The L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative was honored by Assemblymember Mike Gibson, who represents Compton and surrounding communities, with a Certificate of Recognition in honor of its work aligning Los Angeles area education, workforce and employer partners to support equitable student access and success leading to meaningful careers.

On Feb. 12, UNITE-LA's Director of Digital Equity, Liliana Aide Monge, provided testimony at an in-person hearing of the California Public Utilities Commission regarding the proposed merger between Charter Communications and Cox Communications.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudine Battisti

UNITE-LA LAUNCHES CALIFORNIA ECONOMIC MOBILITY FELLOWSHIP TO ADVANCE JOB QUALITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY

Last month, UNITE-LA helped advance Horizons 32K’s goal of reducing youth disconnection across Los Angeles County by co-hosting a regional convening focused on one of the most fragile moments for young people: the transition after high school. Alongside the Britebound Center for Career Navigation at Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), we brought together K-12, community college and workforce leaders to strengthen career navigation for students completing high school in alternative education settings. LAUSD’s Educational Options Division serves more than 9,000 students across 60 nontraditional school sites, including continuation high schools, virtual academies and community day schools for expelled students.

Last month, UNITE-LA participated in the Youth Apprenticeship Summit: Breaking Down Silos – The Future of Youth Apprenticeship in Sacramento, marking a critical moment as California shifts from planning to implementation of a statewide youth apprenticeship system. Following the final convening of the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee (CYAC), the summit brought together education, workforce and policy leaders to focus on operationalizing the committee’s recommendations and breaking down silos across K-12, community colleges and workforce development systems.

On Saturday, Jan. 31, in partnership with UNITE-LA’s Cash for College campaign and the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative, Compton College hosted Funding Your Future on its campus. Prospective students and families from local high schools, as well as current students and community members, participated in a program featuring financial aid experts, academic program staff and student support teams highlighting on- and off-campus resources.

Grounded in needs assessments shaped by Community Schools students, families and educators, UNITE-LA elevated community-defined priorities for student well-being—including access and expansion of vision and dental care, and dedicated supports for foster and homeless student needs.

As part of UNITE-LA's regional Student-Centered Transfer Redesign work, CSU Dominguez Hills empowered transfer students to lead campus change by launching S.T.A.R.S. (Supporting Transfer and Returning Students), a student-led organization that elevates transfer student voice and peer support.

In partnership with the OYC, UNITE‑LA designed participatory data trainings with foster youth leaders and Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Youth Engagement Section staff.

The Opportunity Youth Collaborative (OYC) launched a Youth Advisory Council to guide the implementation of the Horizons 32K Roadmap for opportunity youth. This structure places youth leaders alongside system decision‑makers on the Horizons 32K Stewardship Board, ensuring lived experience shapes what the region prioritizes and how it is delivered. Youth helped set three core priorities for year one implementation: stronger high school transitions, expanded paid work‑based learning and integrated holistic supports.