For 40 years, the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) has been a nonprofit organization investing in the future of children and their families to advance educational equity. LEAP is deeply committed to addressing the critical early education needs across Los Angeles County through programs like Early Head Start (EHS) and Ready2Teach at zero cost. LAEP is the first nonprofit in Los Angeles to focus on educational equity.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, Nancy Villarreal, M.S., LAEP Early Childhood & Family Engagement Director, Elsa Leal, M.A., LAEP Ready2Teach Program Director, and LaCora Stephens, Director of Marketing and Communications, gave insight into the organization’s impact, their passion for educational engagement, and how the community can continue to get involved in the advancement of the next generation.
Empowering families and building a strong early childhood workforce, especially in areas with limited access and high educator turnover, LAEP facilitates access to and opportunities for quality educational and wellness practices, so children thrive from diapers to diplomas.
When asked about what initiated their interest in education, youth advancement, and community engagement, Leal and Villareal shared their personal experiences that led them to LAEP.
Villarreal said, “I am a single mother of two sons, and early in their lives, I was involved in their education. I started my path at LAUSD, and looking to fulfill my dreams, I saw LAEP was hiring. Now I’ve been here for 27 years. Learning about early childhood development has been a big passion of mine. Originally, my goal was to be a preschool teacher, but life took me in a different direction. What I’m doing now as the Director of Early Childhood and Family Engagement is fulfilling my dream as a little girl to help children and families. Although I’m not in the classroom, I’m still supporting families by making sure our young children are ready for school through a quality program.”
Leal added, “I’ve been with LAEP almost two years, and the beauty of how I connect my work with their mission is that I’ve always felt that education was valuable. It’s an equity tool to move forward. My family has big values on education, my father was a teacher in rural Mexico, traveling to teach young children. When we moved here, I was about 11, and after a few years, my mother opened a family childcare home. One of the things that keeps driving me is seeing the impact of how education changes people’s lives. Early childhood education is essential for children to have a literal head start.”
From April 5 to April 11, Week of the Young Child (WOYC) will focus on local impact and educational equity in the Inglewood and Hawthorne areas through community events. LAEP provides vital educational resources and support to thousands of resident. In communities where less than 14% of eligible infants and toddlers have access to Early Head Start programs and 33% of educators are turning over within five years, LAEP’s pledge to build a strong foundation for young learners is combating these statistics daily.
This WOYC, LAEP emphasizes the importance of play-based learning, community building, and raising awareness about the critical impact of early childhood education. LAEP will host live events and giveaways. Additionally, LAEP’s Teaching & Learning team will be developing creative STEAM activities. These efforts collectively highlight the invaluable contributions of educators like Elsa Leal and Nancy Villarreal.
CEO Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz believes wholeheartedly in LAEP’s mission to create a more equitable future for all children in L.A. Since 2023, Dr. Kurtz has dedicated time, effort, and resources to ensure these programs remain in the community with grace and trust.
“Given the limited access to early learning programs in our communities and the pressures on the educator workforce, LAEP’s commitment to ensuring every child can thrive is more critical than ever. As we celebrate the Week of the Young Child, it’s crucial to remember that in communities like ours, where access to vital early learning programs like Early Head Start is limited for so many families, LAEP’s commitment is unwavering.”
Recognizing the critical role of early childhood educators, LAEP’s Ready2Teach program addresses the educator shortage by training and graduating the next generation of professionals. With support from the Hilton Foundation, Ready2Teach has already graduated 28 educators and is set to celebrate 48 more in June 2025. The East and Southern Africa Hilton Foundation visited the U.S. Hilton team in Los Angeles to learn more about early childhood workforce development through the Ready2Teach program.
LAEP also partners with employers to create jobs for infant and toddler teachers. These educators receive earn and learn hours at 12 units for their social teacher permits. Training and coaching are available at their child and family centers, the only organization that offers this program in L.A. County. The units they acquire through LAEP are transferable to ensure the teachers can grow in their field. The organization is elevating the professionalism of early childhood education for families and providers.
Director of Marketing and Communications LaCora Stephens also shares the same devotion alongside her coworkers. When asked about LAEP and WOYC 2025, she shared, “I’m a teacher by trade through higher education, ninth through twelfth grade, so I didn’t focus on the young child. Now that I’m at LAEP, the work we’re doing with our EHS program doesn’t start once you’re pregnant; it starts at the thought of having a baby. What does equity in education look like? What does nutrition look like?”
“We’re educating parents and families before it happens. WOYC has been around since 1971, and seeing all the work these ladies are doing in preparing new educators is valuable. We have gone to school, gone to work, and have done the training to not only assist the children, but to support parents through our many partners.”
LAEP invites the Los Angeles community to join in celebrating WOYC and recognizing the power of early education starting Saturday, April 5, for the kick-off event, to Friday, April 11, for Family Friday. Families are also invited to join them for their upcoming event on Tuesday, May 20, for the free Family Fun STEAM Night at 75th Street Elementary from 1:40 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. Students must be accompanied by adults.
Foundations interested in partnering with LAEP and the Ready2Teach program can contact Elsa Leal at eleal@laep.org, and cohort opportunities are available online at laep.org/now-enrolling-first-ready2teach-cohort/. Follow LAEP on social media for immediate updates, especially giveaways. To learn more about LAEP’s programs and how to support their mission, visit laep.org.
