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PRESS RELEASE: Nurturing Equity: LAEP Head Start Expands Access to Healthy Nutrition in Los Angeles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

LOS ANGELES EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (LAEP) HEAD START PROGRAM PARTICIPATES IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S CHILD AND ADULT FOOD PROGRAM. 

The Los Angeles Education Partnership through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture will ensure that children and adults have access to nutritious meals and snacks. 

LOS ANGELES, CA (APRIL 22, 2026): The Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), Los Angeles’ first nonprofit to focus on education equity, is participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program under its Head Start program. Early Head Start (EHS) programs are designed for infants and toddlers under the age of three and expectant parents. LAEP offers free, comprehensive child development and family support services to families, helping infants, toddlers, expectant parents, and their families Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. The location of service is as follows: 

Los Angeles Education Partnership Kornblum Early Head Start 

Hawthorne Unified School District Campus 

13928 Kornblum Avenue 

Hawthorne, CA 90250  

“The Los Angeles Education Partnership is honored to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on this important initiative,” stated Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz, CEO of LAEP. “For over four decades, LAEP has been transforming education for the community, with the community, from diapers to diplomas℠. This partnership allows us to further extend our reach and ensure that our families have access to essential resources.” Dr. Kurtz has led the renowned organization as CEO since May 2024. 

“Nurturing the potential of our Black and Brown community members begins with ensuring their most fundamental needs are met with dignity and care,” emphasized Danielle Watson, Director of Early Childhood & Family Engagement. “Access to consistent, nutritious meals is a cornerstone of equity; it provides the fuel necessary for our children to thrive developmentally and for our families to remain resilient. We are deeply committed to providing this essential support to foster long-term health and well-being within our community.” Danielle proudly serves as the direct contact for this program and is available for questions or information regarding services at (213) 622-5237 ext. 223 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, LAEP is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  

Media Contact: LaCora Stephens (213) 622-5237 ext. 233  //  lstephens@laep.org 

Program & Services Contact: Danielle Watson (213) 622-5237 

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About Los Angeles Education Partnership  

The mission of the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that advances educational equity. Together with families, schools, and the community, LAEP facilitates access to 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  

About U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food & Nutrition Service   

Our mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger in partnership with cooperating organizations by providing children and low-income people access to food, a healthy diet and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture and inspires public confidence. For more information about U.S. Department of Agriculture, please visit www.fns.usda.gov 

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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.