LA DEAL was able to help secure a total of $200,000 for 10 municipalities in Los Angeles County, from the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF).

Our partners at New CA Coalition featured an interview with UNITE-LA's Senior Vice President of Policy, Sonia Campos-Rivera, in their publication showcasing our work to uplift young Angelenos and promote economic mobility in the region. Key focus areas include collaboration between businesses, community leaders and advocacy groups to drive positive changes. The full interview may be viewed here.

UNITE-LA worked closely with Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) and Valley Industry Coalition Association (VICA) to develop an op-ed around the need to maintain state ECE/child care investments to ensure a thriving economy. The op-ed was published by the Los Angeles Business Journal making the case that child care is critical to working families, particularly women of color and that business agrees these investments are key to ensure a thriving economy. The op-ed is viewable here.

UNITE-LA supported business organization partner the North Bay Leadership Council to advance an op-ed in the Press Democrat, focused on the crucial need for Cal Grant reform. The North Bay Leadership Council has been a staunch supporter of the effort since 2021. UNITE-LA, in partnership with the CA Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and a dozen other advocacy organizations led a renewed effort this year to fully fund Cal Grant Reform in the budget. The article may be viewed here.

The UNITE-LA Postsecondary Systems team recently completed a Community of Practice (CoP) focused on student-centered transfer pathways with Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) and their feeder community colleges. Cal Poly Pomona, a key partner in the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative and the L.A. Compact, has been a part of UNITE-LA’s broader transfer pathways work since 2017. This CoP was dedicated to refining transfer pathways and addressing regional equity gaps, with a strong focus on supporting underrepresented student populations.

The UNITE-LA Postsecondary Systems team recently produced two, informational videos on dual enrollment programs led by L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative partners. These videos highlight the transformative impact of dual enrollment programs across the Los Angeles area, demonstrating how these initiatives help students develop their passions, plan for their futures and transition smoothly into higher education.

These videos are a vital tool in raising awareness about the benefits of dual enrollment by showcasing successful partnerships and feature El Camino College and Centinela Valley Union High School District, as well as Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) and Roy Rogers High School of LAUSD. We encourage you to join us in amplifying the impact of dual enrollment and support student success across our communities by sharing them!

In August, UNITE-LA’s Research & Evaluation team delivered a presentation on our Los Angeles Regional Consortium (LARC) Student Career Interest Survey findings to approximately 100 attendees of LARC’s Quarterly Collaborative Meeting. The survey, conducted in the spring, assessed career interests, goals and challenges of 651 students across L.A.’s 19 community colleges. This research effort represented the culmination of more than two years of collaborative planning with LARC. Results will be used by UNITE-LA and LARC to align curriculum and workforce training programs more effectively with students’ interests and needs.

UNITE-LA is privileged to be inspired, guided and supported by our thoughtful and dedicated board of directors, which continues to grow and flourish. Together, we are focused on equitable economic mobility through education and workforce development and are energized by what we’re all collectively achieving and growing.

Our Step into Tech Summer Cohort also graduated from Part 1 of their program on July 18 with 22 graduates who completed at least one introductory training (six hours), but most up to three introductory trainings (18 hours), in cybersecurity, data science and networking.

In July, 30 participants graduated from Part 1 of My Pathway to Health. The last day included 26 participants earning their Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, which opens many doors for their education and career pathways.