UNITE-LA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization associated with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce that primarily promotes education reform and youth workforce development in the Los Angeles area with a focus on underserved communities. 1
Background
The organization was founded in 1998, to promote collaborative education reform efforts as well as business-education partnerships and to expand college access to students in the Los Angeles area. 2
UNITE-LA worked to increase the number of foster teens involved in a Los Angeles Youth@Work Work Based Learning Program by almost tenfold. The organization recognized that of the 20,000 youth in the program in 2013, only 81 were foster children. Through coordinating with social workers, that number of foster children in the work training programs increased to 772 by 2017. 3
Leadership
David Rattray is the president and CEO of UNITE-LA. 4 Rattray oversaw the Center for Education Excellence and Talent Development at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a member of the board of directors for the Learning Policy Institute. 5
Monica Bouldin is the chairwoman of the 14-member board of directors. Bouldin is the vice president of Ruiz Strategies. 6
Francisco Rodriguez is the vice chairman of the board of directors. Rodriguez is also the chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. 7
Angelica Salas is the secretary/treasurer for the board. She is also the director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a left-of-center group advocating liberal expansionist immigration policy. 8
Other board members include Bill Covino, the president of California State University, Los Angeles and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D). 9
References
- Adams, Heather. “More Than the Bottom Line: How a Chamber of Commerce is Helping Foster Youth Succeed.” The Chronicle of Social Change. October 3, 2018. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/child-welfare-2/los-angeles-chamber-of-commerce-highlights-role-of-business-in-helping-foster-youth-succeed/32332
- About. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/
- Adams, Heather. “More Than the Bottom Line: How a Chamber of Commerce is Helping Foster Youth Succeed.” The Chronicle of Social Change. October 3, 2018. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/child-welfare-2/los-angeles-chamber-of-commerce-highlights-role-of-business-in-helping-foster-youth-succeed/32332
- Our Board. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/our_board
- Ultican, Thomas. “Torlakson’s California Charter Law ‘Action Team’ Has a Troubling Tilt.” San Diego Free Press. September 7, 2018. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://sandiegofreepress.org/2018/09/torlaksons-california-charter-law-action-team-has-a-troubling-tilt/#.Xki2rm5Fxjp
- Our Board. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/our_board
- Our Board. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/our_board
- Our Board. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/our_board
- Our Board. UNITE-LA. Accessed February 15, 2020. https://www.unitela.com/our_board