“Excellent opportunity to share ‘good news’ about public education.”

-Melinda Goodall, Principal
Loyola Village Elementary School

“It was great to showcase our school with someone from the private sector. We had a lot in common.”

-Roger AVila, Principal
Saticoy Elementary School

“Outstanding in every way - a great and eye-opening experience”

-Sean P. Meno, General Manager
Power Ford, Torrance

“This changed my opinion of what a public school can do and look like.”

-Martin Spencer, Creative Artists Agency

Education & Workforce Development Programs
Programs of the L.A. Area Chamber and UNITE-LA

The L.A. Area Chamber works to build partnerships that make it possible for every young person to have equal access to education and training. This preparation helps him or her achieve highly skilled, high-wage employment in a fulfilling career of choice, and where the local economy thrives as a result.

California Intern Summer

• California Intern Summer is a statewide initiative to provide students with short-term work experiences in which they receive training and gain experience in a specific field or career area. It provides students an opportunity to develop “real world” skills in an environment that encourages their personal and professional growth.

Cash for College

• The Cash for College Career Convention features colleges and universities throughout California and the United States, speakers and exhibits on college life, interactive career demonstrations, and information about scholarships and other financial aid.  All these exhibitors represented are included to help students understand the importance of college. On Cash for College Day, students and their families have an opportunity to complete the required financial aid and CalGrant forms with assistance and guidance. These forms are necessary to receive financial aid assistance to pursue their college aspirations.

College Is Yours

• College Is Yours provides quality campus visits and college information to all students to help them understand the importance of college.

Educators in the Workplace

• Lasting partnerships are formed as educators experience the dynamics of the workplace through shadowing experiences. Educators have the opportunity to strengthen the link between academics and careers through visits with businesses to see how what they teach in the classrooms come to life in the workplace.

Groundhog Job Shadow Day

• Students shadow workplace mentors by visiting and participating in a normal day on the job.  Job shadowing provides students the opportunity to understand the importance of academics in reaching college and career goals. This program motivates students to learn by demonstrating the tangible applications of classroom lessons.

Principal for a Day/Executive for a Day

• This program allows business leaders, elected officials and community leaders a unique hands-on experience to appreciate both the strengths and challenges of leading a public school.  School principals meet with executives and learn new leadership/management styles, technology innovation in the workplace and careers in business and industry that will help improve their students’ learning.

L.A. Youth at Work

• This program serves as a clearinghouse for employment opportunities for youth by providing them with the necessary skills to obtain and retain meaningful employment.  Youth have the opportunity to participate in workshops that focus on interviewing techniques, resume writing, business dress, workplace ethics and job retention.

Small Schools/Small Learning Communities

• In collaboration with other education and business partners, UNITE-LA and the L.A. Area Chamber has developed a Small Learning Communities Coalition.  This Coalition will assist and support the initiative by LAUSD Superintendent Romer to reinvent the 49 comprehensive high schools into small, effective learning environments for students. Smaller Learning Communities are shown to foster deeper educational understanding and achievement. Smaller learning groups are shown to foster deeper educational understanding and achievement.

California State University Advantage

• CSU Advantage L.A. is an education and employment partnership working to develop and promote employment opportunities for California’s workforce needs.  It is supported by resources from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, California State University-L.A., and the L.A. Area Chamber and UNITE-LA.  The over-arching purpose of CSU Advantage L.A. is to create more opportunities for active learning that connects academic content and “real world” context.  CSULA students graduate with the CSU Advantage and offer area employers with the ability to deliver results.

Leadership L.A.

• The Leadership L.A. program seeks the future leaders from all segments of the local region, prepares them for decision-making positions and cultivates them for community service. Specifically, Leadership L.A. strives to broaden mid-level executives’ experience by acquainting them with the processes, programs and challenges that exist within the community.