Leaders from across California will highlight effective job training and workforce development strategies for disconnected youth and other disadvantaged communities and will present ideas for ensuring that all California workers have pathways into high quality, good paying jobs. Speakers will highlight key state level opportunities and strategies to build California’s workforce achieve greater prosperity for all.
Agenda
12:00 – Lunch and casual networking
12:10 – Welcome and Introductory Comments
Ruben Lizardo, Senior Director, PolicyLink
12:15 Creating Opportunity for California’s Disconnected Youth
Jessica Chandler, Masters of Social Welfare student, Cal State Northridge and Advocate
Luis Barrera, Senior Coordinator, National Council of La Raza
12: 40 – Workforce Development and Job Creation for Low-Income Communities and Communities of Color
Lanita Morris, Project Coordinator, Los Angeles Black Worker Center
Amy Vanderwarker, Co-Coordinator, California Environmental Justice Alliance
1:05 Open Discussion
Speaker Profiles
Luis Barrera, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
Luis Barrera, Senior Coordinator, Workforce Development, National Council of La Raza (NCLR)Luis provides strategic and programmatic support to NCLR’s national and California Regional Workforce Development Affiliates, in the design, development, implementation, and monitoring of workforce development investments. Luis currently serves on the statewide California EDGE Coalition Executive Committee, whose goal is to implement a coherent and well-integrated workforce investment strategy that addresses the skill needs of employers and provides opportunities for all California residents. Luis has been directly involved in Workforce Development issues for the past 8 years working closely in the counties of Los Angeles and San Mateo in the San Francisco Bay Area to develop career development and workforce development programs for youth and adults. Luis earned his Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an Associates of Arts degree from Santa Monica College.
Contact information: lbarrera@nclr.org
Jessica Chandler, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
Jessica Chandler is a MSW student at Cal State Northridge entering her second year this fall. She has long served as an advocate for children and families in California’s child welfare / Juvenile justice system. She has spoken at conferences across the country and testified before many state and federal officials. She sits on the board of the education coordinating council (ECC), is a founding partner of LA Child Advocacy Partners and currently works as the Resource specialist with the Alliance for Children’s Rights for the pregnant and parenting teens in the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Chione L. Flegal, PolicyLink
Chione L. Flegal, Associate Director works to ensure that infrastructure and land-use policy promotes social, economic and environmental equity. Chione leads the organization’s California policy work, as well as efforts to address disparities faced by low-income unincorporated communities. Prior to joining PolicyLink Chione was a Senior Program Manager for Latino Issues Forum where she directed the organization’s work on issues of environmental health and justice. She has been a consultant for organizations in the United States and abroad including CARE International and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. Chione serves on the board of directors for the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, a statewide coalition of water justice advocates, and is on the Board of Directors for TransForm. She holds a Masters in City Planning and a BS in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley.
Contact Information: chione@policylink.org
Rubén Lizardo, PolicyLink
Rubén Lizardo, Senior Director and Leader of BMOC & Workforce Initiatives, leads equitable public investment efforts to ensure public investments in infrastructure generate community benefits. His work includes research and public education, training and technical assistance to strengthen community and civic participation in decision-making, and working with public officials to develop investment strategies and policies that further equity and economic vitality. Prior to joining PolicyLink, he was the capacity-building director of California Tomorrow, where he led advocacy, training, and technical assistance efforts to address diversity and equity issues. He also served as director of the Community Planning and Economic Development Program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. He is a former president of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and was awarded The California Wellness Foundation’s California Peace Prize for his work to address root causes of youth violence. He currently serves on the boards of Californians for Justice and Justice Matters.
Contact Information: rlizardo@policyLink.org
Lanita Morris, Los Angeles Black Worker Center
Lanita Morris, Project Coordinator at the UCLA Downtown Labor Center, manages leadership development, political education, and community organizing programs for the Los Angeles Black Worker Center. Lanita has also been a coordinator of the African American Union Leadership School, the Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women, and the Student Leadership Academy summer internship programs. A native resident of South Los Angeles, Lanita has worked for social change in the African American community for many years. Before joining the UCLA Labor Center, she was Lead Organizer and Training Associate for SCOPE, a grassroots organization that builds community power among poor & working class African-American and Latino residents of South Los Angeles. While at AGENDA, she facilitated training and political education with social change organizations to help build their capacity to do effective community organizing and strategic grassroots campaigns. Lanita holds a B.A. in Public Policy from Occidental College.
Contact Information: LMorris@irle.ucla.edu
Amy Vanderwarker, California Environmental Justice Alliance
Amy Vanderwarker is the Co-Coordinator of the California Environmental Justice Alliance, where she coordinates state advocacy campaigns on environmental justice issues. She brings over a decade of experience working on environmental justice issues at the local, regional and state level.
Contact Information: avanderwarker@caleja.org
California Equity Leaders Network 