California made unprecedented investments in college and career pathways and the whole child approach in 2021-23 state budgets, including $128 billion for K-12 and community colleges. However, budget increases for long-underfunded education and youth development priorities were delivered with little state guidance to regions on aligning funds to achieve the greatest cross-system impact.

UNITE-LA is the proud convener of the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative, aimed at closing postsecondary attainment and workforce gaps for students of color by streamlining pathways into health care, engineering and computer science careers. UNITE-LA made significant progress in 2023 by formalizing five subregional partnerships, allocating $7.57 million in subgrants to advance high-impact strategies around enhancing dual enrollment, transfer pathways and work-based learning opportunities for students across L.A. County.

UNITE-LA co-hosted a Regional Energy Policy Convening in August in partnership with CA FWD, focused on the opportunities, barriers and resources needed to make energy independence and reliability a reality. UNITE-LA was invited to share best practices related to cleantech workforce development through the LA Regional Cleantech Academy and featured our partners from Avantus, LACI and LACCD as speakers in the program. UNITE-LA facilitated a breakout discussion focused on the workforce pipeline in the energy sector, while other conversations focused on the hydrogen economy and solar energy. Input gathered from these sessions informed statewide policy advocacy, building on CA FWD's Energy Call to Action and Infrastructure Acceleration Report, which provide a framework for how stakeholders can break through silos and work across sectors to advance energy solutions.

On Oct. 25, UNITE-LA hosted an Education Means Business Policy Webinar with California's Assembly Majority Leader Isaac G. Bryan.

UNITE-LA recognizes the work of Gov. Newsom in maintaining his commitments in a difficult budget cycle to protect and advance child care, TK-12 schools and higher education. We urge the Governor and Legislature to not lose sight of California's pandemic-recovery emphasis on creating a strong education and workforce system that stimulates economic mobility, particularly for our historically marginalized communities.

This month's partner spotlight belongs to the California African American Chamber of Commerce (CAAACC). As California’s largest statewide, Black chamber organization, their educational and advocacy programs are directly in line with the work of UNITE-LA. The CAAACC drives equitable public policies that expand access to economic opportunities and level the playing field for African American businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as the African American community overall.

Over the last month, UNITE-LA’s My Pathway to Health program has seen many successes as we transition from allied health training to job placement.

For the past 10 years, The Boeing Company has supported UNITE-LA’s work to build a strong 21st century workforce prepared for STEAM careers in our region.

On Oct. 12, UNITE-LA launched its fourth cohort of Step into Tech in partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy with 18 participants, which will be culminating on Nov. 16.

UNITE-LA’s LA Regional Cleantech Career Academy hosted its first career day in October.