We help youth find their voices
through arts mentoring and education.
Total Youth Served

Homelessness In Los Angeles
While Los Angeles is one of the most affluent cities in the world, at the beginning of 2020 it was estimated that 17,000 children were homeless.
Even more young people are expected to become homeless due to the COVID pandemic. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston remarked, “Youth who experience homelessness are more likely to be women, Black, Latinx or identify as LGBT+.”
So how are youth affected by homelessness? They are 9x more likely to repeat a grade, 3x more likely to be placed in special education, and 4x more likely to drop out of school entirely according to School on Wheels.
There are an estimated 6,000 young people ages 18-24 living on the streets of Los Angles. Around 3,000 of them have aged out of the foster care system and must deal with PTSD and no family support.
In America, 1 out of every 30 children are homeless, but in California 1 in 20 youth are homeless. The homeless population in LA has outpaced that of New York City.
Create Now’s arts programs become extremely important for youngsters who do not have a stable home. The arts allow kids to use their imaginations and express themselves creatively.
Through Cultural Journeys, we give youth opportunities to experience events that expose them to a variety of art forms. This can generate a lifelong love of music, art, writing, photography, theater, and other arts disciplines. It can also lead to a successful career when they become adults.
Click here to watch a video of Create Now’s arts program provided to homeless children at Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row.
Founded in 1996, Create Now serves children from infancy to 24 through arts programs in many disciplines.
We focus our efforts on kids who have been abused, neglected, orphaned, made homeless, incarcerated or experiencing other severe challenges – the “forgotten children.”
We have reached more than 42,000 of the most vulnerable youth in Southern California over the last 21 years.
Arts Programs
Create Now’s programming focuses on eight main areas

Visual Arts

Music

Literary Arts

Digital Media

Performing Arts

Fashion Design

Cultural Journeys

Culinary Arts
Videos
About Create Now
Writing Program for Children at Vaughn
Video produced by foster youth
Ready to Learn at Urban Compass
Highlighted Programs
Textile Workshop with Block Shop
Block Shop generously donated printing kits to single mothers and their kids at Wallis House. Operated by Aviva Family and Children’s Services in Hollywood, they provide bridge housing for transitional-aged women between the ages of 18 and 24 and their children who...
Art from the Sole
Havaianas has been a great partner of Create Now and our “Art from the Sole” program provided through Zoom on December 12 was no exception! Through their support, youth facing challenges from Angel’s Flight Shelter, Penny Lane Centers, Koreatown Youth and Community...

Homelessness In Los Angeles
While Los Angeles is one of the most affluent cities in the world, at the beginning of 2020 it was estimated that 17,000 children were homeless. Even more young people are expected to become homeless due to the COVID pandemic. LAHSA Executive Director Heidi Marston...

Arts & Crafts at LAFH
Create Now’s Arts and Crafts program at LA Family Housing has been provided virtually, but that doesn’t mean the kids missed out on any of the fun! Our volunteer Kelle Meschede helped the students make their craft projects over Zoom. LAFH staff member Lesem Puerto was...

Cooking Program Includes Shake Shack
Create Now volunteers Ali Clarke from the Food Network and Santos Loo hosted a virtual cooking course for teenagers facing homelessness at the Angels Flight Youth Shelter near downtown LA. Through this four-week course, students learned kitchen basics, like knife...

Photography for Foster Youth
Teenage foster girls living at Crittenton Services in Fullerton really enjoyed Create Now's Photography workshop taught by Robin Laananen. She travels extensively with bands to shoot photos for Rolling Stone, Universal Music Group, and other music publications,...

Thank You to Our Donors
Create Now wants to send a huge ‘Thank You’ to our supporters who have generously supported our mission to bring therapeutic arts programs to youth-in-need. We would especially like to thank the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, the Stranahan Foundation, the...

“Give and Get” Auction – A Success!
Our auction has closed and we want to thank everyone who was involved through donations and bids! We raised nearly $1000 and we're excited to put that money to good use in 2021! Here's more info about the auction that was held. Bid on fantastic items and...

Sharing Resources
In addition to producing different arts workshops, Create Now distributes free materials that reach the most disadvantaged kids in the region. Many families are suffering from Covid-19, plus lack of employment. Through the support of our partners and donors,...

Halloween Happiness
Unfortunately, this year kids aren't able to go trick-or-treating for Halloween. Luckily, disadvantaged children and teenagers living at the Imperial Courts housing project in Watts are still able to enjoy Halloween thanks to students and families at the...