Background

UNITE-LA has a successful 25-year track record of working in collaboration with partners in Los Angeles and beyond to advance cradle-through-career education and workforce development efforts in the domains of systems change, policy and programs. UNITE-LA engaged La Piana in December 2021 to build a new strategic plan that will accelerate the organization’s impact moving forward by building on its strengths and identifying major areas for growth.

UNITE-LA conducted its 2023 inaugural Business Interest Policy Survey to gain insight on the policy interests of 28 business organization partners throughout Los Angeles County and California, with a focus on cradle-through-career education and workforce development (EDWD) issues. Key findings indicate that almost all of our business partners are currently engaged in work surrounding EDWD policy issues; yet most experience capacity limits on staff time dedicated to EDWD work. The survey identifies key EDWD areas of interest, as well as supports that would aid business organizations in increasing engagement. The survey findings inform a set of recommendations for business organizations to advance EDWD work.

In the spring of 2022, UNITE-LA led an informational survey of Los Angeles area employers in technology-related firms to learn about their needs, challenges and priorities in recruiting and retaining workers. The survey was developed by UNITE-LA in partnership with the L.A. County Justice Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD), formerly the Office of Diversion and Reentry, and included specific questions on inclusive hiring policies and practices that may support workers who have prior involvement with the criminal legal system.

Results for our survey of 21 tech employers are presented in this report, with brief narrative summaries of select, key results in the following areas: organization type; individual respondent’s hiring and human resources (HR) influence; talent needs and challenges; inclusivity commitments; and employers’ approach to hiring systems-involved individuals (SII).

In early 2022, UNITE-LA led an informational survey, Employment Issues for Angelenos, for those who have a previous record of arrest or conviction. This data collection effort discerns employment histories, challenges and aspirations of this population—particularly for tech careers—and includes data on individual demographics.

The survey was developed by UNITE-LA in partnership with the L.A. County Justice Care and Opportunities Department (JCOD), formerly the Office of Diversion and Reentry, the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LAARP) and SECTOR.

Results are presented in this report, with brief narrative summaries of select, key results in the following areas: demographics; education, life circumstances; job search and challenges individuals associated with our workforce programming.

California’s public servants, including the next Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and State Legislators, have a significant responsibility and will have the power to uplift millions of Californians and brighten their futures.

The past few years have been marked by both incredible struggle for California’s children, families, and residents; and important progress towards better policies and systems change to serve them. Notably, the $2.7 billion investment in Universal Transitional Kindergarten; $3 billion one- time Prop 98 investments for the expansion of Community Schools throughout California; $1 billion investment for the Learning-Aligned Employment Program and Golden State Education and Training Program to support students and adult workers; Development of and initial implementation funding for Recovery with Equity: A Roadmap for Higher Education After the Pandemic; and legislation and investments to establish a statewide, longitudinal data system for California all demonstrate the state’s commitment to a cradle-to-career policy agenda. While these successes should be celebrated, significant work remains.

We are all responsible for transforming our institutions and systems so they support all students to reach their full potential. This necessitates a cradle to career approach to ensure California’s education and workforce systems are focused on racial and social justice, and are better coordinated — from cradle to career — to create a seamless path for students across the whole developmental spectrum.

The goal of this qualitative research effort was to bring to the forefront the many voices and experiences from those most directly involved with high school students through the milestones leading to postsecondary success. As high school students are generally informed of graduation requirements at their respective schools, the strategies and activities geared toward helping students decide their path for after graduation may vary due to staffing, funding, or the need for better organization.

This qualitative research report stemmed from the collaborative project involving the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and UNITE-LA, "Got a Plan for That? Removing Barriers to College and Career Success" through LAUSD and Community Partnership.

English/Dual Language Learners (EL/DLL) programs in California are a critical vehicle for remaining the fifth largest economy in the world and accomplishing the state’s Global California 2030 goals, which look to equip students with the tools to ensure all Californians can thrive and succeed in the global economy.

The current landscape review is one component of a collaborative project involving UNITE-LA and LAUSD, "Got a Plan for That? Removing Barriers to College and Career Success" through LAUSD and Community Partnership.

ERC conducted the following landscape review with the purpose of providing LAUSD and the Advisory Group with information on tools and systems used internally and across the region that support students with their postsecondary efforts. The information will also highlight effective practices and strategies which may be utilized by the district.

In July, the L.A. Compact, convened by UNITE-LA, together with the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative, released a case study detailing its efforts to connect foster youth to public workforce programs in L.A. County using a shared referral process across agencies. This brief describes the development and implementation of a process to coordinate and streamline foster youth referrals to workforce programs and includes specific recommendations for process improvement based on feedback from both network partners and foster youth themselves.

On March 3, 2021, we unveiled our Getting Back to Work: Revamping the Economy by Removing Past Records report with Californians for Safety and Justice. We were joined by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, who introduced SB 731, along with co-authors Sen. Nancy Skinner and Sen. Steven Bradford.

UNITE-LA and Californians for Safety and Justice have been working to reduce the barriers that people with records face when they are looking to enter the workforce. Together, they commissioned this study to understand the scale of the problem in California. Working with data analysts and researchers, this study estimates the number of people with past records and the impact these records have on California’s economy.