No-Cost Early Head Start. Enroll Now
Contact Us
Donate
  • News & Stories
  • Early Childhood, Parent Voices

Parent Voices: Ronald

At LAEP’s Early Head Start graduation, dad Ronald shared:

“My son Ronald has been enrolled in LAEP [Early Head Start], and Miss Evelyn has been his teacher, since he was three months old. Now he is three years old, and it’s been a great experience. Miss Evelyn has been great. My fiancé and I have been able to watch him grow and hit many milestones, from him eating his first solid foods to him crawling – backwards first! –  to him walking. Now he’s running, singing his alphabet, singing nursery rhymes. He knows his colors and shapes. So it’s been a great experience and I want to thank [LAEP’s Early Head Start program and teachers].”

LAEP’s Early Head Start program supports parents of children under age 3 in Inglewood, Hawthorne, and South LA, empowering parents to be their child’s educational advocate.

Early Head Start graduate Ronald with his mom, dad, and Early Head Start teacher
Ronald and family with their LAEP Early Head Start teacher, Miss Evelyn (right).

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Support the holistic, diapers-to-diplomas approach to liberatory education.
Volunteer
Collaborate With Us
Donate

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.