South LA Hackathon Opens Tech Careers to 200 Young Creators

Young people in South Los Angeles are getting hands-on access to the tech industry through a groundbreaking free hackathon designed to close the innovation gap.

Vision Hack brings together participants ages 14 to 30 from three Los Angeles City Council districts for a full day of coding, mentorship, and career building at The Beehive's SoLa Technology and Entrepreneurship Center. The September 12 event runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and requires no previous coding experience.

The hackathon addresses a stubborn reality: while technology shapes nearly every part of the modern economy, Black and Brown communities remain dramatically underrepresented in the industries creating that technology. Vision Hack gives young people direct access to the tools, mentors, networks, and opportunities that can unlock future careers.

Teams spend the day working alongside technology industry mentors to develop solutions for challenges they see in their own communities. At the end, they present their creations to a panel of judges and industry professionals who provide real-world feedback.

"Vision Hack is about making sure young people in South Los Angeles understand that they are not simply consumers of technology," said Justin Brezhnev, founder and CEO of Hacker Fund, which produces the event. "They can be the creators, innovators and entrepreneurs who shape what comes next."

The Ripple Effect

Beyond the 12-hour build session, participants gain access to career development resources including resume help, mock interviews, and direct connections with professionals working across the tech sector. These relationships can open doors that might otherwise remain closed to young people in underserved communities.

Vision Hack is part of Vision Lab LA, a broader initiative from the City of Los Angeles working to close the digital divide through technology education and entrepreneurship training in neighborhoods that need it most. The program represents a partnership between Mayor Karen Bass's office, Hacker Fund, and corporate sponsors committed to expanding who gets a seat at the innovation table.

For organizers, success means more than teaching coding skills. The real goal is helping the next generation recognize that their experiences, ideas, and perspectives have genuine value in rooms where tomorrow's technologies and companies are being created.

Registration is free but required at www.hacker.fund/visionhack, giving young South LA residents a chance to see themselves as the builders of what comes next.