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Press Release: LAEP and PUSD Partner to Host Inaugural Community Resource Fair at Philadelphia Elementary School

POMONA, CA — November 14, 2025 — The Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), in profound collaboration with the Pomona Unified School District (PUSD), will host its inaugural Community Resource Fair at Philadelphia Elementary School to activate the school’s established Community Schools presence.

The event, dubbed “Pull Up,” will serve as a dynamic resource fair, bringing together over a dozen community vendors and partners who will offer essential services ranging from health screenings and legal aid to job training and family support. This focus on immediately accessible food, health, and family support is crucial now, given the ongoing landscape where many local families have recently lost access to vital federal nutrition assistance (SNAP) benefits.

Notable vendors scheduled to attend include Western University, Tri-City Mental Health Services, Pomona Fire Department, and Huerta del Valle. This gathering is a testament to the powerful, privileged partnership between PUSD and LAEP, with Philadelphia Elementary School Principal Tatiana Gomez serving as the key on-site champion for the Community Schools model.

“Principal Gomez has been instrumental in ensuring the Community Schools model at Philadelphia Elementary moves beyond a concept to become a vital, operational hub for the entire neighborhood,” said Jose Montes, Ed.D., Director of Community Schools. “This fair is a direct result of her commitment to dismantling barriers, so every student and family has access to the resources needed to thrive.” Key figures, including PUSD Superintendent Darren Knowles, have also been invited to attend this landmark community event.

Event Details:

  • What: “Pull Up” Community Schools Resource Fair
  • Who: LAEP, Pomona Unified School District (PUSD), Principal Tatiana Gomez, and Community Vendors
  • Where: Philadelphia Elementary School, 600 Philadelphia St, Pomona, CA 91766
  • When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Why: To celebrate and activate the established Community Schools model by providing a central hub of essential services directly within the school environment.

Holiday Support Giveaway: To offer immediate support ahead of the holidays, four lucky families attending the “Pull Up” Fair will receive a food certificate giveaway.

This gathering is the first large-scale community event of its kind at the school since the Community Schools model was implemented, marking a significant step in transforming the campus into a comprehensive Community Resource Hub. Attendees will have the chance to meet leaders from the LAEP Community Schools team, PUSD staff, Principal Gomez, and the invaluable Community Vendors and Partners who are co-designing the school’s support services.

To learn more about LAEP’s programs and how to support their mission, please visit laep.org.

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About Los Angeles Education Partnership

Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance educational equity. Together with families, schools, and the community, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices so that children thrive from diapers to diplomas. For more information about Los Angeles Education Partnership, please visit www.laep.org.

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Melissa Peña

Chief Program Officer

Melissa Peña serves as the Chief Program Officer at the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), bringing more than two decades of experience advancing educational equity, youth development, and community-centered systems change. A mission-driven and strategic leader, she has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to learning and seeking equitable outcomes for historically underserved youth. Prior to joining LAEP, Melissa spent over 14 years at Green Dot Public Schools where she launched and scaled high-impact initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism by 27%, expanded access to wellness services, and built network-wide support systems for more than 600 homeless and foster youth across 18 schools. Her leadership is rooted in both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined execution—designing programs, teams, and infrastructure that strengthen outcomes for students while supporting the adults who serve them. 

Melissa’s commitment to equity has shaped her work across roles in education, youth development, and human services, including senior leadership positions at The Door in New York City and national diversity recruitment efforts at Teach For America. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey, a formative experience that continues to ground her belief that the key to ensuring every young person meets their full potential lies in the power of family–school–community partnerships. At LAEP, Melissa leads program strategy with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief that children thrive when systems work together from “diapers to diplomas.” She holds a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys researching her family history, exploring nature, and family movie nights with her husband and two children. 

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.