UNITE-LA recently partnered with the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program to help emerging and mid-career leaders strengthen their ability to address complex challenges through systems change. Led by California Forward, the program brings together leaders from across the state to deepen their understanding of policy, collaboration and stewardship. As part of the program, Carrie Lemmon, UNITE-LA's Senior Vice President of Systems Change Strategy, led a session sharing insights from her work advancing systems-level solutions across education, workforce and economic development. Through this engagement, UNITE-LA is helping equip current and future leaders with tools to address root causes, build cross-sector partnerships and advance more equitable outcomes for California communities.

Drawing on UNITE-LA’s experience as an education-to-career intermediary, the virtual session explored how systemic inequities are often shaped by policies, structures and institutional design rather than individual circumstances. Using examples from postsecondary access and success, participants examined how systems thinking can help identify root causes, strengthen stakeholder trust and advance multiple strategies simultaneously to create lasting change.

UNITE-LA’s participation reflects its broader commitment to strengthening systems that expand equitable access to education, workforce opportunities and economic mobility across California.

For more information, please reach out to Carrie Lemmon, Senior Vice President, Systems Change Strategy, at [email protected].