Project: Stackable

Adult literacy

San Gabriel Valley County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit)

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The proposed project by Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS) is intentionally aligned with state and federal workforce and economic development initiatives aimed at addressing critical labor shortages in healthcare and supporting economic mobility in underserved communities. MCAS’s approach leverages ongoing investments in California’s healthcare workforce, specifically aligning with the California Health Workforce Development Council’s goals to increase skilled healthcare workers in regions with a high demand for healthcare services.

Project Stackable aligns with an emphasis on equitable job access, quality employment, and career pathways in high-demand industries. To achieve this, the MCAS program will include training that respects different cultures, a curriculum focused on workers' needs, and partnerships with employers to help people find lasting jobs in healthcare. By focusing on regional labor needs, MCAS ensures its graduates are trained in roles that directly address current gaps, from behavioral health to frontline healthcare positions, supporting both local and statewide health infrastructure. Project Stackable also aligns with federal initiatives such as the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which supports programs that connect unemployed and underemployed individuals with career-oriented training. The project’s design incorporates WIOA-aligned strategies such as offering stackable credentials, providing supportive services, and fostering partnerships with workforce boards, community colleges, and healthcare employers, which will enhance program graduates’ employability and career progression opportunities. By carefully connecting with these state and federal funding efforts, Project Stackable is set to boost workforce development resources and create significant job opportunities in healthcare, which will help California's economic strength and health fairness goals.

If Project Stackable is fully implemented in Los Angeles County, the region would undergo several noticeable and impactful changes, particularly in workforce development and public health infrastructure. Here's how Los Angeles County could look different:
Residents would see a healthcare workforce that better reflects the cultural, linguistic, and lived experiences of local communities
Culturally respectful training would lead to more trust between providers and patients, especially in underserved areas.
Unemployed, underemployed, and marginalized individuals—including justice-involved, low-income, and Enlish Language Learner populations—would have new, equitable pathways into high-demand healthcare careers.
Training opportunities offered through Monrovia Community Adult School (MCAS) and partners would be more accessible, modular, and stackable, allowing learners to earn credentials incrementally while working.