At California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), Dr. Amber Johnson often returns to a simple but transformative question: What would it look like if students experienced college as a place where they inherently belong, years before they ever apply? As an associate professor of Health Science and director of the Center for Health Equity Research, Dr. Johnson helped launch the Sankofa Summer Academy in partnership with CSULB’s College of Health and Human Services, the Sankofa Parent Village, and the Long Beach Unified School District’s (LBUSD) Black Student Excellence Center. As part of the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative, convened by UNITE-LA, these partners came together to intentionally design an early pathway rooted in culture, belonging and opportunity. What began as a pilot effort has become a living example of how aligned systems can expand access and reimagine student futures.

On Dec. 17, colleagues from the LA Regional Cleantech Career Academy (Academy) were invited to join the Southern California Regional Energy Network's (SoCalREN) Regional Workforce Alliance meeting in Burbank, themed "SoCal’s Talent Pipeline: Converting Entertainment Skill Sets into Energy Sector Opportunities." The event served as an opportunity to spotlight the goals of the Academy and connect with leaders from the entertainment industry, higher education and the clean energy sector, including leaders from Woodbury University.

On Dec. 11, UNITE-LA's Geraldine Contreras-Jaimerena, Daniel De La Luz and Pam Williams attended the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Cleantech Academy fall 2025 graduation ceremony, held at the Los Angeles Kretz Innovation Campus. The event was an opportunity for UNITE-LA and LADWP to celebrate six Cleantech alumnae, Andrea Rosas (Spring 2025), Emily Wang (Spring 2025), Camrien Cooper (Fall 2024), Heather Middleton-Fields (Fall 2024), Jennifer Gutierrez (Spring 2023) and Miho Tago (Fall 2023), who completed their 10-week summer internship program.

Last month, UNITE-LA partnered with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to support the Road to 2028 Leadership Summit, underscoring UNITE-LA's shared commitment to building a strong, equitable clean energy workforce for Los Angeles. UNITE-LA’s participation reflected our ongoing investment in the LA Regional Cleantech Career Academy and collaboration with LACI to advance high-road career pathways in the cleantech sector. The summit convened public and private sector leaders across clean energy, transportation, innovation and policy to accelerate progress toward a zero-emission future leading up to and beyond the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, scholars of the LA Regional Cleantech Career Academy (Academy) celebrated their graduation at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, marking the completion of a transformative career-readiness journey. Fifty-seven students successfully completed the program, with 52 scholars in attendance to receive their certificates alongside peers, mentors and program leaders.

UNITE-LA is playing a collaborative leadership role in the Los Angeles Apprenticeship Hub Initiative, a new citywide effort to expand high-quality apprenticeship opportunities and advance long-term employment, economic mobility and workforce equity for Angelenos. The initiative will develop a comprehensive blueprint to strengthen and scale nontraditional registered apprenticeships by convening cross-sector partners from across the region.

In partnership with UNITE-LA’s Cash for College campaign and the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (CPP) hosted Jumpstart Your College Journey: Your Guide to Financial Aid and Student Success on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the CPP campus. A total of 137 students and family members attended the event, including 46 prospective high school and community college students and 35 current CPP students. Participants received guidance on short- and long-term financial planning from CPP staff and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, personalized support completing financial aid applications, a campus dining experience and opportunities to connect with CPP’s Student Success Division to learn about academic, personal and student support resources.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 13, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudine Battisti

UNITE-LA ELEVATES NEED TO INVEST IN AND PROTECT CRADLE-THROUGH-CAREER PRIORITIES IN GOV. NEWSOM’S FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL

UNITE-LA champions equitable economic mobility and well-being through collaboration that strengthens systems, policies and high-quality education and career pathways. UNITE-LA is committed to advancing cradle-through-career policies and investments that advance and strengthen these pathways, helping to disrupt cycles of inequality.

It is critical we work with state leaders to safeguard investments that promote equitable economic mobility. We respectfully encourage the governor’s administration and state legislature to elevate the following priorities in the 2026 Legislative Session.

UNITE-LA's 2025 State Policy & Budget Priorities aligned with our mission to advance cradle-through-career public education and workforce development systems and protect the progress California has made for its residents. We are proud to reflect on our legislative successes through community-informed advocacy and intentional collaboration with key partners and policymakers, acknowledging the uncertainty, fear and loss for many in our communities.

We celebrate our successes in 2025 and look forward to continuing our mission to ensure all individuals, especially those facing historical and systemic barriers, have the resources they need to thrive.