Maceo Keeling, 31, who goes by Maceo Paisley professionally, is a social entrepreneur who focuses on social and cultural themes in his work. He runs a media platform called Citizens of Culture, where he offers event programming and marketing strategy consulting as well as workshops. He also co-runs a gallery, retail, and event space in Los Angeles' Chinatown called Nous Tous. On the side, he dances and does choreography for music videos and models in brand partnerships. #

Keeling chats with attendees at his magazine launch party at Pocket Square Clothing in Downtown Los Angeles. Through his events company, Citizens of Culture, he writes, edits, and publishes a biannual magazine called Correspondence. #

Keeling gives a talk about his philosophy and methods of work in a social entrepreneurship class at Loyola Marymount. “I have mixed feelings. I kinda wish people didn’t have to take on an entrepreneurial spirit in order to do what they wanted. Like why does corporate life have to be 9-5. Who said that? Why does it have to be that way? People are are just trying to adjust work to incorporate values that are important to them.” #

Michelle Mabugat, 31, an attorney specializing in criminal law, takes client calls at her home in Highland Park, CA, on November 21, 2016. Mabugat, who graduated from USC's Gould School of Law in 2011, began taking cases as a solo attorney while she waited for a hiring freeze to be lifted from the public defender's office. With few prospects in full-time employment and having had some success as a freelance attorney, she decided to try freelancing full-time. She created a small firm with three other attorneys to share overhead costs, but they essentially act as solo attorneys, getting their own business and handling their own cases. #

Mabugat meets with one of her clients in Beverly Hills, CA. On the side, Mabugat also ghostwrites for more established attorneys. Having worked for herself for the past five years, Mabugat finds it hard to imagine taking on a full-time employment job. #

Mabugat takes client calls at her home in Highland Park, CA, on November 21, 2016. "It would take really a special circumstance for me to accept a full-time-employment job. I'm really happy working for myself. Everything I do, it's building toward something that is completely mine. And the money I make doing this means way more than the money I'd make working for someone else. The only downside is that because I work for myself, all the risk is on me. I worry if I get sick, I won't be able to work. And If I don't work, then it means no income." #

Andrew Hardy, 37, handles orders and inventory at The Old Crow Speed Shop, a hot rod shop in Burbank, California, where he works as marketing and location manager. He also runs a motorcycle tour company with a friend called Rebel Motorcycle Tours. #

Hardy checks out a car race at the El Mirage dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert in California on November 13, 2016. He and his business partner, James Faria, like to scout locations for possible tour routes for their company. #

Kate Stewart, 31, an event planner, splits her week working out of various clients' offices around Los Angeles. Here, she works out of the headquarters of The Unique Space, a co-working space, where she is contracted to plan its events. #

Mai-Tam Nguyen, 31, a pastry chef, preps food for one her clients, Hungry Bear Catering, at Fishburn Kitchens, a shared commercial kitchen in Los Angeles, CA on October 27, 2016. #

Nguyen has been working as an independent contractor for two years, specializes in making wedding cakes, macarons, and desserts. As she works to establish her business, Petit Sweets, she assists other chefs to set up their kitchens, handles their dessert menus, and organizes food prep for catering events. #

"I've been working for myself for two years now and it's starting to grow. It's not easy. and I know it takes time. But I'm thinking more long-term. I want to use the time I have now to establish myself, so in the future, if I wanted to have a family, I can control how I want to work. Working in a restaurant, you just don't get that kind of freedom. The hours are incredibly long, and at the end of the day, you go to work and you go home and you collect a paycheck. It's so much more rewarding when you're working toward building something that is your own." #

Heather Abbott, 30, works as digital communications designer at an architecture firm, HKS Inc, as her day job. On the side, she takes on other gigs that allow her to use her skills as a designer to engage in work that supports social justice efforts. #

Abbott takes a photo of a flower in Bolinas, California, where she attended a work retreat for The Dinner Party, a nonprofit that works with communities that have experienced loss. The Dinner Party is one of six jobs Abbott does. As an activist, she is passionate about the arts and social justice issues such as grief counseling, LGBTQ culture, and the Black Lives Matter movement. #

After her day job, Abbott answers e-mails for her other gigs. She runs an Instagram account called The Invisible Tomboy, an account that reflects LBGTQ life, and contributes designs and illustration for the Black Lives Matter movement. Her goal is ultimately to establish herself enough so she can focus solely on projects that reflect her passion. #

Cruz visits a memorial for the young man who was killed. To cope with the emotional nature of her job, Santa Cruz took on pilates as a way to balance the mental stress. #

Ryan-James Velasco, 29, looks for a wig and a fat suit at Hollywood Toys & Costumes. He works in film production as a freelance assistant and coordinator for various production companies in the entertainment industry. "At first when I thought about freelancing, I was pretty scared. I wasn't sure if it was something I'd be able to pull off. But then I remembered there's always things like Postmates if I needed the extra income." #

