Workforce Wednesdays at CUSD
CUSD Workforce Wednesday Welcomes 60+ Partners
“Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.” That message set the tone as Compton Unified welcomed more than 60 current and prospective industry and community partners for the first Workforce Wednesday of the 2026-27 school year.
The goal was clear: build partnerships that open doors for CUSD scholars and connect classroom learning with college, careers, and the workforce.
“We are asking you to help us open doors. To provide access to your industries, your expertise, and your networks,” CUSD Chief Administrative Officer Shannon Soto, Ed.D. told attendees.
CUSD Board of Trustees member Denzell O. Jordan-Perry welcomed the group and shared his own experience as a product of Compton Unified schools who built a successful career while remaining connected to the Compton community.
Chase Moore, M.Ed., CUSD Director of School & Community Partnerships, invited businesses and organizations to find meaningful ways to work with CUSD, while Rose Gonzalez, Senior Director of Career Technical Education and Partnerships, highlighted the District’s 17 Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways offered across its high schools.
Partners can make an impact in many ways, including registered apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, work-based learning experiences, industry-sponsored competitions, classroom guest speakers, mentorship, and exposure to career opportunities.
CUSD also works with the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network and Tomorrow’s Talent, LLC to help connect employers and scholars with apprenticeship and workforce opportunities.
Longtime partners, the Sloane Stephens Foundation (Sloane Stephens and Sybil Smith) and Ursula Moran Bagley from Verizon / Verizon Innovative Learning Schools shared how their work with CUSD has benefited scholars and schools. Centennial High School Principal Bobby Walker, Ed.D., and Foster Elementary School Principal Cecelia McDuffie also highlighted programs at their schools and the continued need for community and industry support.
With a 95% graduation rate and 94% college acceptance rate, Compton Unified is preparing a talented generation for what comes next. These partnerships help ensure scholars have not only the skills to succeed, but also access to the people, industries, and experiences that can help launch their futures.
As Dr. Soto told the group: “Don’t just tell a young person they have a future. Help them build one.”
#ComptonUnified #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerTechnicalEducation #CTE #CareerReadiness #CommunityPartnerships
