part of Banijay Americas. The Handy Foundation apprenticeship program helps train young people for "below-the-line" roles in the entertainment industry, from assistant editing, to production and post management, audio and virtual production roles, and more.

A strategic partner of the California Film Commission, the Handy Foundation is also a 2025 recipient of the state's California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) Grant, which offers pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for youth across the state.

"California is the global center of the creative economy and more young Californians-from all walks of life-should be able to pursue career paths within our iconic entertainment industry. Our apprenticeship grants and programs like this show us what's possible when we invest in real pathways to good jobs, fair pay, and long-term careers. Our economy works best when it works for everyone."

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom