On March 10, Uber was joined by City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Kelli Bernard, and leaders from local organizations like the Los Angeles Urban League and NAACP, to announce a 12-month commitment to onboard 12,000 new drivers from communities across Los Angeles at the first Work On Demand event.

The event served as the kickoff to a city-wide wide effort to help enhance economic opportunity and access to reliable transportation for thousands of Angelenos in communities where they are needed most. The event also highlighted how flexible, work on-demand opportunities are offering Angelenos an opportunity to supplement their income, and what that means for the Los Angeles economy.

Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson said “Uber’s Work on Demand initiative hopes to saturate all of southern California with the opportunity to be entrepreneurs.

“Uber is committing to create 12,000 flexible work opportunities for Angelenos over the next 12 months,” said Christopher Ballard, General Manager for Uber in Southern California. “We will reach this goal by reaching out — by going directly to communities where economic opportunity and reliable transportation are needed most.”

“There’s nothing like having your own economic freedom, because you can look at your children in the face and say, ‘I’m doing this for you, imagine what you can do when you embrace innovation’,” said Nolan Rollins, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 20 million Americans are forced to work part-time for “non-economic reasons” like child care or education. Research has also consistently shown that most people in America say they have too little money and too little time. The two are closely connected and Americans say they want more control of both.

Here in Los Angeles, Uber helps solve for both of these pain points.

“With Uber, I get to meet new people and help them get from wherever they are to wherever they need to go,” said Doris Starling, a driver-partner with Uber. “I make money with my car on a schedule that works for me. I have complete freedom and flexibility to work whenever I want.”