We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassie Betts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cassie, how does your business help the community?
MISLA believes that comprehensive training in web design, software programming and other forms of digital literacy are essential to the survival of our community and the most competent way of solving the diversity in tech deficit while simultaneously combating the ill effects of gentrification.
Starting in 2014 MISLA has provided bootcamps in Coding, Animation, Video Game Design & Development, Web Design & Development, Video Creation & Editing and Graphic Design on an ongoing basis to both youth and adults alike. Positioning our MISLA participants to be game-changers in the tech industry is our overarching intention and we have been able to pair several of our past participants with roles within tech that put their MISLA training to work, evidence of the employable curriculum style in which we utilize.
Beginning in the Summer of 2020 with the objective of accelerating the process of guiding our participants into material roles in tech, MISLA has established MARTY ( MAKING A REALITY THAT’S YOURS ). MARTY is a tech startup and app-based platform with the purpose of training members via the full offering of MISLA courses, then directly employing them to service the community in the form of a branding and design agency for hire. MARTY members participate in front end & back end development, financial literacy, video editing, and graphic design courses and immediately matriculate to a course in branding and marketing, presented and taught by employees of Hawke Media. In a matter of months, MISLA/MARTY has obtained its first set of clients, including a full rebrand, web design and management, brand and social media strategy, email marketing.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started the business as a result of a promise I made to God. When I was 19, I was kidnapped. During the moment when I thought I was going to die, as I was on my knees execution style with a gun to the back of my head, I prayed to God and made a promise that if I lived past that moment, I would change the world. Long story short, here I am! When I broke into tech in 2013, I know that technology was how I was going to help disinvested communities build wealth and power. I started by training youth in South Central in multi-media and coding. It was not easy to teach high-level engineering to youth, but not because they weren’t smart enough but because of a lack of resources to be able to conduct the bootcamps and also the youth were experiencing Imposter Syndrome and not applying to tech or media jobs or even internships in which they were trained in. So we started a Creative Software Academy to build websites and software and do digital marketing for local small businesses while hiring our students. I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as failure as long as you keep going. I want the world to know that although it definitely takes millions of dollars to build tech companies and tech centers. All you need is a clear vision, determination and a solid squad to make it happen.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sunday- Brunch- Castaway in Burbank Mon- Dinner & salsa dancing El Floridita
Tues- Escape Room in K-Town followed by all you can eat Korean BBQ- Ook Kook
Wed- Taco truck- La Isla Bonita (ceviche tostadas to go), drive my 65 Chevy Corvair to Santa Monica Beach to watch the sunset eating tacos and ceviche.
Thurs- Hiking in the am – Brizo in Marina Del Rey for dinner. The roof is a vibe
Fri- Casa Del Mar sunset Dinner followed by live jazz
Sat- Come check out my Live radio show. If they are in tech or media, I’d interview them

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Renee Moncito. Mentor & Colleague who helped get me into the Economic Development / Workforce Development space and mentored me to build the Best Buy Teen Tech Center in South Central, CA. She helps re-entry citizens set up social impact non-profits and social enterprises.

Website: https://misla.org/join-bootcamp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/instabetts

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiebetts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassiebettscouture

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@madeinsouthla?si=TouGGLmNJitgedWp

Other: Podcast website: https://talktechto.me/ Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/22LwRIf6FpUiIvbLfBJDBB?si=84ew386HRJujy_9ospVuAw Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oJjXjasUSXObwrVjd_EqozbCurf1uZXg/view?usp=drivesdk Sentinel Article: https://lasentinel.net/black-woman-tech-founder-survived-homelessness-and-started-a-movement-to-increase-generational-wealth-in-south-l-a.html

Image Credits
Von Thomas- Forbes Article Renee Eng- Spectrum Article Mesiyah McGinnis for the Sentinel

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.