What if rebuilding a community starts with belonging? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Victor Dominguez, the first Latino President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, to explore how the Y is redefining itself as a Center for Community Well-Being. With over two decades of service, Victor shares how the YMCA responded to the Eaton fires, expanded programs like the Foster Youth Initiative, and is measuring long-term impact through powerful social indicators. Victor unpacks how nonprofits can anchor recovery efforts, why youth development and civic engagement go hand in hand, and how the Y is building more than community programs, it’s building futures.

You’ll learn: 

• Why the YMCA’s fire recovery response goes beyond immediate aid—and is still ongoing

• How the Foster Youth Initiative provides stability, consistency, and a sense of belonging across 28 YMCA centers

• What it means to serve 500,000 Angelenos—and what’s next for reaching millions more

• How the YMCA is measuring its impact through five social determinants: belonging, civic engagement, education equity, health equity, and economic stability

• Why nonprofits must move beyond transactional service to transformational, data-driven community change

About the Guest:

Victor Dominguez is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and the first Latino to lead the organization. With over 24 years of service, he has championed community-driven initiatives like the Foster Youth Program and the Center for Community Well-Being, positioning the Y as a vital force in disaster response, youth development, and regional resilience. Known for his commitment to equity and belonging, Victor leads with the belief that nonprofits should not only serve but transform the communities they represent.

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More from Victor Dominguez & YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles

Websites: https://www.ymcala.org/

Instagram, Twitter/X, & YouTube: @ymcala

Facebook: @ymcalosangeles

Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected]

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What if recovery isn’t just about rebuilding—but reimagining? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations at Pasadena City College’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, to discuss how community colleges can become anchors in times of crisis. As LA County recovers from devastating wildfires, they explore how PCC activated everything from FEMA partnerships to workforce training programs to meet immediate needs. They also cover how PCC is preparing for the long game. Salvatrice and Leslie break down what it means to respond with both heart and strategy. It’s not just about restoring what was lost, it’s about building a more resilient, future-ready region.

You’ll learn:

• How Pasadena City College mobilized resources within days to support displaced students, families, and businesses

• What the PCC for DINA initiative is doing to bridge the gap between short-term recovery and long-term workforce transformation

• Why small business support is central to economic recovery, and how PCC’s SBDC and Women’s Business Center served over 1,000 businesses in weeks

• Which high-demand industries (think: skilled trades, construction, hazmat, and more) are seeing a surging need, and how community colleges can train for them

• Why flexibility, partnerships, and creative solutions are the future of disaster response and regional resilience

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Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected]

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Find the transcript of this episode here

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What if the biggest barrier to success in tech isn’t access, but mindset? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about what it truly takes to thrive in an AI-driven world. Tara unpacks why resilience and adaptability are just as vital as technical skills, how simulation-based learning can reshape education, and why women are most at risk of being left behind. Together, they explore how community colleges, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving can unlock opportunity for all. The future of work isn’t just about tech, it’s about who’s empowered to shape it.

You’ll learn: 

• Why AI literacy starts with confidence, not code, and how to build both.

• How educators can move beyond “toy problems” and toward real-world innovation.

• What emotional and cognitive resilience look like in a rapidly evolving workforce.

• How women are being left behind in fast-growing tech sectors, and how to fix it.

• Why simulation learning may be the most powerful classroom tool we’re not using.

About the Guest:

Tara Chklovski is the founder and CEO of Technovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and underserved communities through technology education. With a background in physics and aerospace engineering, she transitioned from academia to social entrepreneurship to address the gender and racial disparities in STEM fields. Tara has helped over 130,000 students across 100+ countries build confidence, tech skills, and purpose. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, the UN, and the White House, and she continues to lead global conversations on how education and innovation intersect to shape a more inclusive future of work. 

