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“They’re Really Changing His Life”: Why Local Families Are Trusting LAEP Early Head Start

Every parent wants to give their child the strongest possible start in life—but navigating early childhood care and education in Los Angeles can feel overwhelming. What does a truly supportive, high-quality early learning environment look like?

In our brand-new 3-minute community spotlight, we pulled back the curtain to let the people who know best answer that question: our Early Head Start parents, educators, and program directors.

Real Stories from Inglewood, Hawthorne, and South LA

At the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), we believe in supporting children and families from diapers to diplomas℠. But hearing about our mission is one thing—seeing the joy, confidence, and milestones of our youngest learners through the eyes of their parents is something else entirely.

In this short feature, local parents across Inglewood, Hawthorne, and South LA open up about the remarkable growth they’ve seen in their infants and toddlers since joining the program. From social-emotional breakthroughs to kindergarten readiness, their message to other local families is clear: give LAEP Early Head Start a chance.

More Than Childcare: A Community That Walks With You

What makes LAEP Early Head Start stand out isn’t just what happens in the classroom—it’s the partnership built around the entire family. When you join our program, you are welcomed into a village of dedicated early childhood specialists, passionate teachers, and supportive directors who treat your child’s potential like their own.

Families enrolled in LAEP Early Head Start receive:

  • High-Quality Early Learning: Nurturing, developmentally tailored environments for infants and toddlers.
  • Whole-Family Support: Resources, parenting workshops, and guidance designed to help households thrive.
  • Accessible Local Centers: Conveniently serving families right in their neighborhoods across Los Angeles, Hawthorne, and South LA.

Ready to See What’s Possible for Your Family?

Whether you are a first-time parent exploring early learning options or a community partner looking to support educational equity in Southern California, we would love to connect with you.

  • Explore Enrollment: Visit www.LAEP.org/ehs to learn more about eligibility and how to apply for Early Head Start in Los Angeles, Hawthorne, or South LA.
  • Stay Connected: Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow LAEP on social media for more parent stories, family resources, and community spotlights.

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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.