LOS ANGELES, August 9, 2022 — WeWork Inc. (NYSE: WE) (“WeWork”), one of the leading global flexible space providers, today announced a partnership with the Social Justice Learning Institute (“SJLI”), an Inglewood-based nonprofit organization that provides young men of color with education, skills, and resources that contribute to having greater economic mobility. The partnership will provide the resources for students in The Fellowship Initiative (TFI), a college-readiness and leadership program that SJLI’s Special Projects team recruits and facilitates in partnership with JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM).
Through programs focused on providing access to opportunity, WeWork has refocused its ESG strategy to positively impact people worldwide. In partnership with the Social Justice Learning Institute, WeWork will host SJLI’s TFI Fellows each quarter in Los Angeles locations for mentorship and career exploration opportunities — spanning a variety of topics including but not limited to: leadership development, sales, financial literacy, project management, operations, entrepreneurship and business planning. The programming aims to provide SJLI’s TFI Fellows with a pathway to professional development opportunities that will give them a jumpstart on their careers.
In the past year, WeWork donated 50 laptops to the organization, which the students have been using for their schoolwork, alongside extracurricular programs — allowing them to gain a greater edge on their studies and career. The donation sparked a larger conversation on more ways to support SJLI goals, including getting 100% of its current TFI fellows employed and on a career pathway.
“We are grateful for WeWork’s dedication to creating a positive impact for our scholars,” said Derek Steele, Executive Director at the Social Justice Learning Institute. “Through the support and partnership, we are able to empower our students to more effectively participate in the fellowship, complete their school work, and have effective tools for college applications season during their senior year — all present-day programming that will set them up for long-term success. Through The Fellowship Initiative, a foundation is built that minimizes the barriers to academic and professional achievements for not only our TFI fellows, but for friends, families and their entire community.”
The partnership with the Social Justice Learning Institute demonstrates WeWork’s dedication to its ESG purpose: to harness the power of community to make a positive impact on people and the environment. By providing access to opportunity through local grassroots engagement, WeWork strives to create positive pathways to a more collective future.
“WeWork is committed to supporting the Los Angeles community, and our partnership with the Social Justice Learning Institute allows us to foster more growth, opportunity, and connection,” said Elton Kwok, Territory Vice President, Head of California and Nevada at WeWork. “We are proud to harness the power of our partners to make a difference, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with SJLI as they work to make a positive impact on the greater Los Angeles area.”
About WeWork:
WeWork was founded in 2010 with the vision to create environments where people and companies come together and do their best work. Since opening our first location in New York City, we’ve grown into a global flexible space provider committed to delivering technology-driven flexible solutions, inspiring spaces, and community experiences. Today, we’re constantly reimagining how the workplace can help everyone, from freelancers to Fortune 500s, be more motivated, productive, and connected. For more information about WeWork, please visit us at wework.com.
About Social Justice Learning Institute:
Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), established in Inglewood, California in 2008, is dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of youth and communities of color by empowering communities to enact social change through research, training and community mobilization. SJLI works toward its vision of communities where individuals use their own agency to improve each other’s lives. As an equity first organization, SJLI empowers youth, their families and community members through education so they have the knowledge and tools necessary to create thriving communities and change educational, health and environmental systems.