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More from Tara Chklovski & Technovation

Websites: https://www.technovation.org/

LinkedIn: @tarachk

Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected]

Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking 

Find the transcript of this episode HERE

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What if volunteering, raising kids, learning on the job, and real life experience counted just as much as a college degree? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President overseeing Job for the Future’s strategic presence in California, about what it really means to create a workforce that works for everyone. Parikh shares how community colleges, competency-based learning, and credit for real-world experience can help close opportunity gaps. She also redefines what makes a “quality job,” stressing equity, mobility, and belonging, and how small businesses can help lead the charge. Join us to discover how you can be a part of building a new and better workforce standard for the future.

You’ll learn: 

• How inclusive workforce programs start with inclusive design, and what that means in practice.

• Why regional strategies are essential to solving California’s workforce and housing challenges.

• How community colleges are at the forefront of credentialing outside traditional classrooms.

• What Jobs for the Future is doing to help small and mid-size employers offer quality jobs.

• Why “everything counts” and how your non-traditional experiences are more valuable than you think.

About the Guest:

Parina Parikh is an Associate Vice President overseeing Jobs for the Future’s strategic presence in California. She has responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building workforce and inclusive economic development initiatives.

As a leader who is committed to equity, inclusion, and a holistic approach to workforce development and inclusive regional economies, her focus is on leading and advancing JFF’s work in California, supported by a team of 20+ California-based colleagues. Before joining JFF, Parina was Vice President of Programs at San Diego Workforce Partnership. She created and executed innovative workforce solutions across San Diego County overseeing programming in information and communications technology, energy construction and utilities, healthcare and behavioral health, public administration and advanced manufacturing.

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More from Parina Parikh & Jobs for the Future

Websites: https://www.jff.org/

LinkedIn: @parina-parikh

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

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Find the transcript of this episode here

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The school-to-prison pipeline is a complex and damaging system that disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly people of color. This pipeline refers to the policies and practices that push students out of school and into the criminal justice system, creating long-term impacts on individuals and communities. Quan Huynh, Executive Director of Southern California at Defy Ventures, exemplifies the power of second chances. While in prison, he discovered his entrepreneurial spirit and started Jade Janitors after his release from a 22-year prison sentence in 2015. Formerly incarcerated individuals face overwhelming challenges in education, employment, and housing, making fair chance hiring practices essential for their reintegration into society. By giving second chances, companies can help break the cycle of recidivism and create paths to stability and success.

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More from Quan Huynh: 

Visit https://quanxhuynh.com/

LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, & X: @quanxhuynh

More from Defy Ventures: 

Visit https://www.defyventures.org/

LinkedIn: @defy-ventures

Instagram: @defy_ventures

Facebook & X: @DefyVentures

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

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What will it take to prepare today’s students for leadership in a workforce that’s evolving faster than ever before? Jasmine Star, CEO of Social Curator, challenges educators and leaders at the Pasadena City College Future of Work Conference to rethink traditional teaching methods and embrace a paradigm shift. She underlines the importance of equipping students with the skills, mindset, and adaptability needed to navigate rapid technological and cultural transformation. In a world where resilience, belief in one’s vision, and a willingness to embrace change are key, she highlights how the pursuit of success—and the sacrifices it demands—can inspire future generations to dream bigger and achieve more.

You’ll learn: 

• The key to preparing students isn’t academic achievement but teaching them how to adapt and lead with vision.

• What it means to empower students to borrow belief from those who guide them.

• Why embracing storytelling is essential for connecting across generations and building trust in the workplace.

• What role delayed gratification plays in shaping visionary leaders for the future.

• How teaching "how to human" skills revolutionizes workforce readiness.

