More Than a Shop. A Path Forward.
Turning Potential Into Lasting Opportunity for Young Adults
DSF Werks is a trusted community where underserved young adults ages 18–24, including those transitioning from foster care, gain hands-on skills, meaningful mentorship, and pathways toward employment.
Inside our Long Beach shop, young adults work alongside experienced mentors in automotive restoration, mechanical repair, and media arts. They are not simply observing, they are building, creating, solving problems, and discovering what they are capable of.
Through Motor Mondays, workshops, field trips, workforce partnerships, and community events, DSF Werks creates a place where young adults can learn, belong, and move confidently toward their future.
Our 2025 Impact
Ask DSF Werks
We take our mission seriously, but our jokes? That is another story.
Check out our “Ask DSF Werks” campaign featured on this page, where members of the DSF community answer automotive questions with helpful information, questionable humor, and some truly bad jokes.
Watch, laugh, or roll your eyes, and share your favorite with someone who could use a smile!
Growing Recognition. Greater Reach.
The growth of DSF Werks has captured the attention of local and regional media, helping more people discover skills, relationships, and opportunities being created inside our shop.
DSF Werks in the News:
Long Beach Post | December 2024
Written by Jacob Sisneros: “This Auto Shop Helps Former Foster Youth Find New Homes and Careers”
KCAL CBS News Los Angeles | March 2025
Reported by Lesley Marin: “Signal Hill Auto Shop Helps Former Foster Youth Perfect Their Car Repair Skills”
Long Beach City Lifestyle Magazine | June 2025
Written by Kat Schuster: View the June 2025 issue
Longbeachize | May 2025
Written by Brian Addison: “You Can’t Age Out of Love: How Long Beach Nonprofit DSF Werks Uplifts Former Foster Youth”
The Eisner Journal | October 2025
Written by DSF Werks Co-Founder Joel Lueb: “Grant Spotlight: DSF Werks”
Generations Today | American Society on Aging | March 2026
Written by Alison Biggar: “The Torque Wrench Gang”
Help Us Turn Momentum Into Lasting Opportunity
The support we have received is already making a difference. Now, continued investment will help us strengthen our programs, expand paid workforce opportunities, and remain a lasting source of guidance and belonging for young adults.
Because the most important restoration happening at DSF Werks is not only beneath the hood it is in the confidence being built, the relationships being formed, and the futures being reclaimed.
Multiply Your Impact
Thanks to the generosity of several matching donors, contributions to our campaign can make an even greater impact. We invite you to participate and help us maximize these matching funds, expand our reach, and move closer to our $50,000 goal.
Together, we can turn every matching opportunity into lasting support for young adults.
Our 2026 Fundraising Goal: $50,000
Your contribution will help DSF Werks expand hands-on programs, workforce experiences, and long-term support for young adults.
Your support brought us this far. Help us drive the next chapter forward.
-DSF Team
To be an inter-generational community that empowers underserved young adults ages 18-24, including those formerly in foster care. We provide vocational training in automotive restoration and modification, as well as media arts, mentorship, paid part-time internships, and full-time apprenticeships to help build stable, successful futures and avoid homelessness or incarceration.
Organization name
DSF Werks
other names
Drive Savant Foundation, Inc.
Tax id (EIN)
84-2250683
Operating Budget
Medium ($100,000 - $999,999)
Mission Category
Economic Development, Civic & Community Engagement, Children, Youth, & Family, Education
City Council District
District 5
Address
355 REDONDO AVELong Beach, CA, US
Signal Hill, CA, US