UNITE-LA co-hosted a webinar on Feb. 25 with partners at the National Association of Women Business Owners-Los Angeles (NAWBO-LA), Small Business Majority and the County of Los Angeles. Facilitated by UNITE-LA's Senior Director of Regional Business Engagement, Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez, the virtual session highlighted how immigrant entrepreneurs and workers strengthen Los Angeles’ small-business economy.

On Feb. 12, UNITE-LA joined business leaders, economic development partners and community stakeholders for a press conference in Los Angeles to highlight growing concerns about workforce instability and its impact on local businesses and regional economic health as federal funding negotiations continue in Congress.

Last month, UNITE-LA helped advance Horizons 32K’s goal of reducing youth disconnection across Los Angeles County by co-hosting a regional convening focused on one of the most fragile moments for young people: the transition after high school. Alongside the Britebound Center for Career Navigation at Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), we brought together K-12, community college and workforce leaders to strengthen career navigation for students completing high school in alternative education settings. LAUSD’s Educational Options Division serves more than 9,000 students across 60 nontraditional school sites, including continuation high schools, virtual academies and community day schools for expelled students.

Last month, UNITE-LA participated in the Youth Apprenticeship Summit: Breaking Down Silos – The Future of Youth Apprenticeship in Sacramento, marking a critical moment as California shifts from planning to implementation of a statewide youth apprenticeship system. Following the final convening of the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC), the summit brought together education, workforce and policy leaders to focus on operationalizing the committee’s recommendations and breaking down silos across K-12, community colleges and workforce development systems.

UNITE-LA's Step Into Tech case manager, Tanaya Clark, has been selected to serve on Amplifi’s User Advisory Council, providing feedback on the Social Benefit Navigator.

UNITE-LA was honored to partner with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and Small Business Majority to co-host a timely webinar supporting employers and business leaders as they navigate new compliance requirements under SB 294, the Workplace Know Your Rights Act. The strong participation and engagement reflected a shared commitment across the business community to stay informed and prepared.

The California Community Foundation (CCF) has partnered with UNITE-LA for more than 15 years, investing in many of the cradle-through-career policy, programming and systems-change efforts we lead. Over the past four years, CCF has supported the Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL)—the California Public Utilities Commission’s Regional Broadband Consortium for the Los Angeles region, co-led by UNITE-LA and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation—to help stand up community-driven broadband networks in neighborhoods that have experienced pricing discrimination and cannot afford internet service.

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom's release of his final state budget proposal, UNITE-LA recognizes the administration's continued commitment to strengthening California’s education and workforce systems.

UNITE-LA—alongside 24 business organizations representing a cross-section of California’s business community—sent a letter to members of Congress expressing serious concerns about proposed increased federal immigration enforcement funding and its consequences for California’s workforce and economy.

Last month, UNITE-LA's Executive Vice President, Amy Cortina, participated in the United We Stand Immigration & Democracy Summit as a panelist on “The Opportunity Pipeline – Defending Access to the CA Dream” with the Small Business Majority and Warehouse Worker Resource Center, moderated by Building Skills Partnership.