UNITE-LA, in partnership with the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative, convened foster youth leaders and staff from the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Youth Engagement Section (YES) for a “Measuring What Matters” training. Youth and system leaders worked together to begin identifying a shared set of metrics that will guide YES in improving outcomes for transition-age youth.

This summer, the Project CAMINOS STEM Summer Academy at Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) welcomed high school students from across Los Angeles for a week of hands-on STEM exploration. Now in its sixth year, Project CAMINOS has been supported by the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative since 2023. Both initiatives aim to expand college access, persistence and degree completion in computer science and engineering, particularly for women-identifying students, who make up roughly 20 percent of students enrolled in those programs.

In partnership with the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network, UNITE-LA has taken the lead in advancing apprenticeship opportunities across Los Angeles County through our Apprenticeship Bootcamp Series. The series has brought together local organizations to strengthen their understanding of registered apprenticeship programs and begin developing actionable plans for implementation.

On Sept. 18, UNITE-LA convened education and workforce leaders from across the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative for an immersive visit to the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant and Water Quality Lab in La Verne. The session brought together K-12, community college and university career technical education administrators with workforce development specialists, and featured a guided facilities tour, a briefing from MWD leaders and a skills-and-opportunities discussion highlighting how the computer science (CS) and engineering pathways power one of California’s most essential industries. Participants experienced a clearer view of in-demand technical and soft skills, potential internship and employment pathways and concrete ideas for connecting classroom learning to real-world applications across regional CS and engineering pathways.

On Aug. 15, the Los Angeles Digital Equity Action League (LA DEAL) partnered with the City of Palmdale to host its first-ever Digital Access Fair at South Antelope Valley Emergency Services (SAVES). The event served 300 low-income and underserved families and provided 145 families with free refurbished laptops through a collaboration with Homeboy Electronics Social Enterprise, alongside affordable internet offers through LA DEAL’s partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF). Families were connected with a range of digital literacy programs, IT support services and community resources designed to help students succeed during the school year.

The L.A. Unified Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC), co-convened by UNITE-LA, is thrilled to welcome six new members–Sidra Dudley, Daniel Allbee, Rosa Jimenez, Ingrid Villeda, Esteban Zaragoza and Alyssa Moore–to the 2025-26 committee. Each new member brings a wealth of passion and expertise that will help steer the sustainability of the Community Schools Initiative (CSI), ensuring it continues to thrive and enhance our schools.

The L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative hosted a Community of Practice on Aug. 5 focused on the impact of College Promise programs across Los Angeles. The session, convened by UNITE-LA, explored strategies for strengthening student-centered infrastructure and scaling equity-driven approaches for counselors, Promise Coordinators and student support professionals.

As co-convener of the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC), UNITE-LA is driving progress on the Horizons 32K regional roadmap for opportunity youth, which aims to reduce youth disconnection by 32,000 by 2028. Two impact initiatives emerging from this roadmap—High School Transitions and Earn & Learn—brought together cross-sector partners this September to tackle barriers, strengthen student transitions and expand health care career pathways.

A subcommittee of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Community Schools Steering Committee (CSSC) is advancing implementation of the Meaningful Teaching and Learning (MTL) Resolution for five designated community schools: 24th Street Elementary School, 93rd Street Elementary School, Lucille Roybal Elementary School, Walnut Park Elementary School and Marlton SPAN School. To ensure these schools are fully equipped for the 2025–26 academic year, UNITE-LA has prepared key practices and guidance, drawn from expert interviews with educators experienced in project-based learning (PBL) and alternative assessments, to support their planning and effective implementation.

In August, UNITE-LA’s Education Means Business policy webinar series brought together Assemblymember Mike Fong (AD-49); California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Stewart Knox; and L.A. Metro's Principal Talent Development Specialist, Tai Alimi, to discuss the state’s new Master Plan for Career Education and its potential impact on education and workforce pathways across the state.