Meet Sherri Francois of The SoLa Foundation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri Francois.

Hi Sherri, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a proud L.A. native, and this work is deeply personal to me. I spent my early childhood in South L.A. and Compton before my family moved away. It wasn’t far geographically, but it felt like a completely different world in terms of opportunity, school resources, safety, and expectations. Growing up between those two realities shaped how I understand systems and access.

My first career was in storytelling. I spent more than two decades in journalism and television news, producing for outlets like CBS, CNN, NBC, and MTV, and working on long-form and cultural storytelling projects that focused on elevating underrepresented voices. That experience taught me how to listen closely, communicate clearly, and move teams toward a shared goal under pressure. Over time, I felt called to move from documenting inequity to building tangible solutions for a community that matters so much to me.

In 2017, I joined SoLa Impact when it was still a small, growing company. As I saw the impact of providing quality housing for families, I also noticed a clear gap: housing alone was not enough to unlock long-term mobility. Residents needed stronger pathways to education, technology access, career exposure, and wealth-building opportunities. This led me to found The SoLa Foundation in 2018, with the goal of building the connective tissue between stable housing and lasting economic opportunity for young people and families across Los Angeles.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Communities across L.A. have seen promises come and go, so one of our biggest challenges at the onset was building trust. We understood early on that consistency and follow-through would matter more than any flashy announcement, so we showed up again and again for the local community.

There was also the challenge of building something that did not fit neatly into a single category. We operate at the intersection of real estate development, philanthropy, education, and workforce development, so aligning our stakeholders and prospective scholars alike has required patience, open ears to feedback, and clarity of vision.

On top of that, the pandemic intensified everything. When students were trying to complete school assignments on a single phone, and families were navigating uncertainty, the digital divide became impossible to ignore. That moment pushed us to accelerate our commitment to building real infrastructure for access, not just short-term programming.

We’ve been impressed with The SoLa Foundation, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The SoLa Foundation is the nonprofit arm of SoLa Impact, an LA-based social impact & real estate firm created to ensure that community development goes beyond high-quality housing and translates into real opportunity for Angelenos. We focus on expanding access to education, technology, lucrative career pathways, and long-term economic mobility for students and residents across Los Angeles.

Our work is rooted in the belief that affordable housing is foundational, but it is not enough on its own. Families also need exposure to opportunities that have historically been out of reach. That is why we have invested heavily in the SoLa Tech Center Initiative, developed in tandem with key corporate partners such as Riot Games and Live Nation, and the AI & Entertainment Center in Leimert Park. These centers provide hands-on training in technology, digital media, and entertainment for local youth, serving them from early childhood through young adulthood. We are also known for our scholarship program, which has awarded millions of dollars to first-generation college students across L.A. and hopes to grant $2.5M in scholarships by the end of 2026.

In addition, we’ve recently expanded our work to support families impacted by the Eaton fires through a new fire recovery housing initiative. In partnership with MODEL/Z, this month, we delivered the first phase of modular ADUs to displaced Altadena homeowners, allowing families to remain on their properties while rebuilding. It’s an example of how we continue to evolve our model to meet urgent community needs, and showcases how our work is committed to building a strong network of partners who are committed to measurable impact.

What sets us apart is our ecosystem-led approach. We operate within the communities we serve, and our programs are integrated into a broader model of place-based development. We are not offering isolated services; rather, we are building a pipeline that creates stability across economic literacy, housing, education, and so much more. And our community feels this. Most scholars enroll in our programs because of word of mouth. We’re extremely proud to have served 7,300 students through our Tech Centers since 2022.

Brand-wise, I am most proud that the SoLa Foundation is associated with both excellence and authenticity. Our work has received recognition at the local and state level, but what matters most is that families trust us and young people see our spaces as their own. That trust is the foundation of everything we do.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I am happiest when I see confidence take root. There is a visible shift when a young person realizes they belong, particularly in a space designed for innovation and opportunity. You can see it in how they carry themselves and how they speak about their future.

I am also happy when families feel stability. When parents know their children have access to safe spaces, strong mentors, and real pathways for their future, it changes the energy in a household. Being part of that shift, even in a small way, is incredibly fulfilling.

Pricing:

• It’s because of our relationship with SoLa Impact and our strong network of public, private, and nonprofit partners that we can offer our programming for free. The only cost associated is an annual $25 membership fee to access the space, technology, and all programming at our tech centers. If the membership fee is an obstacle for families, we waive it with no questions asked.

Contact Info:

• Website: thesolafoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesolafoundation/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sola-foundation/?viewAsMember=true
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/sherribrownfrancois/?hl=en

Image Credits
Gabriella Cummings and Roxana Herrera