UNITE-LA Celebrates Spring Cleantech Academy Graduates

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 3, 2025) - On Tuesday, June 3, UNITE-LA celebrated 43 graduates of its Spring 2025 Los Angeles Regional Cleantech Career Academy at a ceremony held at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. Graduates are set to receive certificates from the City of Los Angeles, signed by Councilmember Heather Hutt, District 10.

The first-of-its-kind Academy connects students, ages 18-24, from historically marginalized communities with paid, educational opportunities and work experience in L.A.’s growing clean energy sector. Invaluable to the success of the program are the real-world experience and vital connections participants gain over 12 weeks through career exploration, site visits, mentorship and sustainability projects.

“By supporting the next generation of clean energy professionals, we are not only fostering a sustainable future, but also strengthening California’s workforce pipeline,” said Alysia Bell, President, UNITE-LA. “The Academy is opening doors to new careers that will drive innovation and positive change in our communities.” 

California continues to lead the nation in cleantech innovation, and the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area ranks second across all U.S. metro areas for most clean energy jobs.

Now in its third year, the Academy has helped more than 220 students from across the Los Angeles area get a foot in the door of the cleantech industry, and 90 scholarships have been awarded to support further enrollment in certificate or degree programs aligned with cleantech workforce needs. Nearly 90 percent of Academy participants come from communities underrepresented in the cleantech industry.

“The Academy has given me the tools, knowledge and confidence to pursue a career in clean energy and sustainability,” said Julia Kowalski, a graduate of the spring cohort and student at Santa Monica College.

The graduation ceremony featured remarks from Randall Winston, Deputy Mayor of Infrastructure for the City of Los Angeles; Miriam Farnbauer, Project Director at DIAG USA; and Tamika Lang, Senior Manager of State and Local Government Operations at Boeing and a member of the UNITE-LA Board.

“As the cleantech sector evolves, it is the next generation of Angelenos who will transform innovation into impact, shaping the sustainable industries of tomorrow,” said Deputy Mayor Winston.

“Investing in initiatives like the Cleantech Academy is more important than ever to develop the skilled workforce essential for our cleantech industry,” said Lang. “We are excited to watch these graduates thrive in the groundbreaking industries that will define tomorrow.” 

The Academy is made possible with the support of dedicated community, government, education and employer partners.

“JPMorgan Chase is proud to partner with UNITE-LA on the Academy. These graduates exemplify the innovation and drive that L.A.'s cleantech ecosystem needs right now, and we are excited to see what they will accomplish next,” said Ali Tarzi, West Region Executive for Public Engagement at JPMorgan Chase and a member of the UNITE-LA Board.

For more information on how to partner with the Academy, visit cleantechacademy.org/partner-with-us.