L.A. Cash for College is a financial aid awareness campaign that helps students and families navigate the financial aid process and realize their college potential. Through the annual College & Career Convention, financial aid completion workshops and scholarship incentives, we inform students about college and financial aid processes, personally assist students and families applying for financial aid, and reward students with potential $1,000 scholarships.
L.A. Youth at Work invests in our young adults to develop the future workforce. LAYAW solicits entry-level job commitments and internship opportunities from private sector employers then trains and certifies young adults between the ages of 16-24, free of charge and regardless of income or residency, with the skills necessary to qualify for entry-level employment.
Collective input, collective action, collective impact. The L.A. Compact is a bold commitment by Los Angeles leaders from education, business, government, labor, and non-profit sectors, to transform education outcomes from cradle to career, ensuring that today’s youth have the skills necessary to compete and succeed in a 21st century global workforce.
Facing growing competition at home and abroad, Los Angeles businesses must attract the best talent to compete now and in the future. Forging business and education partnerships increases the relevance of curriculum, and engages students in actively working towards their future as productive citizens.
In order to truly transform our educational system, change takes place at the local, state and national levels. UNITE-LA unifies with the L.A. Area Chamber for local partnerships; the R.E.A.L. Coalition with statewide influence; and A.C.C.E. projecting a national voice.
Thirteen years ago, the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute revealed that while “96% of Latino parents want their children to attend college”, few understood how to support their children in the college admission process or how to access the financial aid opportunities that make that access affordable. Our mission is to educate students and families so their finances no longer are a factor in deciding whether or not to go to college.
UNITE-LA understands the importance of investment in early learning, birth through five years old, and its effectiveness in improving high school graduation rates and college attendance, in addition to increasing safety, decreasing crime and building a stronger economy and middle class.
UNITE-LA supports the new 21st century assessments and accountability system, along with the Linked Learning approach for education, which integrates rigorous academics with career-based learning and real work workplace experience.
UNITE-LA seeks to improve post-secondary student success outcomes, expand access and eligibility for financial aid, and supports pathways of opportunity for undocumented students in the pursuit of college education and career development.
UNITE-LA supports the development of comprehensive P-16 career pathways that create a systemic approach to meeting the needs of high-demand industry sectors and preparing our youth for the challenging opportunities of the global economy.
UNITE-LA is particularly concerned with the challenges facing youth who are Out-of-School and Out-of-Work. This population of critically at-risk youth needs special supports and on-ramps to ensure they become re-engaged in society. UNITE-LA employs staff to specifically support strategies aimed at changing outcomes for this high need population that includes Foster Youth, Transition-Age Youth, Probation Youth and Formerly Incarcerated youth.
