Visionary Youth Los Angeles

What Visionary Youth Los Angeles does

Visionary Youth Los Angeles (VYLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2021 by Dr. Robert Hernandez, operating from a single community center at 3339 W. Temple St., 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA. The organization serves underserved and systems-impacted youth ages 15-19 — including probation and foster youth — through four core programs: twice-weekly tutoring and mentorship; college visits and workshops covering financial aid, A-G requirements, and the UC roadmap; youth advocacy and leadership training built on community assessments and asset mapping; and clinical social-emotional support delivered by a licensed clinical social worker (Brenda Torres, ACSW). All services are free to participants.

VYLA runs a minimal operating footprint of two named staff (a Clinical Social Worker and a Marketing and Communications Specialist / Youth Development Specialist) supported by a five-member Board of Directors with deep LA social-work, hospital, and policy networks. Its underlying platform is a Squarespace-hosted website with a donation portal, online youth interest form, and volunteer/internship intake — no proprietary technology, mobile app, or AI capabilities. The center operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3pm to 7pm.

Revenue is generated through individual donations (one-time, weekly, or monthly contributions at preset tiers of $10, $25, $50, $100, or custom amounts) and government grants from the City of Los Angeles and Council District 13. The organization maintains 10+ named community partnerships spanning violence prevention, trauma support, youth justice, and reentry services. No revenue figures, headcount growth signals, funding rounds, or financial metrics are publicly disclosed.

Name

Visionary Youth Los Angeles

Legal name

Visionary Youth Los Angeles

Website

https://visionaryyouthla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Visionary Youth Los Angeles (VYLA) is a nonprofit founded in 2021 that provides free tutoring, mentorship, college access workshops, and youth advocacy programming to underserved and systems-impacted youth ages 15-19 in Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO)

Keywords

• Youth development services
• Tutoring mentorship programs
• College access workshops
• Youth advocacy leadership
• Community youth nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations: VYLA accepts one-time and recurring donations (weekly, monthly options) from individual donors at preset amounts ($10, $25, $50, $100) or custom amounts.
2. Government Grants: Funded by the City of Los Angeles and CD 13 support as noted on their partners page.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Visionary Youth Los Angeles (VYLA) is a nonprofit that delivers free, in-person youth development programming to Angeleno youth ages 15–19. Core offerings include twice-weekly Tutoring & Mentorship, College Visits & Workshops (financial aid, A-G requirements, UC roadmap, university tours at USC/UCLA/LMU), and Youth Advocacy & Leadership training covering community assessments, asset mapping, and strategy development. Services are supported by a clinical social worker providing social-emotional support.

Product overview

Visionary Youth Los Angeles (VYLA) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of youth development services centered around three core programs: Youth Advocacy & Leadership, Tutoring & Mentorship, and College Workshops & Visits. The organization provides these services through a community center model with additional engagement mechanisms including a youth interest form, volunteer/internship opportunities, events programming, and an online donation portal. All services are free to youth participants and are designed to support youth ages 15-19 in underserved Los Angeles communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tutoring & Mentorship Twice-weekly in-person homework assistance and tutoring for youth ages 15–19 in Los Angeles facing academic challenges. Tutors are university students who also serve as mentors providing social-emotional support and college preparation guidance.
• College Workshops & Visits Higher-education navigation programming covering financial aid, AB540, A-G requirements, the University of California roadmap, public vs. private university differences, and career paths. Includes all-day youth college conferences and university tours at USC, UCLA, and LMU.
• Youth Advocacy & Leadership Program teaching community organizing skills to strengthen youth leadership capacity. Youth learn community assessments, asset mapping, and needs assessments, and co-lead discussions to design strategies to improve their communities.
• Events Program Community events including outreach activities such as 'Out in the Community' programming designed to engage youth and community members beyond the core center-based services.
• Donation Portal Online donation system allowing supporters to make one-time, weekly, or monthly monetary contributions at preset amounts ($10, $25, $50, $100) or custom amounts to fund VYLA's free youth programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organization provides services to youth ages 15-19 facing challenges with schoolwork in any subject, with tutors who are university students themselves

