Connecting education and industry is vital for preparing students for real-world careers. Organizations such as UNITE LA bridge school-to-career pathways, focusing on equitable transitions for marginalized communities. Central to this is a strong commitment to equity and anti-racism, integrating these values into daily practices. Alysia Bell, President of UNITE LA, champions these efforts by promoting programs to combat racism, creating internal workgroups for race equity, and emphasizing collaboration, strong frameworks, and quality work-based learning. Technology and healthcare businesses are key partners with UNITE LA, contributing to industry-focused learning models that prepare students for high-demand careers. By working together toward inclusivity, we can build a more just society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and pursue fulfilling, successful careers.   You’ll learn:  How businesses can collaborate with institutions to tailor a curriculum that meets both student interests and industry needs. What strategies ensure seamless transitions from high school to college and into the workforce. How organizations can combat systemic racism. What approaches can be used to design industry-focused, work-based learning models that prepare students for high-quality careers. About the Guest: Alysia Bell serves as President of UNITE-LA, joining the organization in 2011. In her years with the organization, she has led national work in partnership with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). This partnership has raised more than $13 million, which resulted in sub-granting more than $700 thousand to chambers across the country. This led to promising practices in higher education attainment and graduated nearly 200 business organization leaders from the Fellowship for Education Attainment. Together, UNITE-LA and ACCE designed and engaged more than 600 chamber professionals in the Education and Talent Development Division, which UNITE-LA and ACCE co-launched in 2011.   Engage with us: LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: ewdpulse.com Visit: PCC EWD website   More from Alysia Bell and UNITE LA:  LinkedIn: @alysia-bell Website: https://www.unitela.com/ Instagram & Twitter/X: @letsunitela  LinkedIn: @unite-la Facebook: @unitela1   Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking    Find the transcript of this episode here   Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts, we’d love to hear from you!