This summer, Irvine’s #BetterCareers initiative supported a group of grantees and key registered apprenticeship organizations in LA to join a delegation of SoCal leaders traveling to Zurich for the CEMETS Summer Institute. What did they learn? Check out the top takeaways below.

The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing regions in CA and a vital hub for the nation’s logistics industry, but climate hazards put workers at risk. A new policy brief from the IE Labor and Community Center highlights the need for proactive worker protections: ielcc.ucr.edu/worker-clima...

The Irvine Foundation strongly condemns all acts of political violence. This is a moment for leadership that drives unity rather than division. We join #UniteInAdvance in standing against efforts to weaponize political violence to mischaracterize charitable organizations: bit.ly/3VS653N

Stable and flexible scheduling is a win-win: workers can have better work-life balance and financial stability, while employers see increased productivity and retention. How can employers and policymakers support stable scheduling? Read about it in @urbaninstitute.bsky.social: bit.ly/3HQityc

Pregnant or parenting at work? You might be wondering: 👶 When can I take paid leave? 🍼 What accommodations can I ask for? ⚖️ Am I protected from retaliation? We’ve got you covered. Watch and share our short explainer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c4T9SHyGoA&t=1s&ab_channel=LegalAidatWork

We're happy to announce that Maria Anguiano has been elected as the next Chair of The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors! Get to know Maria more in this blog post from our current board Chair, Tim Rios: bit.ly/3IeO4JR

We’re happy to share that @digitalnest.bsky.social, a grantee of Irvine, recently teamed up with @adobe.com to launch new training videos for nonprofits. The videos were co-created by 10 young interns from Digital NEST, who worked closely with Adobe product experts: blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2...

Great to connect with The @irvinefdn.bsky.social Better Careers team at @caworkforceassociation ’s Meeting of the Minds. @irvinefdn.bsky.social and Haden Springer and Kriztina Palone #nonprofit #workforce #training

Closing off our #LaborDay content series is the California Coalition for Worker Power (CCWP), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative! CCWP ensures that every worker in California has the power to come together and improve their work conditions and their communities. Learn more: bit.ly/4mqgrUj

We’re continuing our #LaborDay content series by highlighting Power California, a grantee-partner of Irvine's #JustProsperity initiative! Power California believes we can make California stronger if everyone has a say in the decisions that impact our lives. Learn more: bit.ly/3JdGKyf

This #LaborDay, we’re highlighting Central Coast United Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative! CAUSE aims to create a community where everyone can contribute to and benefit from a sustainable economy that is just & environmentally healthy: bit.ly/3HGHTy9

This #LaborDay, we're highlighting some of the organizations Irvine is proud to support. First up: Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative, working to build an economy rooted in good jobs, thriving communities, and a healthy environment: bit.ly/3Hw7860

The latest issue of @johnsoncenter.bsky.social’s The Foundation Review features an article by Irvine and our partners at Engage R+D: bit.ly/3JETU7N  It explores how grantees can be engaged early in strategy & evaluation design, and how to build reciprocal relationships.

"Ian" is an irrigator in CAs Imperial Valley. "On Friday, I was distributing irrigation pipes and it was incredibly hot. Temps were 116° and I had to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. It's hard to work during this time of year because the heat is so high." #WeFeedYou #Calor

Are you a domestic employer who's interested in creating a fair working environment in your home? Check out Fair Care, a comic book style booklet from Hand in Hand that explains how to create a fair work environment through providing fair pay, paid time off, and clear communication: bit.ly/3HPDmJw

The Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa Valley, and Blue Lake Rancheria tribes recently launched a new pre-apprenticeship program with support from our #BetterCareers initiative! It addresses two needs at once: career pathways for tribal members and essential technical expertise for tribal utilities: bit.ly/45TaTvE

Two decades after California enacted landmark heat safety law, farmworkers still suffer from preventable heat-related illnesses—and, in some cases, die. As the state faces increasingly frequents and intense heat waves, effective enforcement are more critical than ever. @latimes.com: bit.ly/413Lywr

We’re excited to share that Scale Fresno recently launched! Scale Fresno’s goal is to help launch nearly 7,000 new businesses in the county by 2030 by offering capital access, technical assistance, and outreach to entrepreneurs from underserved communities. Learn more: irvine.ly/41GNxa3

#California has long been a leader in the shift toward renewable energy, and the state’s evolving energy needs have implications for the workers in the sector—creating new opportunities while also narrowing others. Want to learn more? Join @ppicnotes.bsky.social on 8/14: www.ppic.org/event/califo...

Interested in learning about how Irvine and the Kessler Foundation are advancing disability justice and inclusion in workforce development? Join the Workforce Matters Funders Network's webinar on August 13 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT: irvine.ly/4moT2mp This webinar is open to funders only.

We’re happy to hear that Joby Aviation and Monterey Bay DART continue to open doors for local workers! Through the manufacturing #apprenticeship program, 90% of the participants have secured jobs with Joby. www.ksbw.com/article/joby...

