Community leaders, city officials, and artists gathered on Saturday, June 21, 2025, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Watts Empowerment Film & Music Studio—a new creative hub at the heart of Imperial Courts public housing. Spearheaded by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the Watts Empowerment Center, the project marks a major investment in the artistic and professional futures of local youth.
“This studio is more than walls with lights and sound – it’s a dream we’ve fought to bring to life,” said Justin Mayo, Executive Director of the Watts Empowerment Center. “It’s a creative sanctuary in the heart of Watts, where young people will walk in and know: their voice matters, their story belongs, and their future is worth building.”
The 2,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will expand the existing 12,900-square-foot Empowerment Center and provide professional-grade film and music production space—including a live room, vocal booth, and three control rooms. Construction begins this summer, with a grand opening expected in Fall 2026.
Backed by more than $3 million in funding from the City of Los Angeles’ Community Development Block Grant, the California Arts Council, and HACLA, the project reflects a shared commitment to building opportunity through creative empowerment.
“We are incredibly grateful to our city and state partners for investing in this vision,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez, HACLA President & CEO. “This studio will give young people a space to build technical skills, unleash creativity, and prepare for careers in one of L.A.’s most dynamic industries—the entertainment industry.”
Imperial Courts, a 36-acre housing site home to over 1,400 residents, is undergoing a series of improvements, with the new studio at its center. Nearly half of the residents are under 18, many of whom already participate in Empowerment Center programs.
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), a lifelong Watts resident, hailed the project as a dream realized. “I’ve always believed a space like this could serve our multigenerational family of artists in powerful ways. We deserve this.”
Councilmember Tim McOsker (CD15) agreed: “Watts has produced incredible talent for decades. This is what investing in homegrown talent looks like.”
The music program at the Watts Empowerment Center started eight years ago in a converted maintenance closet. Now, it’s laying the foundation for an industry pipeline rooted in Watts, offering job training, education, and community-based employment opportunities during and after construction.
“Watts gave us the struggle, the strength, and the story — now it’s time we give it the spotlight,” said Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, CEO of T.D.E. “This studio ain’t just brick and mortar — it’s a launchpad for the next generation of storytellers, dreamers, and legends from our own backyard.”