UNITE‑LA took center stage at California Workforce Association’s (CWA) WORKCON in Costa Mesa, spotlighting the real financing challenges faced by workforce programs for opportunity youth and sharing transformative strategies from our My Pathway to Health initiative.

UNITE-LA—serving as co-convener of the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative—partnered with the Nonprofit Finance Fund to present a powerful session on the real financial challenges of delivering workforce development programs for opportunity youth in Los Angeles. Amber Chatman, UNITE-LA’s director of Systems and Policy, shared findings and recommendations from a commissioned report that engaged frontline organizations to uncover what’s often missing in current funding models. The session shed light on hidden costs, administrative burdens and funding restrictions that significantly impact program quality and long-term sustainability. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of how financial constraints affect staffing, service delivery and long-term impact—and why rethinking how we fund youth workforce development is critical to building a more equitable system.

Additionally, UNITE-LA’s Ilia Lopez, associate director of Inclusion and Community Partnerships, and Destiny Lopez, case manager, Health Care, hosted a workshop for workforce professionals titled, “Building Pathways to Allied Health Careers: A Holistic Approach to Equitable Workforce Development.” The session highlighted the success of UNITE-LA’s My Pathway to Health program and our strong partnership with COPE Health Solutions to create meaningful work-based learning opportunities within the allied health industry. The workshop concluded with an inspiring testimonial from Jennifer Ajanel, a 2023 My Pathway to Health graduate, who shared her personal journey, and the impact UNITE-LA has had on her career pathway. We extend our deepest gratitude to Deborah Muñoz from COPE Health Solutions and Jennifer Ajanel for their invaluable contributions and for making the session truly memorable.

This year’s WORKCON theme, Strength in Change: Resilience for the Future, celebrated innovative collaborations, strategic partnerships and transformative programs that reflect the impactful work of California’s Workforce Development Boards, community-based organizations, educational institutions, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partners and others dedicated to empowering local communities.