UNITE-LA & LA-Tech.Org Form Partnership to Provide Tech Opportunities for Underrepresented L.A. Youth
LOS ANGELES — UNITE-LA and LA-Tech.org are proud to announce a formal partnership to help close the opportunity gap in the technology industry among underrepresented youth in Los Angeles.
“The technology industry provides many opportunities to further develop the future economic success of the Los Angeles region by training our youth in these booming, profitable careers. Too often, students from vulnerable populations do not have a chance to participate in the technology workforce because they simply do not have access to do so,” said David Rattray, President and CEO, UNITE-LA. “UNITE-LA is excited to partner with LA-Tech.org so that we can continue to break down barriers blocking students from equal access to technology pathways resulting in a thriving local economy.”
Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D., Chancellor, Los Angeles Community College District, noted, “This partnership is exactly what we need to support our students’ pathway to high-growth, high- wage careers.” Carolyn Hull, General Manager, Economic and Workforce Development Department, City of Los Angeles, added, “UNITE-LA’s Tech Pathway creates an inclusive and equitable environment for foster, homeless and probation youth to explore tech careers, a realm that many may have thought was out of reach. I am thrilled that EWDD is part of a partnership committed to giving underserved youth access to the tech industry, an innovative career sector with boundless opportunities.”
For more than two decades, UNITE-LA has been dedicated to advancing workforce development through business-education partnerships. UNITE-LA will continue to grow its work with education and workforce leaders, institutions of education and community-based organizations to develop and provide youth with virtual work-based learning experiences, including job skills workshops, mock interviews, worksite tours, and career panels to increase their career awareness, exploration and preparation.
Tracy Dennis, Vice President, Global Philanthropy and Program Officer, Los Angeles Metro Region, JPMorgan Chase said,“Working to ensure Los Angeles' most diverse communities have the right skillsets to rebound and recover from the economic crisis, JPMorgan Chase values its relationship with UNITE-LA. They are dedicated to providing innovative training opportunities, particularly for young people of color, to prepare our communities to meet current and future workforce needs.”
Teaming up with LA-Tech.org will greatly expand UNITE-LA’s ability to connect students to careers in the technology field. LA-Tech.org is a nonprofit organization founded by local tech company founders and CEOs to increase economic opportunity for underserved youth. LA- Tech.org will secure paid internships, apprenticeships and special program opportunities with the goal of leading to part-time or full-time employment. Adam Miller, Founder of Cornerstone OnDemand and Chair of LA-Tech.org noted “We are excited by this partnership. By investing in local talent, we ensure a diverse and inclusive future for LA’s growing tech sector.”
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About UNITE-LA
Over the past 20 years, UNITE-LA has been a trusted business intermediary, dedicated to supporting the development of an effective local public education system, so that all children and youth succeed in college, career and beyond. Through the intersection of programming, policy, and systems change efforts, UNITE-LA works to increase access to high-quality early childhood education, develop career pathways in high-growth industries, improve college access and success, and ensure workforce readiness, especially for individuals with high barriers into the workforce. Visit www.unitela.com.
About LA-Tech.org
LA-Tech.org connects L.A.’s tech community to disconnected communities in Los Angeles, aiming to bring the tech community together around common civic goals and to harness the resources of LA’s tech community to bring economic opportunities to LA’s underserved communities.