A new initiative was announced on Mar. 24 to strengthen the workforce in the Los Angeles region by establishing a direct employment pipeline between local educational institutions, such as the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), and major health care employers.
The program, called A Paradigm Shift, was launched by the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, which is described as the oldest and largest business advocacy and organizing lobby in the L.A. region.
Maria Salinas, president of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, said the goal is to connect community college students in Los Angeles with jobs that are currently in demand in healthcare, technology, and trade sectors. “What this is about is bringing employers to the front end, bringing those employers to the table, and doing that in a manner where we’re creating these effective partnerships,” Salinas said.
Salinas also said that for her organization—which represents over 235,000 businesses and 1,400 member companies—the objective with A Paradigm Shift has always been to help close workforce gaps both within Los Angeles city limits and throughout Southern California while supporting students academically so they can join the local workforce.
The partnership between academia and employers will provide pathways into high-growth careers through internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing opportunities, and work-based learning experiences for students at all nine LACCD campuses.
