The CA RISE program is buzzing with activity as grantee employment social enterprises (ESEs) recently gathered for dynamic in-person regional meetings in Oakland and Los Angeles. These gatherings showcase how CalOSBA‘s strategic investment is catalyzing community-centered economic development across the state.

Below, explore more about these gatherings, and check out a photo gallery from the events!

Community Connection Points: Oakland & Los Angeles

The recent regional gatherings served as vibrant hubs for knowledge sharing and collaboration among CA RISE grantees. ESEs came together to showcase their innovative approaches to supporting underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout California.

In Oakland, programing focused on:

• A tour of the Planting Justice farm, which provides living wage jobs and holistic support for folks formerly incarcerated, and learning about their program model.
• CA RISE grantees participating in a Solutions Salon with the goal of crowdsourcing ideas from peers to solve a problem at an ESE.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles gathering included:

• A tour of SUAY, which is investing in skilled laborers and creating a truly transparent textile recycling, reuse, and repair model. While at SUAY, grantees participated in a mending workshop that showed them how to fix holes in clothing and in turn, extend its lifetime.
• CA RISE grantees collaborated on a Solutions Salon with the goal of crowdsourcing ideas from peers to solve a problem at an ESE.
• Shameka Dixon of GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles led an inaugural Green Social gathering for Los Angeles-area environmental justice social enterprises, to enhance collaboration in funding and referrals for participant employees. 

Innovation in Action

What makes these gatherings particularly exciting is witnessing how grantee organizations are adapting their programming to meet specific community needs. Several grantees are developing specialized curriculum addressing industry-specific challenges in sectors like food service, creative industries, and technology — sectors where California’s entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to thrive despite economic headwinds.

What’s Next for CA RISE?

As the CA RISE program continues to unfold, these regional gatherings serve as critical connection points for organizations doing the vital work of bolstering California’s small business landscape. This programming represents a powerful investment in community-led economic resilience that will continue generating returns long after the grant period concludes. By bringing together diverse organizations with shared commitment to equitable economic development, CA RISE is fostering an innovative ecosystem of employment social enterprises that celebrates California’s entrepreneurial spirit while addressing systemic barriers to business success.

In September 2025, we will host the CA RISE Summit in San Francisco where all CA RISE grantees across California will gather and participate in a variety of capacity building and community development activities.