UNITE-LA

Behind every great meal is a story. This week, we're celebrating the immigrant-owned restaurants and food businesses that feed our communities and power our local economy.

We kicked off Immigrant Small Business Week with a press event at Mercado La Paloma, a marketplace that has long embodied the spirit of immigrant entrepreneurship in Los Angeles. The event brought together local leaders and small business owners to spotlight the outsized role immigrant entrepreneurs play in driving economic growth across CA.

Explore the CA4US Immigrant Small Business Week to find one near you and show your support and follow throughout the week: http://ca4us.org/isbw-directory-2026

California Community Foundation

☀️ Make this summer count with UNITE-LA’s WorkforceReady program!

If you're 14–26 and live in Los Angeles County, WorkforceReady offers free, virtual, self-paced training designed to help you prepare for jobs, internship and future career opportunities. Participants will explore how to:

💪 Build a strong resume
🧑‍💻 Practice interview skills
🗣️ Strengthen communication skills
⏱️ Improve time management
🧑‍💼 Grow their professional network

📅 The program takes 6 hours to complete across 3 weeks; 2 hours/week


🌴This summer, invest in yourself. Build the skills and confidence to stand out for your next job or internship. Apply by July 5: bit.ly/419Zuob

Many employers have questions about how immigration rules affect their workplaces.

Join UNITE-LA, California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), Public Counsel, Building Skills Partnership, Inclusive Action for the City, CAMEO Network and Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights on June 25 at 3 p.m. PT for a free webinar covering employer responsibilities, available resources and worker protections. Spanish interpretation will be available.

We'd love to have you join us!

Register here: https://bit.ly/4fUW2qc and share with your network!

Last week, UNITE-LA’s Edgar Castillo was proud to testify before the Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee in support of AB 805, legislation that would establish the Career Apprenticeship Bridge (CAB) Program and advance a key recommendation from the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee's final report.

As a co-sponsor alongside California Opportunity Youth Network (COYN), Alliance for Boys and Men of Color (ABMoC) and Youth Will, we believe the CAB Program represents an important opportunity to create stronger connections between education, workforce and apprenticeship systems while expanding access to high-quality career pathways for young people.

Thank you to the Committee and Assemblymember Mike Fong for advancing this important effort. We look forward to continuing to build a youth apprenticeship system that works for all Californians.

Immigrant Small Business Week starts TODAY! This week, we're celebrating the businesses and entrepreneurs who define our neighborhoods, power our economy and represent California's future. Explore the CA4US Immigrant Small Business Week directory to find businesses near you, and follow throughout the week: http://ca4us.org/isbw-directory-2026 California Community Foundation

In May, UNITE-LA joined the Choose Children CA 2026 campaign at Univision 34 Los Angeles, where ECE partners and California gubernatorial candidates discussed why investing in and prioritizing ECE is critical for California's economy.

Read the full story and more updates from across UNITE-LA in our June newsletter 👉 https://bit.ly/4uHIxha

Today, we honor Juneteenth—a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates the resilience, achievements and lasting contributions of Black Americans.

At UNITE-LA, that spirit of progress and possibility continues to guide our work. We believe expanding access to education, workforce opportunities and economic mobility helps build a future where every individual has the opportunity to succeed, and we remain committed to advancing systems that create opportunity for all.

Join UNITE-LA and our partners on Thursday, June 25, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Madero Cantina y Cocina for an evening focused on strengthening apprenticeship pathways across Southern California.

In partnership with the Orange County Regional Consortium, South Bay Workforce Investment Board - SBWIB and the Southern California Apprenticeship Network (SCAN), this mixer brings together employers, workforce partners and industry leaders to share insights, spark new ideas and expand opportunities for talent development.

Save your spot: https://bit.ly/4ewL6g7

One year after the ICE raids in Los Angeles disrupted communities, impacted businesses and cost the County more than $1 billion, UNITE-LA remains committed to supporting employers, workers and immigrant communities through advocacy, resources and engagement.

That's why we've launched the Business Leader's Guide to the Immigrant Workforce, a resource hub with regional data, employer perspectives, legal and compliance resources and policy updates to help business leaders stay informed and support their workforce.
Explore the resource hub: https://www.unitela.com/immigrantworkforce

📢 Small business owners and employers — join us this Thursday, June 18, for a free webinar on business asset protection. Learn how to protect your assets, create emergency backup plans and strengthen your business structure during uncertain times.

📅 June 18 | 3PM PT | Virtual

Register today 👉 bit.ly/asset-protection-business-owners-employers