LOS ANGELES – January 25, 2024 – In an effort to significantly increase accessibility to be producers of culture, FaZe Clan announced a commitment of over $1 million to SoLa Impact’s I CAN Foundation to fund a summer-long operation of SoLa’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Center (powered by Riot Games) to provide free technology, content creation, and entertainment education to the community of South Los Angeles. FaZe’s contribution will take the form of multiple weeks of workshops, fun streaming events, and different side projects that will be shared and displayed at the center and across social media platforms.
Students will be guided by prominent content creators and professional esport athletes to inspire and develop the next generation of Black and Brown entertainers, media storytellers, and technology professionals to defy the limits of what this world has set out for them—exclusively free to residents of South Los Angeles.
“FaZe has always worked to increase the representation of Gen Z in the media marketplace, and we understand how important it is to provide opportunities to access these potential career paths to underrepresented communities. Our partnership with SoLa Impact and the SoLa I Can Foundation to build out this entire summer of events and workshops is a reflection of our commitment to bring culture forth on all fronts,” said Lee Trink, CEO of FaZe Clan.
At the state-of-the-art center, students are already being trained in coding, animation, graphic design, digital content creation, esports development, and entrepreneurship. FaZe is entering the scene given the years of experience they have breaking the ground for the content creation and lifestyle industries within video games. Besides providing their expertise, FaZe will also work toward providing students with established social media platforms to workshop or try out new ideas with other content creators—such as working on skits, creating PSA’s, exploring a unique question or developing something creatively—while also being provided mentorship in a variety of other industries adjacent to gaming, such as fashion, music, and entertainment, in order to build upon local networks.
On top of that, being able to connect with influencers from various backgrounds and a variety of talent and unique presences on a global level will help shape students’ perceptions about what is possible. We want them to defy their limits and break through the glass ceiling in this world.
FaZe, Riot and SoLa’s partnership will ensure Black and brown Angelenos can access opportunities they deserve, allowing them to change their life trajectories and resulting in shifts in economic growth that hopes to decrease intergenerational poverty in Los Angeles.