Meta Local Communities

03/25/2026

Did you know that according to one survey, more than 7,400 people are experiencing homelessness right here in Chicago? 😔And it isn’t just a Chicago problem.

Thankfully, Chicago artist Sarah Page-Wells turned her creativity into incredible action! 🎨✨ She is the founder of Art for the Homeless a Facebook group that unites artists from all over the country.
Through this amazing group, talented artists donate the proceeds from their artwork to organizations that serve those without a home. 🤝❤️

Here is a local news story on the work being done by Sarah and her Facebook Group. https://abc7chicago.com/post/art-homeless-facebook-group-uses-creativity-engine-outreach-chicago-community/18504041/

Let's celebrate and support artists who are making a real difference in our community! Give a like to Sarah and her work in Chicago!!!

According to the latest Point-in-Time Count, more than 7,400 people are experiencing homelessness in Chicago. One local artist is turning creativity into action.

03/16/2026

HEY SMALL BUSINESSES - AI isn’t replacing entrepreneurs—it’s speeding them up 🚀 For Marine vet and entrepreneur Branden Lark, the real edge isn’t cash or connections, it’s time. Used intentionally, AI is the ultimate time-compressor ⏱️
He leans on it to bust through language barriers, turn messy data into quick decisions, and even asks it to push back—“tell me where I’m wrong”—to make his ideas sharper 🤖💡 Small businesses that wield it like this can play at big-company level and grow faster 📈 Want to see how he does it? Check out Branden: https://www.facebook.com/brandingbybranden/

Long Beach branding and marketing agency focused on creative and result-driven solutions. Website, SEO, social media, online advertising and more.

12/08/2025

Career Fair in one week! Bring your resume and meet with employers HIRING NOW.

Register today and see you there!

www.jobtrainworks.org/december-10-2025-career-fair-menlo-park

Need to update or print your resume before the event? Contact one of our career centers: www.jobtrainworks.org/career-centers

07/24/2025

This week, Meta and CBIA co-hosted an AI training for small businesses in Hartford. Nearly 40 small business owners came together to hear about how AI tools can help them and their businesses. Great event with great business leaders.

06/27/2025

This week in Bakersfield, Meta partnered with the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce to hold a AI training for 30 small business owners. It was a great event with small businesses already using and excited about AI tools for their businesses.

06/23/2025

To everyone in Philadelphia, Meta held a Screen Smart event last week with Philly parents along with teen mental health experts and Meta execs at Lilah Fishtown. Great event with over 50 Philly parents to hear about the tools parents and teens have to make their social media experience more positive.

08/08/2024

The Meta Local Community Fund is Open!

The fund provides grants of up to $10,000 for non-profit programs serving the East Palo Alto and Belle Haven community of Menlo Park, CA. Applications are due by August 30th, 2024 at 11PM PST.

All organizations that meet one of the following criteria are welcome to apply:
- 501(c)(3) non-profits with a history of proven success providing services to the Belle Haven community of Menlo Park.
- 501(c)(3) non-profits with a history of proven success providing services to the East Palo Alto community.

Questions? Please contact Savannah Lira: slira@venturesfoundation.org

To learn more, please visit: https://www.venturesfoundation.org/programs/community-initiatives/meta-local-community-fund/

12/18/2023

Meta Summer Academy 2024 Application is Live!

We are excited to announce that the 2024 Meta Summer Academy (MSA) application is now live! In its 13th year, we are excited to continue to empower local youth from the community. Meta Summer Academy is a free 6 week summer career exploration program for current sophomore high school students living in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, or Menlo Park Belle Haven.

The program is hosted at Meta’s headquarters, where students will have the opportunity to learn how to code, engage with Meta employees, and gain exposure to the various careers that exist in the Tech Industry. Applications close Friday, March 1st, 2024.

Visit metasummeracademy.com to learn more.

01/20/2023

San Diego resident and licensed mechanic Talena Handley started Girlie Garage because she wanted to empower women who, like herself, had often been treated less fairly than men when it came to car repairs and maintenance.

“Everyone finds me on Instagram. It’s the fastest way to DM me and for me to help customers,” she says. “I also like the platform because of the creative and affordable (FREE) marketing it offers businesses like mine. I am not just a business owner - I also create content that then gets shared far and wide.”

Her Instagram account is full of great advice for everyone - from a Reel she created that shares what it sounds like to have your catalytic converter stolen, to a video about when a tire can be repaired rather than replaced.

Talena’s Instagram account ( instagram.com/girliegarage ) has not only helped her build a business as a go-to car expert who has saved women in San Diego untold thousands of dollars on unnecessary repairs, it has also become a place where everyone, not just women, can go to get laughter, knowledge, and trustworthy advice from a rad human being.

01/19/2023

If you didn’t think you liked vegan desserts, San Antonio couple Marcus and Cara Pitts might just change your mind!

After switching to a vegan lifestyle, they started their business and share a space in a bakery on the south side of San Antonio — relying on Facebook ads and organic press to drive their online shipping orders.

Cara used her lifelong love of baking to create vegan desserts her grandmother could enjoy. After much trial and error, she came up with their signature Red Velvet Donuts, which gained the approval of her grandmother and church community and was the final push they needed to launch Southern Roots Vegan Bakery.

Cara promoted her small online business by going to local farmer’s markets. This is also where she met Tabitha Brown, host of the popular Facebook Live and Instagram product review show “Very Good Mondays”, and Tabitha’s daughter fell in love with the Red Velvet Donuts. Soon enough it appeared on Very Good Mondays and their orders went through the roof overnight.

It’s safe to say that through their use of Facebook and Instagram, they have been able to take their business to new heights.

01/13/2023

Allie Lanham never imagined she would own and operate The Hangry Lady, a charcuterie catering business that provides colorful, flavorful food with a healthy twist.

Why did she start this business and just how are Instagram and Facebook helping her reach new people?

Well, Allie’s weight loss journey in high school led to her finding a passion for health and food. Now she is a 24-year-old vegetarian, who takes pride in cooking delicious food while being able to accommodate dietary restrictions and share knowledge about how food affects us. The more people learn about where their food comes from and how it impacts their livelihood, the more likely they are to make health-conscious decisions.

As a young business owner, Allie has found social media helps her reach new customers and have conversations about nutritious and enjoyable meals.

“Instagram and Facebook have been helpful for not only showing our delicious offerings but also allowing us to have meaningful conversations,” said Allie. “I hope to continue to grow my business so more Eastern Iowans eat healthier, delicious food.”

01/10/2023

Like many, the Covid pandemic left Dave Dyke’s San Diego small business, Tally Hockey Jerseys, struggling. After a year of dealing with continuous restrictions, what ended up keeping Tally Hockey Jerseys afloat was Dave’s ability to turn to the latest digital marketing tools, including Facebook’s shopping tool.

Tally Hockey Jerseys, which outfits amateur hockey teams with customized gear, started in 2007 as a side business while Dave was working in the tech industry. Like most people pursuing a dream, he was focused on creating a great product that reflected his personal passion. But Dave knew little about marketing and hoped the product would sell itself.

“Just as my dream business was taking off, disaster struck,” said Dave. “The pandemic arrived, and sports, along with what seemed like everything else, was shut down.”

With sales evaporating and customer engagement plummeting, Tally desperately needed a game-changer. Dave chose to learn about and implement Facebook’s shopping tool. “Sales immediately picked up,” said Dave.

One year later, Tally Hockey Jerseys is responding to growing demand by opening their 2nd shop and they’re becoming international with their first shop opening in Canada.