Los Angeles County has one of the largest workforce and education ecosystems in the nation, with 21 community colleges, 7 workforce development boards and more than 30 America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs), dozens of public and private universities, 5 California State Universities, 100+ adult education providers, 80 K-12 school districts, and a multitude of labor unions, private postsecondary vocation education/trade schools, non-profits, and other stakeholders. These systems are often cited for their best practices and innovations that are replicated across the country. But despite an abundance of resources and successes, the region faces many challenges leveraging these systems to advance the economic mobility of the County’s 10 million residents.
Please join us for a three-part workshop and conversation specifically designed to inform and engage the philanthropic community on workforce development landscape, trends, sources, and uses of funds, best practices, challenges, and successes that are particular to Los Angeles County. Pre-reading resources will be provided, with ample time for genuine conversation in each session. The series, facilitated by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation and hosted by SCG, is funded by The Smidt Foundation.
Session 3: Opportunities and Responsibilities
Tuesday, August 24 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
There are many approaches that funders can take in terms of supporting the workforce and education ecosystem. This session will explore different opportunities to be a catalyst for change through the lens of population-and/or outcome-driven strategies. The topic for this session will be designed by the issues raised during sessions one and two and respond to the group’s interest in taking a deeper look at specific challenges and opportunities. In addition, this session will detail who is ultimately responsible and accountable for the workforce system, one of the most highly audited federally funded systems.
Previous Sessions
Session 1: LA County’s Workforce Landscape — Why is it so complicated for the systems and the individuals who need the services?
Tuesday, July 20 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm (Recording of this session is available)
The largest single source of federal investment in workforce development, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), seeks to align federal and state investment in skill development and the impacts for specific vulnerable populations to acquire skills and credentials that meet employers’ needs. With over $100,000,000 of WIOA investments flowing into Los Angeles County annually, the governing policies and performance metrics designed by the federal government, state, and local workforce development boards impact the region’s workforce and education system. When we consider the education system and all other partners and programs that comprise the entire Los Angeles County workforce and education ecosystem, it is no wonder that it is difficult to access and navigate services, much less adapt to the speed of economic and workforce change outside these systems.
Session 2: What is promising and can we build on it?
Tuesday, August 3 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm (Recording of this session is available)
There are myriad trends and issues affecting the workforce development system’s capacity to meet both the supply and demand side of the region’s workforce. This session will explore the workforce system’s needs and trends that require action to support inclusive economic recovery in Los Angeles while highlighting promising practices already taking place in the County and elsewhere and opportunities for replication, expansion and/or greater impact through the learner journey perspective of a large employer, small employer, and a non-profit partner.
