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Community Stories: Daniele Johnson-Araujo

Meet LAEP Board Vice Chair Daniele Johnson-Araujo! 

Daniele is Vice President, Corporate Secretary at State Bank of India (California). In her role with LAEP’s Board of Directors, in addition to serving as the Board Vice Chair, she chairs the Board Excellence Committee and serves on the Executive Evaluation and Compensation Committee as well as the Strategic Plan Committee. She also serves on LAEP’s Resource Council, which supports our college and career programming and helps to raise the organization’s profile within their specific sector and beyond, linking students to new resources and opportunities and linking the organization to potential partners. Daniele is also an active volunteer for our college and career programming!  

“In 2016, I was looking for volunteer activities and found LAEP. They had two 12th grade classrooms that needed banking volunteers to help with financial Q&A. Two of us spent a few hours at the school over a few days. From then on, I have enjoyed participating in Mock Interviews, Business Plan Reviews, Career Days, and many other wonderful LAEP events. 

I was drawn to LAEP by the personable connection that I felt with the staff and community. My volunteering experience with LAEP is always enjoyable, inspiring, and enriching. I always learn something new and always meet wonderful people. 

Our Bank employees volunteer with many community organizations. Each time employees volunteer with LAEP, they always express to me how much they enjoyed the experience. 

It has been a great honor and pleasure to serve with such wonderful people on the LAEP Board, in the LAEP Management team, and in the LAEP Community.” 

Thank you so much for your service and dedication to LAEP, Daniele!

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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.