Investing in Opportunity Youth: The Handy Foundation's Pathway to Equity in the Entertainment Industry

Strategic Insights -

In a move to acknowledge Black Women's Equal Pay Day, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom visited an apprenticeship program at The Handy Foundation, a strategic partner of the California Film Commission, to provide training for underrepresented youth in the entertainment industry. The program aims to address the persistent wage gap by providing access to "below-the-line" roles, from assistant editing to audio and virtual production roles, and more.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Handy Foundation's apprenticeship program is a recipient of the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship (COYA) Grant, which offers pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for youth across the state.
  • The program is a strategic partner of the California Film Commission and has industry partners such as Netflix, Lionsgate, and Bunim-Murray Productions, a part of Banijay Americas.
  • Apprenticeships are a key part of the Governor's Master Plan for Career Education, which aims to connect young people to meaningful, high-wage careers.
  • The Handy Foundation's program is helping to address the wage gap by providing training and job opportunities for underrepresented youth in the entertainment industry.
  • Two alumni of the program, Brooke Nicholas and Dalia Soto-Beltran, shared their experiences and the impact the program has had on their careers.

Statistics:

  • The wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white men is .66 cents vs. $1 for full-time, year-round workers.
  • The Handy Foundation's apprenticeship program has helped train young people for careers in the entertainment industry, including assistant editing, production and post management, audio and virtual production roles, and more.
  • The California Film Commission's Film and Television Tax Credit Program has been expanded to a $750 million credit package to support the state's creative economy.
  • The California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship program has provided support to community-based organizations that are connecting opportunity youth to long-term career pathways.

Sources:

  • US State of California, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom visits apprenticeship program to help bridge gap for underrepresented youth in Hollywood, Contify, 2 Jul 2025
  • US State of California, Governor Newsom Helps Support the Expansion of the California Film Commission's Film and Television Tax Credit Program, Contify, 2 Jul 2025
  • The Handy Foundation, Press Releases 2025, Contify, distributed by Contify.com