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.

On May 15, UNITE-LA joined regional partners at a public exhibition of the Opportunity Youth Demonstration Project, part of the Horizons 32K Earn and Learn Impact Initiative, to share results from a 10-month effort to strengthen health care career pathways for opportunity youth.

Implemented in partnership with WestEd, the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and the Labor & Workforce Development Agency, the project brought together regional teams including Goodwill Southern California, EMS Corps and UNITE-LA’s My Pathway to Health program to identify barriers preventing young people from accessing and completing health care training.

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 is currently ranked third out of 80 employer partners in placing participants from the California Volunteers Corps to Career program into paid work opportunities—an important milestone that reflects the organization’s leadership in advancing equitable workforce pathways 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.

As part of April’s Earth Month and Los Angeles Climate Week, UNITE-LA participated in a series of events advancing pathways into the green economy.