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PRESS RELEASE: LAEP Brings Maternal Well-Being to the Forefront at KJLH Women’s Health Expo

PRESS RELEASE: LAEP Brings Maternal Well-Being to the Forefront at KJLH Women's Health Expo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Early Head Start leaders engage mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers in an intergenerational conversation on why a child’s first 1,000 days begin with supporting mom

LONG BEACH, Calif. — August 15, 2026 — Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) joined community members from across Southern California at the KJLH Women’s Health Expo on Saturday, August 15, at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, leading an interactive discussion on maternal well-being and its critical impact on a child’s earliest years.

LAEP’s Danielle Watson, Director of Early Childhood & Family Engagement, and Meyli Martinez, Assistant Director of Early Childhood & Family Engagement, presented “Moms Matter Too: Why Maternal Well-Being Shapes a Child’s First 1,000 Days.”

The session evolved into an open, community-driven dialogue. Mothers, grandmothers, and caregivers actively participated—sharing lived experiences, exchanging insights, and connecting with Watson and Martinez as they provided education, resources, and practical tools to support whole-family health.

The importance of the session was personified by two of the day’s youngest attendees: a newly turned three-year-old and an infant just a few months old. Their presence offered a vivid reminder of why holistic support during a child’s earliest years is essential.

“Maternal well-being and a child’s overall development are deeply interconnected,” said Watson. “When we ensure mothers have direct access to resources, education, and a supportive community, we are building a stronger, healthier foundation for their children.”

The free community event provided attendees a full day of health, education, and family-centered activities, including health screenings, expert panels, a Kids Zone, a live radio broadcast, and a performance by Stevie Wonder, alongside LAEP’s featured session.

For LAEP, the expo served as a vital platform to connect local families with its Early Head Start program, which supports expectant parents and families with children from birth to age three—guiding them from diapers to diplomas℠ by establishing foundations for lifelong learning, health, and advocacy.

“We are grateful to KJLH for creating a welcoming environment where families can access critical services while comfortably sharing their journeys,” said Martinez. “Some of the most meaningful moments occurred when participants began learning from one another. That sense of peer community is a vital part of uplifting families.”

LAEP extends its gratitude to KJLH, event organizers, community partners, and every attendee who contributed their voice to this important conversation.

For more information about LAEP’s Early Head Start initiatives, visit www.laep.org/ehs.

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About Los Angeles Education Partnership

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

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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.