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• S.C.R.I.P.T.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerS.C.R.I.P.T. (Summit on Community Resilience, Intervention, Prevention and Training) is led by Debra Warner, a leading forensic psychologist and male trauma expert. Focuses on male survivor trauma and violence prevention.
• Live Above the HypeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit led by K-Rahn Vallatine that supports youth and young adult personal development and educator professional development. Uses hip hop, pop, and street culture as backdrop for self-development curriculum.
• Project KinshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Steve Kim, provides support and training to lives impacted by incarceration, gangs, and violence through hope, healing, and transformation.
• Anti Recidivism CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Kent Mendoza, member-driven community-based organization serving as advocacy and support network for youth, young adults, and people who have experienced confinement.
• C-YouthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected via Roberta Shintani at Coalition for Engaged Education, advocates for probation and foster youth in LA County.
• The Metamorphosis ExperienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Alicia Cass, provides support and training to individuals and families impacted by domestic, sexual abuse, violence, loss, and trauma through healing, empowerment, and transformation.
• Inner City VisionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Alfred Lomez in 2007, 501(c)(3) community-based organization focused on building resilience of vulnerable communities to reduce violence and human trafficking in South Central Los Angeles.
• P.C.I.T.I.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional Community Intervention Training Institute led by Aquil Basheer, focuses on violence reduction through Proactive Instruction locally, nationally, and transcontinentally.
• Youth Justice CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding an abolitionist youth, family, and incarcerated people's movement to end mass incarceration, deportation, and police terror. Operates Chuco's Justice Center.
• InsideOut WritersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to reducing recidivism by providing services to young people navigating juvenile detention and life after incarceration using creative writing as a catalyst for transformation.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Homeboy Industries: LA-based nonprofit providing gang intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry services including education, job training, and mental health support. A direct peer serving systems-impacted populations comparable to VYLA's secondary segment with overlapping trauma-informed programming.
• Coalition for Engaged Education (C-Youth): LA nonprofit advocating for probation and foster youth in LA County, connected to VYLA via Roberta Shintani. Direct peer serving overlapping systems-impacted youth populations with comparable college access and advocacy programming.
• Anti Recidivism Coalition: Member-driven LA community organization providing advocacy and support for youth, young adults, and people affected by confinement. Listed as a VYLA partner, it is a direct peer serving overlapping populations with reentry and youth advocacy programming.
• Inner City Visions: South Central LA community-based nonprofit focused on reducing violence and human trafficking and building resilience in vulnerable communities. It is both a direct peer and an active VYLA partner, serving overlapping youth populations in the same geography with comparable trauma-informed programming.
• InsideOut Writers: LA nonprofit using creative writing to support young people in juvenile detention and post-incarceration. A VYLA partner and direct peer serving overlapping populations of court-involved youth with comparable reentry support services.
• Project Kinship: LA nonprofit led by Steve Kim providing support and training to individuals impacted by incarceration, gangs, and violence. As a VYLA partner, it is a direct peer serving systems-impacted youth in the same region with overlapping reentry and mentorship services.
• Youth Justice Coalition: LA-based abolitionist youth and family organization that operates Chuco's Justice Center and advocates to end mass incarceration. It is both a VYLA partner and a direct peer working with systems-impacted youth in the same LA geography.

Broad incumbents

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles: Established LA affiliate of the national youth mentoring nonprofit, providing one-to-one mentoring for youth facing adversity. A broader incumbent with overlapping mentorship and youth development mission comparable to VYLA's tutoring and mentorship program.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America — LA region (LA's BEST): Established LA after-school and youth development program serving elementary and middle school youth with academic, enrichment, and mentorship services. A broader incumbent in the same LA youth development category as VYLA, with similar tutoring and mentorship offerings but at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• GRYD Foundation (Gang Reduction and Youth Development): LA-focused nonprofit supporting gang reduction and youth development through city-coordinated programs. Comparable to VYLA in mission around violence prevention and youth opportunity, though operating at a citywide systemic level rather than direct service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DPFlqgfkZM7
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/visionary-youth-la

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visionary Youth Los Angeles