In May, UNITE-LA participated in the National Skills Coalition's (NSC) Skills Summit, the organization's premier annual event held in Washington, D.C., which gathers workforce and business advocates from across the nation. The Summit provided a platform to delve into crucial federal skills policy issues linked to racial equity, job quality and people-centered infrastructure.

The opportunity also facilitated direct engagement with legislators on Capitol Hill and in the Biden Administration, aligned with UNITE-LA's goal to shape federal skills policy. Edgar Castillo, Senior Manager of Workforce Development Systems and Policy, joined a special delegation alongside NSC and summit attendees and met with key legislative staff from the offices of Senator Laphonza Butler, Senator Alex Padilla and Congressman Adam Schiff. Discussions centered on ongoing industry partnership investment needs, the benefits and impact of short-term Pell Grants for participants in high-quality educational programs, and the significance of WIOA reauthorization.

For more information, please reach out to Edgar Castillo, Senior Manager of Workforce Development Systems and Policy, at [email protected].