UNITE-LA continues to play a key role in shaping California’s education and workforce data infrastructure. Dr. Lisa Catanzarite, UNITE-LA’s Vice President of Research and Evaluation, served on the Workforce Data Task Force of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C), helping to guide the expansion of the system’s analytical data set to include critical labor market indicators.

As the City of Los Angeles moves forward with the consolidation of the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and the Youth Development Department (YDD) into the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), UNITE-LA is advocating for a thoughtful, youth-centered transition. In response to Mayor Bass’ FY 2025–26 proposed budget, we submitted a public comment urging L.A. City Council to pause and allow more time for analysis and community dialogue before implementing this significant restructuring.

As co-convener of Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Community Schools Initiative (CSI) Steering Committee, UNITE-LA completed an internal assessment of the CSI’s transformation progress since its inception in 2019. Grounded in the California Community Schools Framework as a guide, the report evaluates implementation to date and offers actionable recommendations to strengthen the initiative moving forward.

UNITE-LA is thrilled to officially announce the release of the Centering Youth, Strengthening Systems: A Case Study on Workforce Engagement for Opportunity Youth. The groundbreaking report, developed by the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC), dives deep into the persistent barriers preventing opportunity youth from fully participating in workforce development programs. From limited outreach and confusing enrollment processes to misaligned program offerings, the report sheds light on the systemic challenges faced by youth. The study also describes promising, youth-informed solutions, such as warm handoffs between referring adults and workforce staff and youth-centered communication and program design.

The Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL) was selected to receive a Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Broadband Help Hub (BHH) technical assistance award to support five community broadband network projects in historically underserved areas of Los Angeles County. Projects include the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) in Pico Union, the City and School District of Lynwood Community Broadband Network, the City of Huntington Park Community Broadband Network, the Pacoima Digital Equity Project and the Antelope Valley Community Broadband Network. The partnership marks a pivotal milestone in LA DEAL’s mission to advance community-led broadband solutions—ensuring they truly reflect and serve the needs of local residents.

Marking a major step forward, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD’s) Board of Education unanimously passed the resolution “Aligning Site-Based Professional Development (PD), Collaboration & Decision-Making in the Community School and Pilot Models” on May 13, 2025. The resolution grants LAUSD community schools decision-making authority over all site-based PD, enabling schools to more intentionally align PD with their unique needs, transformation plans and community school strategies.

UNITE-LA is a proud partner of the Southern California Apprenticeship Network (SCAN), a network of businesses and employers, educators, workforce agencies, community-based organizations, labor and other interested organizations growing apprenticeship programs throughout Southern California. This quarter, we have helped drive several key initiatives, reflecting our commitment to expanding high-quality apprenticeship and work-based learning opportunities across the region.

A subcommittee of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC) is implementing the Meaningful Teaching and Learning (MTL) Resolution, which the school board adopted in September 2024. The three-year pilot will support five designated MTL community schools with implementing meaningful community- and project-based learning (CBL/PBL) and developing alternative performance-based assessments (PBAs) aligned with a holistic, culturally responsive vision of student success.

Over the past quarter, UNITE-LA presented at key gatherings, including the Los Angeles Postsecondary Funders Collaborative, California Workforce Association’s annual WORKCON and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC) 88 Cities Summit, deepening our role as a thought partner and convener advancing equitable workforce development opportunities. We are actively sharing research to shed light on the barriers to effective workforce training and upskilling programs, especially for individuals with limited access to opportunity along the education-to-employment pathway. Recent presentations emphasized equity-driven, actionable recommendations, calling for increased investment in work-based learning, intermediary infrastructure and community-based providers to build a more coordinated, inclusive and responsive workforce development system.

After a successful statewide advocacy campaign led by UNITE-LA, Governor Newsom signed AB 121, the 2025 Education Omnibus Trailer Bill, into law on June 28. AB 121 includes a no-cost extension for the Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program, recognizing the importance and impact of L.A.’s collaborative, as well as the other 12 collaboratives across the state. The extension is a victory for our educational institutions, workforce alignment efforts and career pathway development across the state.