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LAEP Celebrates Week of the Young Child

A fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities.

Join LAEP’s 2025 Week of the Young Child® celebration happening April 5-11, 2025! This is a week long event celebrates early learning, young children, their teachers, and families. Themes include: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday, Family Friday.

The Week of the Young Child, a national initiative led by NAEYC, reminds us of the power of early learning and the dedication of teachers and families. At LAEP, we see this spirit reflected every day in our programs, from Early Head Start to our workforce development initiatives. We’re proud to celebrate the potential of Los Angeles’ youngest learners and the dedicated individuals who support them.

3 WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

  1. Social Media – Giveaways
  2. Events – In-person
  3. At-Home – Activities

GIVEAWAYS

Participate in a social media week starting on Monday, April 7th-11th! Join LAEP in celebrating the WOYC by sharing photos of your favorite early education moment of your child, teacher, family or community, using the hashtag #LAEPWOYC25 on social media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

To enter: 1.) Share a photo as a post (not a story) highlighting one of the WOYC themes 2.) Use the hashtag #LAEPWOYC25 to be entered into the giveaway for an At-home Surprise Cool Kid Kit, Giant Fruit Stacker, Magna-Tiles Combo for your STEAM learner, and more! 3.) Winner will be announced on Monday, April 14th!

LIVE EVENTS

  1. Tuesday, April 8, 2025: Field Trip, 8:30am-3:30pm, Discovery Cube, 11800 Foothill Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91342 (LAEP EHS students only)
  2. Thursday, April 10, 2025: Prenatal Support Group, 10am-11am, New Star Justice Center, 12929 Hawthorne Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250

DISCOVER OUR DAILY WOYC THEMES

Music Monday (4/7): Celebrating Harmony in Learning At LAEP and across our partner sites, children will joyfully explore music through singing, dancing, and collaborative activities. From lively dance parties to creative musical explorations, we’ll celebrate the power of music to connect and inspire our young learners.

Tasty Tuesday (4/8): Nourishing Bodies and Minds Together LAEP is committed to healthy beginnings. This Tasty Tuesday, children at our Early Head Start centers will engage in fun, hands-on activities like creating a “Happy Healthy Fruit Face,” promoting healthy eating habits and the joy of shared meals.

Work Together Wednesday (4/9): Building Foundations, Together Collaboration is key at LAEP. Today, children will engage in cooperative building projects, utilizing diverse materials to construct imaginative creations. This fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and the understanding that we can achieve more together.

Artsy Thursday (4/10): Unleashing Creativity and Potential LAEP believes in the power of imagination. Through art activities using crayons, paints, clay, and more, children will explore their creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and express their unique perspectives.

Family Friday (4/11): Celebrating Our Strong Foundations Families are at the heart of LAEP’s work. We encourage you to share your family stories and pictures on Facebook, Instagram, and Instagram using the hashtag #LAEPcelebratesWOYC, highlighting the vital role of family in a child’s development and learning journey.

DISCOVER ACTIVITIES

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LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.