New reports from UC Riverside explore labor market demographics, wages, cost of living, and workforce training needs to help adapt to changing conditions and emerging technologies like electric vehicles: irvine.ly/4lMhnBM

Our CEO, Don Howard, recently appeared on the Mission Matters Business podcast, where he spoke with Adam Torres about the often-overlooked impact of the LA wildfires on low-income workers. Listen to the full episode at: irvine.ly/4o2QvPV

AI boosts productivity, but it's causing job displacement and threatening worker agency. That's why funders must center workers in shaping the AI-driven future. More in this ‪‪Chronicle of Philanthropy piece by our CEO, Don Howard & @omidyarnetwork.bsky.social's Michael Kubzansky: irvine.ly/4nPLb21

Join @calmatters.org on July 30 to explore how #AI is transforming work, the ethical and legal challenges posed by neural technologies, and the urgent need for policy solutions to protect worker rights in an increasingly automated world. Register now at: irvine.ly/4kBcWc8

We’re proud to announce the second group of awardees of The Courage Project, which includes Irvine grantee-partner PICO California! From faith leaders to veterans to business owners, these new honorees show how kindness, conviction, and care strengthen our communities every day: irvine.ly/4kjz2zu

We’re proud to announce the second group of awardees of The Courage Project, which includes Irvine grantee-partner PICO California! From faith leaders to veterans to business owners, these new honorees show how kindness, conviction, and care strengthen our communities every day: irvine.ly/4kjz2zu

🛡️✨ What does courage in community look like? Across the U.S., people are standing up for their neighbors — and funders are helping shine a light on their work. 📖 @cmatthiessen.bsky.social Reports: tinyurl.com/4wjr6kty ‪@irvinefdn.bsky.social‬ ‪@krfoundation.org‬ ‪@caseygrants.bsky.social‬

Cash-based programs kept 1.8 million Californians out of poverty in early 2023. While tax credits reach more low-income Californians, CalWORKs and SSI/SSP benefits make the greatest impact for those who receive them. Learn more in @ppicnotes.bsky.social's fact sheet: www.ppic.org/publication/...

The ICE actions and escalating violence in Los Angeles are painful and tragic for so many of our fellow Californians. At Irvine, we remain steadfast in our support of organizations serving immigrant communities and the right to peaceful protest. Read our full statement: irvine.ly/4jLYoGb

People with disabilities often face steep barriers when entering the workforce. Breaking down these barriers requires investing in accessible tech and workforce development programs that support people with disabilities. Learn more in @calmatters.org: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

And families of four earning less than $200,000 can only afford to live comfortably in seven states, the report found.

#Apprenticeship degrees combine paid on-the-job training with a college degree—offering a potential fix for declining enrollments, student debt, and labor shortages. However, several challenges could hinder the model's growth. Learn more in @chronicle.com: irvine.ly/4jxiOlX

This worker was harvesting blueberries at $8 per bucket, but the company recently switched to CA min. wage as there was too little fruit to pick to reach minimum wage. He's worried as he's saving to continue school next semester and every penny counts #WeFeedYou

Want to learn more about how assets, debts, and wealth are distributed across California? Register now to hear from @ppicnotes.bsky.social on June 26: www.ppic.org/event/assets...

ICYMI: Last week, we joined the launch of The Courage Project, a $5 million initiative to honor and celebrate everyday acts of civic bravery. Nominate an individual or an organization now at: thecourageproject.org Learn more in @apnews.com: apnews.com/article/unit...

Community health workers, promotoras, and community health representatives provide culturally and linguistically responsive care. However, they're still underpaid and under-recognized. Want to support them better? Check out @calbudgetcenter.org’s recommendations: calbudgetcenter.org/resources/tr...

Household wealth is foundational to economic security and mobility. A new report from @ppicnotes.bsky.social explores the assets and debts across California households: www.ppic.org/publication/...

“Our Latinas are ready to take charge. They are in local communities ensuring that Latinas are at every table of decision making.” – Helen Torres, CEO of @hopelatinas.bsky.social and 2025 #IrvineAwards recipient Learn about HOPE’s impact at: youtu.be/iNwoPBA7YdU?...

Interested in connecting with #apprenticeship practitioners, industry partners, funders, and key stakeholders from across the state to explore innovative apprenticeship models? Register now to join the Advancing California Apprenticeship Summit in Riverside: web.cvent.com/event/a9757f...

As co-directors of Rou Dalagurr: Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute, Cutcha Risling Baldy & Kaitlin Reed have mentored students to lead initiatives that integrate Indigenous knowledge & practices into both academia and the community. More on: youtu.be/3jT2G6Dhinw?...

Polls show that most Californians overwhelmingly support essential services for everyone, regardless of immigration status. Californian's state budget should reflect that. Our coalition urges the state to prioritize people, not politics. Read our full joint statement: irvine.ly/42P3MmB

More than half of the students in the LA Community College District report incomes near or below the poverty line. A pilot effort aims to address this issue by providing #GuarenteedIncome to students pursuing health careers. Story by @latimes.com's @rebeccaplevin.bsky.social: irvine.ly/4m46PyM

Martin shares "I work in Salinas, CA as a machine operator. My responsibility is to arrive early to prepare the cardboard boxes and put them on the harvesting machine so that when my coworkers arrive everything is ready for them to start harvesting the broccoli rabe." #WeFeedYou

How can we put people with disabilities at the center of efforts to protect immigrants and families? Check out this blog post from @theyoungcenter.bsky.social: theyoungcenter.medium.com/dont-forget-...

In this thoughtful Q&A, they reflect on the legacy of Japanese American incarceration and how it informs their leadership, values, and vision for a more just world — one where domestic workers and employers come together to transform care.

In honor of #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we’re so proud to see our Executive Director Stacy Kono and Califiornia Director Lindsay Imai Hong featured by the @irvinefdn.bsky.social 🧵 1/2

Tune in now at: milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/...

In honor of #AANHPIHeritageMonth, @domesticemployers.bsky.social's Lindsay Imai Hong and Stacy Kono reflected on the wrongful incarceration of the Japanese and Japanese American community during World War II and its connection to the injustices that communities of color face today. (1/2)

Stacy L. Smith, 2025 #IrvineAwards recipient, founded the @inclusionists.bsky.social in 2008, where she leverages the Initiative’s research to develop programs and policies that address systemic biases in the media. Learn more at: youtu.be/N7zCR0xq3wg?...