About the Guest:

Jasmine Star, a world-class speaker, thought leader, podcast host, CEO, and entrepreneur, is dedicated to helping individuals reach their fullest potential. Beginning her entrepreneurial journey as an internationally recognized wedding photographer, she transitioned into a sought-after speaker and business strategist for creative entrepreneurs, spending nearly a decade empowering business owners worldwide to take risks and live boldly. She later founded Social Curator, a tech company offering a monthly subscription service that functions as a digital marketing agency, complete with an AI-powered social media manager providing customized marketing content. As a top podcast host and keynote speaker, Jasmine’s mission is to inspire professionals to transform how they approach their ambitions. Her approach focuses on helping individuals build the future they desire by recognizing and unlocking their own potential, no matter the obstacles in their path.

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More from Jasmine Star & Social Curator

Website: https://www.socialcurator.com/

Listen: The Jasmine Star Show

LinkedIn: @jasmine-star

Instagram:@jasminestar

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

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Find the transcript of this episode here

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What if the 2028 Olympics didn’t just bring medals, but a housing revolution? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Kurt Peterson, Co-President of Unite Here Local 11, to explore the mounting pressures facing hospitality workers in Los Angeles, and the explosive opportunity that the 2028 Olympics might represent. Peterson doesn’t mince words. From natural disasters like wildfires to economic disruptions like COVID-19, hospitality workers have repeatedly borne the brunt of crisis after crisis. And while tourism is rebounding, the industry’s recovery has largely left workers behind. Peterson argues that the real crisis now isn’t just wages, it’s housing. As the world turns its eyes toward LA in 2028, Peterson makes one thing clear: if the Olympics can afford luxury, it can and must afford dignity, equity, and a place for workers to call home.

You’ll learn: 

• What mega-events like the Olympics could mean for Labor Rights.

• How employers use crises to cut labor and what unions are doing about it.

• How housing became the central fight for LA workers.

• Why the decommissioned Santa Monica Airport could be LA’s housing lifeline.

• Learn why Unite Here Local 11 is prepared to stage an unprecedented strike during the 2028 Olympics.

About the Guest:

Kurt Petersen is Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11, representing over 35,000 hotel and food service workers across Southern California and Arizona. A Notre Dame alum with studies in theology and philosophy, Kurt nearly joined the Jesuits before earning his law degree from Yale and organizing with the United Farm Workers, where he helped secure Washington State’s first farm worker union contract. Since 1995, he has led efforts that brought over 25,000 workers into UNITE HERE and helped transform Local 11 into a major political and labor force. He’s currently leading the largest hotel strike in U.S. history, with over 10,000 workers striking 175 times at 54 hotels. The resulting contracts include historic wage increases and are set to expire just before the 2028 LA Olympics. Kurt was recently named to the Los Angeles Times 2024 LA Influential list alongside Co-Presidents Ada Briceño and Susan Minato.

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More from Kurt Petersen & UNITE HERE Local 11

Websites: https://unitehere.org/

Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram: @UNITEHERE YouTube: @uniteherevideos

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

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Find the transcript of this episode here

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Understanding women entrepreneurs’ diverse funding needs is essential and women’s business centers play a vital role, especially in times of crisis. More than just financial support, these centers offer guidance, community, and critical resources to help women navigate challenges and grow their businesses. Corinne Goble, CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC), brings a personal passion to this work, inspired by her mother’s success in a male-dominated field. She champions boldness, strong support networks, or “bail teams,” and access to tailored programs like AWBC’s Hope2Women. Goble also emphasizes the role of inclusive education in opening doors for women across traditionally male-dominated industries.

You’ll learn: 

• The role women’s business centers play in helping women entrepreneurs thrive against the odds.

• Why promoting inclusivity in male-dominated industries matters.

• Why women entrepreneurs’ ideas deserve investment and how their leadership shapes the future of business.

• How women’s business centers offer resources specifically designed to support and elevate women-owned businesses.

• Why understanding the diverse funding needs of women entrepreneurs is essential to building an inclusive and dynamic economy.

