Best Buy Partners with The Handy Foundation to Expand Creative Career Pathways

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Best Buy has partnered with The Handy Foundation to expand creative career pathways for California youth, building on existing programming at Teen Tech Centers. The initiative, named the Creative Careers Workforce Pathway Program, aims to provide technology-enabled training, mentorship, and apprenticeship preparation to young people aged 13 to 21.

The program, set to run from October 2026 to September 2027, is expected to serve approximately 200 young people across California. It will offer virtual and hybrid learning opportunities through Best Buy Teen Tech Centers and The Handy Foundation’s network of schools and community partners. Participants will begin with an introduction to entertainment careers and production fundamentals, known as Hollywood 101, before pursuing specialized training in one of four pathways: story editing, production coordination, audio production and podcasting, or virtual production.

Participants will use industry-standard tools in projects that simulate real production workflows. Depending on their pathway, training may include Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, Pro Tools, DaVinci Resolve, Unreal Engine, Autodesk Maya, and Xsens Motion Capture, among other current production technologies.

The program is designed as a structured pathway rather than a one-time workshop. Approximately 200 young people will enter through Hollywood 101 career exploration, with participants advancing into Industry Badge Certification Training, immersive Pre-Apprenticeship Boot Camps, and Mentorship & Apprenticeship Preparation based on skill completion, eligibility, and demonstrated readiness.

Those who complete the required credentials may apply for an intensive, 40-hour pre-apprenticeship boot camp designed to simulate professional production environments. Mentorship, career coaching, employer networking, studio and workplace visits, mock interviews, and apprenticeship preparation will help participants build both technical competency and the professional relationships required to navigate the industry.

The initiative builds on previous Hollywood 101 programming involving The Handy Foundation and young people connected to Best Buy Teen Tech Centers, extending early career exposure into a structured sequence of learning and professional preparation. The program addresses barriers that can prevent young people, particularly those from under-resourced communities, from accessing technical training, industry mentors, and professional networks.

The partnership is part of a broader effort by The Handy Foundation to connect emerging talent to careers in film, television, digital media, and emerging production technologies. Founded by veteran producer and showrunner Ri-Karlo Handy, the organization works with employers, educators, and community partners to provide career exploration, technical training, mentorship, registered apprenticeship, and professional opportunities.

The program is expected to serve approximately 200 young people across California, with more than 400 active alumni from The Handy Foundation's existing network. The organization has placed apprentices across more than 115 film and television productions and has placed 95 Assistant Editors through the California Film Commission Career Pathways. California has also invested $1.223 million in The Handy Foundation's youth apprenticeship model through the California Opportunity Youth Apprenticeship grant.

Best Buy's investment in The Handy Foundation will connect young people with hands-on experience, mentors, and industry relationships that can help them turn their skills into lasting economic opportunity. The partnership is part of Best Buy's ongoing commitment to making technology, skills, and opportunity accessible to young people.