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.

One of those projects, supported by LA DEAL from its inception, is the Destination Crenshaw Wi-Fi network, which officially launched Oct. 23, providing free Wi-Fi along the 1.3-mile Crenshaw Boulevard corridor. On Oct. 31, another community network led by Community Coalition Antelope Valley submitted a $24.34 million funding application to the California Public Utilities Commission, with grant-writing support from LA n Sync, an initiative of CCF. Beyond funding projects that recognize internet access as a human right in today’s digital revolution, CCF and UNITE-LA were recently awarded a three-year grant from the Gates Foundation to advance dual credit and college and career advising in Los Angeles County, leveraging the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative partners.

Most recently, UNITE-LA has partnered with the CA4US coalition—a coalition of business, labor and civic leaders that was launched by CCF last year to push for humane immigration and enforcement policy—to engage business leaders in advocating for policies that enable immigrant workers, businesses and communities to thrive. On Jan. 22, CCF invited UNITE-LA to participate on a panel, "The Opportunity Pipeline – Defending Access to the CA Dream," at the United We Stand Immigration & Democracy Summit, where more than 500 cross-sector leaders affirmed and committed to justice, belonging and dignity for every person.

CCF is a true steward of our region, with a unique philanthropic strategy that not only provides financial investment but also builds capacity for coalition building, joint advocacy and the development of relational infrastructure.