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Support College Access: Why Your Support Matters for the Class of 2027

As we celebrate the incredible achievements of the Class of 2026, we are also looking ahead to the urgent reality facing the rising seniors who will follow in their footsteps.

At Augustus Hawkins High School and University Pathways Public Service Academy, our community is bursting with brilliance, ambition, and potential. Together, these campuses serve more than 1,230 students. Yet, they share just one dedicated, full-time college counselor.

That is one advocate for over 1,200 futures.

Support College Access Today By Clicking Here: laep.org/donate

Transforming the Narrative

In communities where only 15% of households include an adult with a four-year degree, navigating the path to higher education isn’t just a milestone—it is a systematic transformation of the local culture. Without additional support, the sheer volume of college applications, financial deadlines, and career planning can become an overwhelming barrier.

But when we step in to bridge that gap, the results speak for themselves. This past year, through targeted resources and deep community commitment:

  • 100% of seniors at one of our partner schools completed vital financial aid workshops.
  • 45% of those graduates successfully enrolled directly into four-year universities.
  • 31% chose community college with a direct intent to transfer.
  • 24% confidently entered the workforce with a clear plan in hand.

The Real Cost of Opportunity

The passion is there, but the financial hurdles are real. Did you know that a single college application fee costs $70 for a CSU and $80 for a UC school? For a student applying to multiple campuses to secure their future, those fees add up fast. Turn the cost of a single college application into life-changing college and career support for students

As our fiscal year-end approaches on June 30, we are launching a critical fundraising push to ensure the Class of 2027 has the exact same baseline of opportunity.

When you give to LAEP’s College & Career Pathways program, your donation supports the frontline work that changes lives:

  • Hosting robust financial aid workshops
  • Coordinating eye-opening college campus tours
  • Providing mock interviews and individual career guidance
  • Supplying crucial counseling hours

Let the Class of 2027 Know You Back Them

Our accounting year officially closes at the end of this month, and every dollar raised determines the scale of the resources we can deploy this fall.

Let’s show the Class of 2027 that their community’s support is already waiting for them on day one. Please make a gift to support College Access before our June 30 deadline.

Support College Access Today By Clicking Here: laep.org/donate

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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.