In May, as part of the statewide Choose Children CA 2026 campaign, UNITE-LA joined our early care and education partners at Univision 34 / KMEX in Los Angeles to put children and families at the center of California's gubernatorial race as part of the Latinos Preguntan: Candidatos Responden segment.

The program featured one-on-one interviews with California's gubernatorial candidates who were available to attend, including Xavier Becerra, Chad Bianco, Steve Hilton, Katie Porter and Tony Thurmond, moderated by award-winning anchor Gabriela Tessier.

Workforce stability remains essential to the success of California's employers, workers and communities. Last month, UNITE-LA mobilized business leaders across the state to advocate for federal policies that support a strong and reliable workforce.

As Congress debated additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), UNITE-LA coordinated efforts to ensure policymakers heard directly from the business community about the importance of workforce stability. Our advocacy included a joint business letter, a press conference in El Sereno featuring UNITE-LA President Alysia Bell and local employers, participation in the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce fly-in and direct outreach to congressional offices, federal agencies and business partners.

Last month, UNITE-LA recognized our longtime partners at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) for their leadership in bringing together community, labor and civic organizations to mark May Day in Los Angeles. The annual event highlights the contributions of workers and the importance of expanding economic opportunity for all.

CHIRLA's Executive Director, Angelica Salas, who also serves as treasurer of the UNITE-LA Board of Directors, has been a strong voice for policies and partnerships that support working families and strengthen communities throughout the region.

Last month, participants in the California Accessing Economic Mobility (CAEM) Fellowship gathered for their second learning session, exploring practical strategies to expand opportunity for low-wage workers across California.

The session featured leaders from Opportunity@Work, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), who shared insights on three approaches with significant potential to improve economic mobility: expanding access to child care, supporting immigration stability and adopting skills-based workforce practices. Together, the discussions reinforced a central theme: many of the barriers facing skilled, entry-level workers are solvable, and employers have an important role to play in advancing solutions.

UNITE-LA was proud to co-host Southern California Apprentice Network (SCAN) May Mixer alongside BuildWithin, South Bay Workforce Investment Board, Per Scholas Los Angeles and LA-Tech.org. More than 40 employers, training providers and workforce leaders came together to explore how Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) can expand opportunity and meet the region’s growing workforce needs.

The mixer's interactive format encouraged meaningful conversations, allowing employers to connect directly with apprenticeship experts, learn about available resources and explore opportunities to launch or strengthen apprenticeship programs. Attendees also had the chance to build new relationships with organizations working across Southern California to create more coordinated pathways into high-quality careers.

Last month, UNITE-LA joined regional partners at the Opportunity Youth Systems Change Demonstration Project Spotlight event to share lessons learned from a collaborative effort to strengthen health care career pathways for opportunity youth across Los Angeles. Over several months, cross-sector teams explored where pathways break down for young people navigating financial barriers, disconnected systems, unclear processes and limited access to support. The work revealed an important insight: many of the challenges young people face are not individual barriers, but system design issues that make even strong programs difficult to access and complete.

Last month, UNITE-LA President Alysia Bell joined leaders at the CalMatters Ideas Festival to discuss California's changing workforce and what it will take to create opportunity for the next generation.

During the conversation, Bell highlighted UNITE-LA's LA Regional Cleantech Career Academy (Academy) as an example of how strong partnerships can connect young people to meaningful career pathways in high-growth industries. The Academy brings together employers, educational institutions, public agencies and community organizations to align talent development with workforce demand.

Closing the digital divide takes more than infrastructure—it takes coordination, investment and community voice. That’s why UNITE-LA was proud to participate in the recent California Public Utilities Commission California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) Annual Workshop, where state leaders, industry experts and community organizations came together to align on one goal: expanding equitable access to broadband across California.

UNITE-LA is proud to highlight Sobrato Philanthropies for their investment in advancing educational equity for multilingual learners across California.

UNITE-LA recently celebrated the completion of Part 1 of its 11th Step into Tech cohort, with 29 of 31 participants successfully completing the program.