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.

UNITE-LA is proud to share that 51 business organizations from across California signed on to its annual budget letter advocating for increased early care and education reimbursement rates—an increase of more than 30 percent from last year, including 17 new partners.

UNITE-LA recently partnered with Early College Academy at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and West Los Angeles College to bring 32 high school students to Snap Inc. for an immersive, real-world introduction to careers in technology.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudine Battisti

UNITE-LA URGES CALIFORNIA LEADERS TO PROTECT ECONOMIC MOBILITY INVESTMENTS IN FINAL STATE BUDGET

UNITE-LA's Carrie Lemmon, Senior Vice President, Systems Change Strategy, recently joined the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program, a leadership initiative led by California Forward for emerging and mid-career leaders across the state, to facilitate a virtual session on systems change.