Prior to working as a production assistant, he worked as a physical therapist for six years. When he realized that being a physical therapist was not something he actually wanted to do, he decided to try to get his foot in the door in the entertainment industry. It was something he had always been interested in and felt better suited his personality. #

“The work is active, every day is different, and I like the working in the industry. It’s fun, it's creative, and I like the feeling of working with a team to make something come together. And I can actually see myself going somewhere with this. I know in this industry, it's the experience that counts, and I'm willing to work my way up. I'd like to see myself as a creative producer one day." #

Vincent Venturella, 34, sets up the lights and camera for a video interview shoot while on assignment for The Hollywood Reporter at The Goodwill Community Enrichment Center in Glassell Park on November 19, 2016. #

Venturella works on a music track in his home studio after a day of shooting. “If I wasn't doing this, I don't know what else I would do. And doing this, it doesn't feel like a job. The environment is just a lot more informal and feels more natural. Everyday is something different and I'm my own boss. I really can't imagine myself doing anything else." #

Juliet Seniff, 34, a screenwriter based in Los Angeles, California, decided to pursue her dream of being writer after working a few corporate marketing jobs. She uses her evenings and weekends to work the script on a new pilot she is creating for ABC called Twinsters. "I think in our particular generation, you expect to find meaning and fulfillment in your job. You're more willing to take risks in hope of something better, and you really have to believe in yourself." #

Seniff shares storyline ideas in the writer’s room of TBS's Angie Tribeca. "I feel like I tested out everything before deciding that writing is what I was going to go after. I tried the corporate life, I tried the 9 to 5. And I just discovered the work culture was just not for me. Working as a writer was just something that just suited my personalty so much more. It just made sense." #

"My career has given me so much more confidence, and I get so much satisfaction out of it, especially as something I specifically went after. It just gave me a real purpose and that I was finally doing the thing I could do best. It's way more rewarding and allowed me to find peace in that part of my life." #

Edward Do, 28, a music event producer and part-time IT technician, sets up lights and the stage of a party on October 21, 2016. Do produces events and parties for music and cultural event companies. #

"When I was studying at UCSB, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I studied business and economics just to pick something and make my parents happy. But I knew I just wanted to be part of something creative, and when I figured out what I can actually produce, these parties and make some money, I just decided to go for it. And I get to do this with my friends and be in an environment I actually like. And because of my experience of setting up stages and handling DJ equipment, I'm able to do other IT work as well." #

Sarah Kruger, 30, teaches an adult beginning ballet class at Studio A Dance in Silverlake, California, on November 20, 2016. “I had danced all my life as a kid and when I came to to Los Angeles to look for work in film production, dancing was something made me feel alive again. With teaching, I feel like I’m really contributing and doing some good. I’m providing a wonderful service to people around me and seeing my students grow as dancers and as human beings. I feel like I'm part of that and I get to fulfill myself creatively as well. It’s a really well-rounded gig and it's very satisfying because of that." #

Kruger teaches ballet at CA Dance Academy, Studio A Dance and at the YMCA as well as dances in gigs with her dance troupe, Cabaret Versatile. “Income stability is an issue and it’s definitely taught me how to be careful with my money. I had to learn how to save and be prepared for down times. In this line of work, there’s opportunity to make good money, but you never really know.” #

Kruger works on her dance reel with choreographer Cati Jean in Silverlake, California, on November 22, 2016. “I recently tried to pick up admin work to save some extra money, but I quickly realized I was not cut out to do desk work. After working for myself six years, where I was my own boss, working a desk job just felt so restrictive. It was just these long, tiring shifts with set break times, two ten minute breaks and a thirty minutes for lunch. I just felt locked down and at the end of the day, I just felt tired. And I wondered, what did I even accomplish?" #

Thomas Carroll, 31, works with a drone operator Alex Potter, on November 11, 2016, to create a web episode he is hosting in partnership with Los Angeles Parks and Recreation to promote the re-opening of L.A. Historic State Park. Carroll is the host and creator of the web series “Tom Explores LA,” using the series to share his passion for Los Angeles history. #

Carroll discusses the history of the Los Angeles River during a tour for the Los Angeles Explores Club on October 6, 2016. Through his show, he has picked up various gigs, working in partnership with organizations to give walking tours, make audio tours, and hosting podcast episodes. In addition, he works as a visiting researcher at Occidental College. #

Outside of work surrounding "Tom Explores L.A.," he works as a sign painter at a local grocery story in Los Angeles for reliable income. “For some of the stuff that I do, I’m not getting paid to do that stuff, but it’s still something that potentially gives me more reach and return.” #