about us

exec. director's message | founder's message | the board

Hollywood Media+Arts is a one-of-a-kind arts academy for homeless and foster care young people located in the heart of Hollywood.

The Center offers classes in media, music and the commercial arts—giving young people a chance to learn about a variety of creative activities, sharpen their thinking skills and prepare them for jobs in the creative industries.

Classes emphasize hands-on learning, mentor relationships, teamwork and technical skills.

The Hollywood Media+Arts Center has a fully equipped recording studio, computer lab and classroom space.

Classes are offered at no cost and lead to work-based mentorships, internships, and entry-level work opportunities.

FOUNDER'S MESSAGE

In 2006, I was trying to find a way out of public affairs. I was discouraged by what I saw in our welfare systems and I longed to return to the ceramics studio where I spent long days and nights in my 20s working on chess sets, marionettes and chimerical creatures. But I didn't want to turn my back entirely on social service work and decided I would open the ceramics studio to at-risk teenage girls.

But that never happened.

Instead, after locating the studio in Hollywood and meeting with nonprofit organizations serving the local youth, I found myself facing a group of young people who looked remarkably like me when I was 19 and found myself lost, unable to move forward.

I remembered my own story as I listened to their stories and I saw an opportunity to help an amazingly strong and smart group of young people. Young people who were struggling with the tension between their need for help and their desire to be autonomous, their optimism that they could reach their dreams with the depression that greeted them each morning not knowing how to move forward.

Hollywood Arts was built for these young people and from their stories.

Four years later, I am proud to announce that Hollywood Arts has become a full-service educational facility that has reached over 300 young adults on the streets. We now offer 22 classes a week at no cost to youth and have used art and music-based education as a starting point to move our students to community college and internships and jobs in the creative sector.

At this point I am honored to say goodbye and to leave Hollywood Arts in the incredibly capable hands of new leadership. Rachel Romanski brings energy and vision to Hollywood Arts as we prepare to launch into our second phase of growth. Please join her in using arts and music to change the lives of an often-overlooked population. Hollywood Arts works and with your help, will work even better.

Thank you for your support. We are making a difference.

Dylan Kendall
Founder