On Friday, May 8th, the beautiful Oracle Water Garden offices in Santa Monica became more than a corporate campus — they became a living classroom for the future of technology, community access, and workforce development engineered by friend of Dakar Foundation, Walter Tucker.
Hosted with the support of Oracle and its philanthropic commitment to digital opportunity, the event brought together LA County Internal Services Department, its community technology initiative Delete The Divide, Learn Basic Tech, KTLA,‘s Riche DeMuro and the Dakar Foundation’s registered apprenticeship media production team for an intensive 8-hour master class: Unlocking AI Essentials for Beginners.
The room reflected the real Los Angeles County community — residents ranging from 18 to 70 years old, AI trainers, first-time learners, working adults, and student apprentices from Dakar’s registered apprenticeship program.
Together, they explored how artificial intelligence can become a practical tool for education, employment, storytelling, entrepreneurship, and everyday life.
KTLA producer Patrick Sims was on-site, alongside KTLA’s tech reporter Rich DeMuro’s Producer, whose coverage helped spotlight the importance of making AI education understandable and accessible to everyday people.
Their presence elevated the message that AI is no longer just for engineers, coders, or large corporations — it is quickly becoming a basic digital skill for everyone.
At the same time, the Dakar Foundation media production team captured and supported the day through live broadcast production, giving apprentices real-world experience in camera operation, audio, lighting, interviews, live-streaming, and field production.
This was not just a class about technology — it was a hands-on demonstration of how media, workforce training, and community service can come together in real time.
Throughout the day, participants learned AI fundamentals, asked questions, engaged with trainers, and began building confidence around tools that are shaping the future of work.
For many, this was a first meaningful step into the AI economy. For Dakar’s apprentices, it was another opportunity to practice professional production skills while documenting a major civic technology initiative.
The event showed what happens when philanthropy, public agencies, media, and community-based apprenticeship programs align around one goal: closing the digital divide before the AI divide gets even wider.
From Oracle’s Santa Monica campus to LA County residents, from KTLA’s cameras to Dakar’s live production workflow, the message was clear:
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