About the Guest:

Since becoming CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) in January 2019, Corinne Goble has focused on strengthening the network’s sustainability and capacity. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, she and her advocacy team quickly mobilized to secure vital resources for Women's Business Centers (WBCs), helping them support small businesses on the front lines. Goble’s current priorities include modernizing and reauthorizing the WBC program while expanding the now 145-center network. She also engages in broader small business initiatives, from digital skills to international trade, and is a founding member of the USMCA SME Counselor Network, supporting export growth across North America.

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More from Corinne Goble & the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)

Websites: https://awbc.org/ & https://hope2women.org/ 

LinkedIn: @corinne-goble

Facebook: @awbc.org 

LinkedIn: @awbc 

TikTok: @awbcofficial 

Twitter/X: @AWBC_USA

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking 

Find the transcript of this episode here

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How can work-based learning shape the future of education and careers? Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation at Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), explores how combining real-world experience with classroom learning boosts talent development, retention, and industry collaboration. Initiatives like the Work-Based Learning Planning Pilot demonstrate that education and industry can work together effectively. Community colleges play a key role in creating accessible, affordable pathways, especially in emerging fields like climate resilience. By offering solutions like credit for prior learning and stackable credentials, they ensure more equitable workforce opportunities for underserved communities.

You’ll learn: 

• How work-based learning benefits students.

• Key ways for creating equitable workforce pathways.

• How industry partnerships can create thriving work-based learning programs.

• The role of community colleges in workforce preparation.

• Why reflective learning is important in professional development.

About the Guest:

Tim has spent two decades championing work-based learning, leveraging his firsthand experience to enhance programs for diverse learners across California. He has worked locally and nationally in the public workforce system, co-founded the California Workforce Association’s Executive Bootcamp, and dedicated the last ten years to supporting California community colleges. Before joining FoundationCCC in 2013, Tim served as the Manager of Training and Special Projects for the National Association of Workforce Boards, offering strategic planning and consultation. His career began as a Youth Program Officer at the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board in Pittsburgh, PA, after his first job detasseling corn in southeastern Wisconsin.

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More from Tim Aldinger & Foundation for California Community Colleges

Website: https://foundationccc.org/

LinkedIn:@tim-aldinger

Facebook, Instagram, & LinkedIn: @foundationccc

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

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Find the transcript of this episode here

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What does it take to build a clean energy economy? Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD (California Forward), believes it’s about more than just new technology—it’s about putting communities first, preparing for the emerging career opportunities, and making sustainability a part of everyday decision-making. Creating a greener, more resilient future requires everyone to play a role, from policymakers to local businesses to individuals. CA FWD invites people to share their thoughts and questions on the clean energy transition because real progress happens when we work together.

You’ll learn: 

• Why community benefits plans are important for large-scale energy projects.

• How job opportunities in regenerative agriculture, adaptation planning, and wetland restoration contribute to sustainability.

• Why zoned industrial land is crucial for manufacturing growth in the clean energy sector.

• Why partnerships between educational institutions, industries, labor, and government are essential for workforce readiness.

• What job opportunities are emerging in the clean energy economy, and how individuals can prepare for them.

About the Guest:

Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD, has spent over two decades at the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and equitable economic development. She previously served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, leading initiatives like the Community Benefits Plan under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative. Before that, she was Director of California’s Office of Planning and Research and Senior Climate Policy Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, spearheading programs like California Jobs First and the state’s first integrated climate budget. Gordon also founded the Risky Business Project, assessing the financial risks of climate change, and held leadership roles at think tanks like the Paulson Institute and the Center for American Progress. She holds a J.D. and a master’s from UC Berkeley, teaches at UC Berkeley, and serves as a Non-resident Scholar at Carnegie California.

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More from Kate Gordon & CA FWD

Website: https://cafwd.org/

LinkedIn: @kategordonconsulting & @california-forward

X/Twitter & Instagram: @movecafwd

YouTube: @caforward

Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected]

Want to be a guest on the show? Click HERE to inquire about booking 

Find the transcript of this episode here

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