On October 18, TUMO Los Angeles officially opened its doors in North Hollywood, launching its first U.S. location of the internationally acclaimed after-school learning program. The event drew an overflow crowd of city, state, and congressional leaders, along with students, families, and supporters, who gathered to celebrate the arrival of one of the world’s most innovative educational programs to the United States. Offering free, future-ready education in technology, design, and AI to teens across Los Angeles, TUMO is reinventing how young people learn and create in the 21st century, preparing them to thrive in the creative and technological economy of the modern era.
Opening Celebration Brings Leaders and Community Together
The launch event welcomed prominent guests including Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, U.S. Representative Luz Rivas, Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, and LAUSD Board President Scott Schmerelson, who joined TUMO founders Sam and Sylva Simonian and CEO Marie Lou Papazian to introduce the community to TUMO’s revolutionary approach to creative and tech education.
Remarks were also delivered by TUMO Director Marie Lou Papazian, who joined fellow speakers in highlighting the center’s mission to empower youth through creativity and technology.
Also in attendance were Armenia’s Consul General to Los Angeles Dr. Karen Israyelyan and Western Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, both underscoring the event’s cultural and diasporic significance.
During the celebration, Councilmember Nazarian shared that just one day prior, the Los Angeles City Council officially recognized October as Armenian Heritage Month, and honored the launch of TUMO Los Angeles as a major milestone for both the Armenian community and the city’s educational landscape.
“What began as a dream to offer teens in Yerevan, Armenia free access to technology and creative expression has become a global movement,” said Sam Simonian, entrepreneur and founder of TUMO. “Today, more than 35,000 students participate every week across Armenia and in centers from Paris to Tokyo. We are proud to now bring TUMO’s model to Los Angeles—empowering local teens to take charge of their own learning and prepare for the jobs of the future.”
Armen Yemenidjian, TUMO Los Angeles Board Member, was also in attendance and emphasized the importance of investing in youth across borders.
Yemenidjian said, “My family is extremely excited and proud to support the TUMO mission in Armenia and to see it growing internationally. This vital initiative arms teenagers with the tools necessary to compete in the global technology marketplace, no matter where they live. I want to thank Sam and Sylva Simonian for allowing me to be part of such a transformative organization. We hope this initiative encourages our Armenian brothers and sisters in the diaspora to invest in the future leaders of our country and economy.”
Reinventing Learning for the Next Generation
Founded in 2011 in Yerevan, Armenia, TUMO has grown into an international network with locations in France, Germany, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, the Netherlands, Albania, and Switzerland—and now, North Hollywood. With the U.S. debut of the program, TUMO brings a proven model of education that speaks directly to the “TikTok generation,” giving teens autonomy over their learning while preparing them for careers in design, technology, and AI.
Students ages 12 to 18 explore eight core disciplines: animation, filmmaking, music, game development, programming, robotics, 3D modeling, and graphic design, with a Generative AI curriculum expected to launch later this year. The model combines self-paced digital learning with industry-led workshops, allowing students to attend twice weekly—after school and on Saturdays.
Following a short program at the launch event, guests were given a guided tour of the state-of-the-art facility, including rooms filled with rows of computer workstations, a dedicated music studio, and a design lab—all now open to students completely free of charge.
Powered by Vision, Built Through Partnership
Adrin Nazarian, who first discovered TUMO while on a visit to Armenia during his time in the California State Assembly, became the driving force behind bringing the program to Los Angeles. Inspired by its transformative impact on youth abroad, he set out to replicate that success in California.
He later secured more than $23 million in state funding, along with additional support from the City of Los Angeles, enabling TUMO to acquire and transform a vacant office building on Lankershim Boulevard into a state-of-the-art learning hub. The project also received $3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, making it one of the city’s most ambitious education initiatives in recent years.
The groundbreaking ceremony in February 2024, attended by Mayor Karen Bass and then–City Council President Paul Krekorian, marked the project’s official start and demonstrated the city’s commitment to supporting innovative educational opportunities for young Angelenos.
“In a time when access to opportunity depends so much on privilege, TUMO asserts its commitment to equity and excellence,” said Councilmember Nazarian. “To every young person in Los Angeles, this space belongs to you.”
Nazarian added that TUMO’s unique approach “teaches curious young minds not only the language of technology, but also how to manage their time, collaborate, and become leaders in the creative economy.”
Real Impact, Measurable Results
At launch, TUMO Los Angeles enrolled 600 students, with an additional 350 teens already on the waitlist, reflecting the growing demand for accessible, high-quality education in Los Angeles. According to Executive Director Sawyer Hescock, 40% of enrolled students are female, and 80% come from lower-income households—a testament to TUMO’s commitment to inclusion and opportunity.
TUMO’s outcomes are equally impressive on a global scale: alumni are 350% more likely to enter creative and high-tech careers, and half go on to earn more than triple their national average salaries.
“I’ve opened TUMO centers all over the world, and I’m blown away by the engagement of our students here in North Hollywood,” said Hescock. “These teens are Los Angeles. They come from every background, bringing their creativity and hard work every day, reflecting the diversity and innovative spirit for which this city is known. TUMO is honored to support these incredible, creative minds.”
Industry leaders agree. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has described TUMO as “one of the best STEM programs in the world,” and ServiceTitan co-founder Vahe Kuzoyan has praised its ability to build the workforce of the future—adaptable, inventive, and self-driven.
Looking Ahead
TUMO Los Angeles is already preparing to expand, with plans to open its first satellite hub in 2026 at the Glendale Homenetmen Ararat Center, broadening access for even more teens across the region.
The launch of TUMO LA marks not just a geographic expansion—but a paradigm shift in American education, proving that free, high-quality, future-ready learning can be both scalable and transformative.
Enrollment Open Now
TUMO Los Angeles is now open, with classes in session and enrollment available for future cohorts. Students ages 12–18 are encouraged to apply early as space is limited.
Apply today at losangeles.tumo.org.
