NBA Foundation Awards Grant to White Hall Arts Academy to Expand Soundworks

The NBA Foundation has announced White Hall Arts Academy Foundation (WHAA) as a recipient of its latest grant funding, recognizing the nonprofit’s leadership in using arts education as a pathway to workforce readiness and economic opportunity for under-resourced youth.

Founded in 2020 as the NBA’s first-ever 501(c)(3), the NBA Foundation invests in programs that support successful transitions from school to meaningful employment for young people ages 14 to 24. Grant recipients are selected for their ability to deliver job readiness, skill training, and career advancement opportunities, with priority given to organizations operating in NBA team markets.

WHAA was selected for its demonstrated impact at the intersection of arts education, creative workforce training, and youth development across South Los Angeles and beyond.

“This support from the NBA Foundation is a meaningful investment in the futures of our students and the power of the arts as a workforce pathway,” said Tanisha Hall, founder of WHAA. “We are proud to be creating spaces where young people are not only developing their creative voices, but also gaining the professional skills, confidence, and access needed to transition from education into meaningful careers.”

The grant builds on WHAA’s expanding Soundworks workforce development program, a 10-week, hands-on training initiative in audio, video, and lighting designed for veterans, justice-involved individuals, and transitional-aged foster youth ages 18 to 28. Soundworks provides participants with real-world technical training, career readiness support, and pathways into the creative and production industries.

The program recently graduated its second cohort of 30 students, with Soundworks Cohort 3 launching on February 21, 2026.

In addition to Soundworks, WHAA offers a range of arts education and enrichment programs that support youth at every stage of development, including HeARTbeats, a weekly group arts program for children ages 4 to 12; Project MuszEd, serving youth ages 13 and up; Music Creators Camp, a one-of-a-kind program that connects youth ages 9–17 with real music industry pros for a full week of hands-on learning, creativity, and inspiration; and JAMM-U, an onsite program focused on guitar, vocal training, and music production.

White Hall Arts Academy Foundation provides conservatory-level, transformative arts education to communities throughout South Los Angeles, Inglewood, Watts, and Compton, while expanding access nationwide through virtual learning platforms. Its programming integrates artistic development with social-emotional learning, mental wellness, and career readiness, producing high-quality live and digital productions while preparing youth for long-term success.

The NBA Foundation currently partners with 346 nonprofit organizations across the United States and Canada, supporting career pathways in industries including arts, music, healthcare, STEM, criminal justice, and sports. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $160 million in grants and supported programs that have served more than 877,000 young people.

White Hall Arts Academy was also recently announced as a recipient of a California Arts Council grant, further strengthening its ability to expand access to high-quality arts education and create new opportunities for youth through the transformative power of the arts.

For more information about White Hall Arts Academy Foundation or to apply for the Soundworks program, visit Soundworks.whitehallacademy.org or follow @whitehallartsacademy. Share this news and be sure to tag @NBAFoundation #NBAFoundation!