On Sept. 18, the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative hosted faculty and administration from K-12 and higher education institutions from across the region for an immersive visit to the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) F.E. Weymouth Water Treatment Plant & Water Quality Lab in La Verne. The session brought together K-12, community college and university career technical education administrators with workforce development specialists, and featured a guided facilities tour, a briefing from MWD leaders, and a skills-and-opportunities discussion highlighting how the computer science and engineering pathways power one of California’s most essential industries.
Collaboratives aim to build pathways into computer science (CS) and engineering, and the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative is prioritizing this through work-based learning and employer engagement. As Collaborative partners, campus participants have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of these concepts and apply them to their campuses.
Participants gained a clearer view of in-demand technical and soft skills, potential internship and employment opportunities, and concrete ideas for connecting classroom learning to real-world applications across regional CS and engineering pathways. The experience reinforced for K-16 partners how these pathways translate directly into careers, showing that fields like water management depend on engineers and scientists and also on technicians, operators and data specialists The tour highlighted that pursuing CS and engineering coursework can open doors to meaningful, well-paying roles in a critical industry that students might not have known about or sought out initially, from instrumentation and control technicians to water quality specialists and plant operators.
Brenda Martinez, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Workforce Development Manager at MWD, emphasized that while many roles in water require certifications or prior experience, the agency is actively exploring ways to expand opportunities. “We are working right now with HR, the unions and operations about bringing in true entry-level positions, because we understand the importance of being able to build those skills for a lot of people who really don’t know what those skills require.” said Martinez, For K-16 students building applied skills before or during college, this commitment could open more accessible onramps into stable and well-paying water careers.
The visit underscored the wide variety of roles in water beyond traditional science and engineering. “We have human resources, finance, IT, administration, research specialists, legislative and policy roles, instrumentation and control technicians, heavy equipment operators, and more,” Martinez explained. With over 40 skilled trade classifications, including welding, construction, pipeline maintenance and electrical and mechanical roles, the water sector offers opportunities for students with diverse interests and skills, from data analysis to skilled trades.
Internships consistently emerged as one of the most impactful ways for students to explore these careers. Martinez described a new pilot program with Carson High School’s Environmental, Science, Engineering and Technology (ESET) Academy students, a collective approach with the City of Carson, Los Angeles County Sanitation District, West Basin Municipal Water District and the South Bay Workforce Investment Board: “The goal is to provide students with people skills and project based water/wastewater education that can lead to a hands-on summer internship,” said Martinez.
This pilot exemplifies the type of regional partnerships that the K-16 Collaborative aims to replicate, connecting education, workforce boards and industry to create meaningful work-based learning experiences for students throughout Los Angeles County. The success of this program may lead to efforts with other schools and water agencies.
In a video shared about MWD’s inaugural Workforce Development summit, Deven Upadhyay, General Manager of MWD, pushed attendees to think long-term, “If we’re in the middle of a climate crisis that is driving us to do things differently in our operations, does that not also require us to think about the workforce needs over the next 20 and 30 years very differently?” For educators, the question was both urgent and validating, a reminder that shaping pathways today has lasting consequences for the region’s resilience. For K-16 partners, the message reinforced the urgency of aligning programs of study, advising and internships with industries that will drive California’s sustainability and climate resilience goals for decades to come.
One engineer who is also a military veteran, Mauricio Santos, gave a personal perspective on the value of second chances and career shifts. “I didn’t start my career in water. I was in the military, and when I transitioned out, I found this field offered me stability, growth and purpose. The skills I had built, discipline, problem-solving and teamwork, carried over and helped me succeed at Metropolitan,” he said. His remarks struck a chord with the audience, especially those supporting students exploring non-linear or second-chance career pathways: “You don’t have to come from a straight engineering background to succeed here. Veterans, career changers, students, there’s space for all of us. What matters is building skills and being willing to learn,” said Santos.
Metropolitan Education Programs Manager, Benita Horn, reminded participants that exposure should start early. “If they can see it, they can be it, right?” said Horn. “So, we’re working on trying to expand those opportunities, not just for college students but also for juniors and seniors in high school.” Her team supports this vision with free curriculum, transportation for field trips, teacher stipends and STEM competitions, all designed to connect classroom experiences to industry practice. Horn encouraged campuses to reach out to co-develop contextualized learning opportunities or arrange field visits to MWD facilities so younger students can see firsthand how math, science and technology shape their communities.
Equity was a throughline throughout the visit. In the same video shared from Metropolitan’s inaugural Workforce Development Summit, Chief DEI Officer, Liji Thomas said, “When we talk about workforce development, we’re really talking about equity in action.” MWD’s pilot program with Carson High School’s ESET Academy aligns with the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative’s mission to close racial and gender gaps in postsecondary attainment and employment. By co-designing inclusive, industry-connected programs, both entities ensure that students from every background can access and succeed in high-wage, high-impact STEM careers.
This session is a part of the Collaborative’s ongoing work to build capacity for campus partners to strengthen employer engagement. Participants not only met directly with MWD leaders to understand opportunities for student learning and processes related to engineering and computer science, but also gained practical insight into how to engage regional employers in offering student-centered experiences. By deepening these relationships, campuses can create more coherent “classroom-to-career” bridges that inspire students, align with regional labor needs and strengthen the pipeline of skilled professionals powering Southern California’s water future. The cross-subregion attendance broadened the Collaborative’s knowledge base and strengthened its collective ability to design and expand high-quality work-based learning experiences, insights that will be applied in future programming to enhance education and workforce connections across the region.
ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) is the nation’s largest wholesale water provider, delivering water to 26 member agencies across a six-county service area of 5,200 square miles that supports 19 million people and a $1.6 trillion regional economy. In addition to ensuring reliable water supplies through the Colorado River Aqueduct, State Water Project, and local supply efforts, Metropolitan drives education, workforce development, and community partnership programs. Through its Workforce Development initiatives, MWD collaborates with its member agencies, community colleges, universities, school districts, workforce boards, veteran and community organizations to develop the workforce of the future together. Programs include apprenticeships, math preparation, internships, skill development, veterans’ initiatives, and opportunities across 40 skilled trades ,and various careers in the water sector. Together, these programs underscore Metropolitan’s commitment to securing Southern California’s water future while inspiring and preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians who will sustain it.
ABOUT THE L.A. REGION K-16 COLLABORATIVE
The L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative is closing racial and gender gaps in postsecondary attainment and employment by building equitable pathways to careers in healthcare, engineering and computer science. The collaborative is leveraging existing initiatives and relationships across L.A. County, uniting higher education segments and institutions, K-12 districts and schools, employers and business organizations, local government and community partners to amplify our collective impact on equitable degree attainment.