We are thrilled to announce that Penny Lane Centers has been named one of America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. This prestigious recognition highlights our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and empowering environment for our employees.
The selection process for this honor involved a comprehensive analysis of over 3.5 million online employee reviews and publicly available data from 9,000 companies. Key performance indicators such as leadership, integrity, compensation, career development, culture and belonging, and work-life balance were evaluated to identify organizations that excel in employee experience and workplace performance.
Founded in 1969, Penny Lane Centers has grown into a multifaceted nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children, youth, and families across Los Angeles County. Our programs encompass mental health services, foster care and adoption support, transitional and affordable housing, LGBTQ+ youth initiatives, and family preservation efforts. This recognition reflects the dedication of our over 650 full-time staff members who embody our core values of commitment, community, and collaboration.
This accolade follows previous honors, including a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for financial health and transparency, and recognition from the Human Rights Campaign for our inclusive practices through the All Children, All Families Project.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible team whose passion and dedication make Penny Lane Centers a truly exceptional place to work. Your commitment to our mission continues to drive positive change in the communities we serve.
The CalWORKs program in the Antelope Valley recently hosted a powerful and uplifting Career Connection Day—an event designed to inspire, connect, and empower. The heart of the day was storytelling: past clients and nonprofit employers shared their personal journeys to encourage current clients in their own search for meaningful employment.
It was a beautiful display of connection through shared experience, authentic conversation, and genuine opportunities for growth. Five nonprofit employers joined us to offer not only job openings and community resources, but also candid insights into how they worked their way into leadership and hiring roles. Organizations represented included Parents Anonymous, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, My Life Foundation, Paving the Way, and Olive Support Services.
We were also honored by a surprise guest, Melissa from Timelist Group, who shared her organization’s mission to support individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration. Her presence added a deeply moving layer to the day, reminding us all of the importance of second chances and accessible pathways forward.
Clients walked away from the event not just with information, but with renewed motivation. One of the most moving moments was watching clients—visibly more confident—approach employers with curiosity and courage to ask about open positions.
“I am thankful to my Employment Specialist and the entire team here at Penny Lane. I was able to get a job by being honest about my situation. It was challenging to find a job in the AV, but I stayed positive. I would tell others in my shoes to keep going and not give up. I am grateful for amazing workers who really care about their clients.”
“Penny Lane helped me feel motivated and encouraged throughout the job search and hiring process. I was anxious, worried, and scared. My Employment Specialist and Therapist helped me when I was stuck in my shell and afraid to venture out. They were my pillars to finding my strengths and putting them back into action.”
“Penny Lane helped me organize my everyday life by giving me interventions, information, and guidance on how to live my life. I am thankful for the counseling, the advocacy, and the help they gave me when I couldn’t do it for myself. Advice that I would give others is to believe in yourself, ask for help if needed, set boundaries, and never give up.”
“I am thankful for my Therapist and Employment Specialist for not giving up on me and helping me find employment that would work with my school. I would tell others to never give up and to have a goal in mind that they want to accomplish.”
“I learned how to put myself and my mental health first. I am thankful to everyone at Penny Lane for pushing me out of my comfort zone. I am now feeling relieved, blessed, and brave with the help of my support system and Penny Lane.”
The ripple effect of the event was immediate: Parents Anonymous announced they will be approving 20 of our clients to participate in their Peer Support Training and Certification Program. This incredible opportunity is something we’ve long hoped for, and we are overjoyed to see our clients stepping into the future they’ve been working so hard to build.
Career Connection Day showed us what’s possible when inspiration meets opportunity—and we can’t wait to host the next one.
Check out some more photos below!
