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  • Early Childhood, Parent Voices

Parent Voice: Adriana

A mom shared her experience at her daughter’s Early Head Start graduation.

Thank you for all the support I received during these three years in which we were in the Early Head Start program. I really do not know how to repay you for everything you did for the development of my little Ady and for me. 

I want to thank Miss Mary directly, the support you provided us was opportune. Thanks to your encouragement, I am still in the English school fulfilling my first goal, and my driver’s license is in hand (another of the goals that I set as Ady’s mother). Thank you for the tools that you have given me and for helping me met the needs of my girl. I now understand a lot more in her clinical appointments and I even fight in English to defend Ady’s rights.  Also, thank you for the timely reference made to the Regional Center for the language problem that Ady presented at when she was two years old, and all the support they have given me with those challenges that Ady has. 

I am also grateful to have been part of the Parent Council, one of the functions that I have most liked to do with you, being a part of important decisions for the organization. 

LAEP’s Early Head Start program provides families of children age 0-3 with learning activities, resources, socialization groups, support for special needs, and more. Families in Inglewood, Hawthorne, and South LA can apply here.

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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.