The Charlotte-based Link Foundation formally announced the opening of applications for “Creative Code,” a 12-week bilingual mentorship program designed to educate creatives in the digital age. Latino entrepreneurs.
The program seeks to help Hispanics build their own digital and commercial infrastructure with the support of artificial intelligence.
The call offers 15 full scholarships, with an application deadline of September 20.
The program combines self-learning digital modules with four face-to-face sessions of personalized mentoring.
The announcement of the call for applications was made within the framework of the event: “Creative Code Live: The Creative Economy Forum”, organized by Link Foundation on Saturday, August 22 in Charlotte at the Independent Picture House.
This forum was supported by the City of Charlotte's Creative Growth Grant and Queens University of Charlotte as a community partner.
They discuss creativity, technology, and economic mobility
During the forum, which included the participation of leaders from various local sectors, the challenges of communities in the face of technological transformation and the need for real economic mobility were analyzed.
The meeting, moderated by Pedro Cordido, co-founder of Link FoundationIt was emphasized that, although Creative Code is intentionally specific, designed for immigrant-Hispanic creatives and delivered 100% in Spanish as a pilot proof of concept, the underlying problem is not specific to a single community.
“Challenges such as digital exclusion, the lack of economic infrastructure to monetize their creativity, and unequal access to platforms are barriers that affect creators from diverse backgrounds and languages,” the organization said in a statement.
Therefore, the program seeks to validate a replicable methodology that integrates language, culture and technology, and that is designed to scale and adapt to other communities in the future.
Among the panelists was Charles Thomas, program director of the Knight Foundation in Charlotte, who reflected on structural equity and the role of the artist as creator of their own destiny.
“We often separate the artist from the business leader, but they go hand in hand. Creativity keeps our imagination alive. With artificial intelligence, the challenge is to learn how to quickly use it as a tool to our advantage so we can remain owners and creators of our destiny,” he noted.
Related: Latino-owned small businesses drive the economy in North Carolina
Call details and key dates
● Applicant profile: Hispanic visual artists, designers, photographers, artisans, musicians, writers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs living in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
● Benefit: 15 full scholarships ($0 cost, program valued at $5,000).
● Duration: 12 weeks (starts on October 15, 2026).
● Application deadline: September 20 2026.
● Registration and form: www.linkfoundation.io
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