Since 1992, Streetlights has advanced social and economic opportunity through free behind-the-camera industry training, paid on-set experience, job placement, mentorship, and long-term career support.

Streetlights’ mission is to advocate for social and economic equality by providing viable career pathways for underserved men and women who may not have a solid education base or stable work history. The organization delivers free job training, guaranteed job placement and ongoing career advancement services to young adults who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, many with barriers which may include a criminal record, former gang affiliation, lack of education or gaps in work history, etc. Ours is the only program of its kind providing viable pathways into well-paying careers behind-the-camera in Commercials, Television, Film and Streaming Media.

Successful graduates include Randy Huggins, creator of Black Mafia Family, and Oscar-winning filmmaker Matthew A. Cherry, creator of “Hair Love,” whose path from Streetlights trainee to Academy Award winner reflects the power of opening the industry’s first door.

At a moment when the entertainment industry is rethinking its talent pipelines, Streetlights offers a concrete model that goes beyond conversation: free production assistant training, paid on-set experience, job placement, mentorship, and long-term career advancement support.