On March 8, UNITE-LA, LAEDC, Orange County Business Council and Orange County Department of Education co-hosted an L.A./O.C. Master Plan for Career Education regional convening with the Office of California Governor Newsom and WestEd. More than 100 leaders from education, workforce development, government and community organizations reflected on existing challenges and ways to streamline our education system's approach to preparing students and adults for high-paying careers.

The Governor’s Master Plan aims to improve the way education systems work together in the state of California to prepare students and adults for high-paying careers and directs additional steps to reduce employment barriers for state jobs. The L.A./O.C. regional convening organized partners to identify the primary barriers that prevent Californians from learning the skills they need for living-wage work.

The meeting served as a productive space for attendees to discuss four key topics in multiple breakout sessions: regional and state coordination; career pathways; access and affordability; and work-based learning, apprenticeship and employer engagement.