North Hollywood's TUMO Center Becomes Hotspot for Teens Seeking Tech Skills
A free after-school program in North Hollywood is quickly filling up and changing how teens learn. TUMO Los Angeles opened six months ago and is already at capacity. About 600 students attend each week, with a waitlist just as long.
Inside the center, it does not look like a school. There are no bells and no rows of desks. Instead, teens are learning animation, game design, filmmaking, robotics and more all at no cost.
"We've been operational for six months," said Sawyer Hescock, CEO of TUMO Los Angeles. "We're serving 600 students each week and have a waitlist of a similar number."
TUMO started in Armenia and has grown into a global network of learning centers. Its model is simple. It gives teens access to technology and creative tools and lets them explore.
"We provide completely free education in technology and design and the work students are creating has been phenomenal," Hescock said.
For students, that access is already shaping their futures. One student came to TUMO to realize what their passions are and discovered they're really interested in robotics and engineering. Another student first came to explore and now is into graphic design, game development and programming.
Organizers say the goal goes beyond teaching skills. It's about opening doors and creating opportunity.