AllieKits Network, Inc. Receives Catalyst Grant for ASCEND Creative Workforce Initiative in Long Beach
- Alliekits Network
- Sep 21, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
Long Beach, CA - AllieKits Network, Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to expanding creative and entrepreneurial access for girls and young women, has been awarded a Catalyst Phase grant from the California Community Foundation (CCF). This grant is part of the California Jobs First initiative, funded by the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD), and will support the planning and design of the organization’s ASCEND Creative Workforce Initiative.
ASCEND - short for Advancing Students in Creative Enterprise and Nex-Gen Design - is being developed to create equitable pathways into creative careers for young women ages 16-24. Centered on video production as the anchor skill, the program also integrates community-centered media and digital storytelling. ASCEND will move beyond traditional training by offering immersive learning that bridges education, economic mobility, and creative industry access.
The Catalyst grant will provide resources for curriculum design, youth focus groups, employer engagement. It will support planning for a dedicated creative training hub in Long Beach. By centering youth voices and addressing barriers to access, the initiative is being structured for long-term impact ensuring participants gain creative skills, work on real projects, and access paid pathways within the creative economy.
“Our community has incredible creative talent - but too often, the doors to real opportunities are closed to young women from disinvested communities,” said Allison “Allie Knows” Tillman, Founder and CEO of AllieKits Network, Inc. “This Catalyst grant allows us to take our time and do it right - by listening to young people, designing a hands-on program that reflects their realities, and building something that’s actually built to last.”
As part of its long-term vision, AllieKits Network is also planning a social enterprise creative agency that will connect ASCEND graduates directly with employers and clients. This future agency will provide not just certifications, but project-based experience and a professional portfolio laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and sustainable creative economy in Long Beach.
AllieKits Network was founded to address the persistent lack of access to creative and entrepreneurial pathways for young women particularly those from communities that have historically been overlooked. With this Catalyst funding, the organization is taking a meaningful step toward building the foundation for creative career access that can change lives and strengthen the region’s economic future.
About AllieKits Network, Inc.
AllieKits Network is a Long Beach based nonprofit helping girls and young women turn creativity into careers. Through mentorship, leadership development, and hands-on learning, the organization prepares participants to become creators, change agents, and future business leaders. Founded in 2019 by Allison “Allie Knows” Tillman, a creative strategist and nonprofit leader, AllieKits has built its programs on a community-informed model that emphasizes equity and opportunity. In 2025, AllieKits Network receives Catalyst Grant for ASCEND, a creative workforce program focused on video production, community-centered media, and digital storytelling.
About the Catalyst Initiative
The Catalyst Predevelopment Phase of the Regional Investment Initiative through California Jobs First has invested $9 million in 26 projects across sectors including bioscience, construction, clean and renewable energy, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and video production and distribution. These predevelopment projects are designed to move initiatives closer to implementation, positioning them for future funding opportunities and long-term impact across Los Angeles County.
Learn more:
This project is supported by funding from the State of California to the California Jobs First Los Angeles (LA) Collaborative as part of the Catalyst initiative to advance inclusive economic development in LA County.
Media Contact
Allison “Allie Knows” Tillman
Founder & CEO, AllieKits Network, Inc.
(562) 248-2604
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