SoLa Impact, a leading urban real estate fund, announced the launch of its $1 billion ‘Black Impact Fund,’ which will invest exclusively in Black and Brown communities in major urban markets. The fund will be comprised of a $500 million Opportunity Zone (OZ) Fund and a side-by-side, $500 million non-Opportunity Zone Fund. Martin Muoto, CEO of SoLa Impact and founder of the Black Impact Fund, stated, “After a decade of successfully investing in Los Angeles’ African-American and Latinx communities, we have learned a great deal about how to…

South LA high school sophomore Kenneth, age 15, has been interested in tech since middle school but hasn’t been able to find high quality tech education programs. “I love the ability to innovate in order to help the world and citizens. Anything can be possible with tech, as nothing is your limit.” It all comes down to a lack of access to tech in South LA. Kenneth is not alone. SoLa Impact found 87% of students at 13 large area…

I grew up in South LA, notoriously known as South Central. Despite the negative rep, I love this community. It’s my home and it taught me a lot about grit, perseverance and kindness. I left to pursue a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience but decided to return after getting my masters because I knew I wouldn’t be personally or professionally fulfilled unless I was helping folks from my community have a chance at a better life. Serving as Social Impact Manager…

SoLa Impact’s I Can Foundation will provide up to 200 scholarships to South LA Residents Furloughed or Laid-off due to COVID-19. SoLa Impact’s I Can Foundation announced a $1 million grant from the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (OWCF) to provide scholarships to South LA residents as part of the “South LA Forward” initiative. Oprah Winfrey was joined by other philanthropists – including Jimmy Iovine and Liberty Ross, Ashley and Marc Merrill, Live Nation Entertainment, and several leading corporations – as…

I am sure you are all watching what is unfolding over the last several days with strong, and painful emotions — I know I have.  For a moment, I would ask you to separate the intentions of the peaceful protestors from the disruptive actions of opportunist looters.  The combination of George Floyd’s gruesome death in Minneapolis, Admaud Arbery’s shooting death in South Georgia, and even Amy Cooper falsely manipulating the “justice system” to threaten a black man in Central Park…