Senior Portfolio Defenses: (5 Volunteers Needed) We’re looking for industry professionals, ideally from the Public Service Pathway, to volunteer as panelists for our Senior Portfolio Defense!
Welcome to our March newsletter, a time where we honor Cesar Chavez and reflect on a month where LAEP made significant strides! Our CEO and
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!
We’re thrilled to celebrate LAEP’s own CEO, Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz, and Director of Ready2Teach, Elsa Leal, M.A., for their recent participation in the prestigious
LAEP celebrates diversity! This newsletter highlights our commitment to DEIB and our work in honoring our differences, with a special focus on the richness of
Our Los Angeles communities faced unprecedented challenges following the wildfires, prompting LAEP to move promptly and assist with resources. In the spirit of Dr. King’s
Stay tuned for new events! Sign up for our email list to hear about events as they come up.
Interested in volunteering? Check out our upcoming volunteer events.
As whole-child educators, LAEP is dedicated to liberation. We’ve compiled racial justice resources that we’ve found helpful in our own individual and organizational journeys.
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.
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.
