Who We Are
EDUCATE is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized for the public and educational purposes including the development or funding of programs to educate and support children and their families.
We accomplish this by recognizing the interconnectedness of:
- Education
- Parenting
- Literacy for Children and their Families
EDUCATE
Unlimited Potential
Our goal is to educate the whole child and that is accomplished by serving many generations of learners through early childhood education, parenting, and literacy classes and programs.
Our target area is Long Beach, California because over 55% of the residents live below the poverty line. Long Beach represents a cross-section economically, ethnically, socially and culturally.
It has been established that children who do not attend preschool have a higher dropout rate than children who do. It is also known that children of illiterate parents have a higher dropout rate and children of parents who lack basic parenting skills do not succeed at the same rate due to lack of emotional and educational support from their parents.
Comprehensive Pre K for Individual Long Term Success
Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool
Founded in 2008, Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool (UMDA) engages and prepares potentially at risk children to be active, motivated learners. Many of these children, if not able to attend Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool, never learn the basic skills required to transition to Kindergarten. Research shows that we can predict by the third grade, that children who do not attend preschool and become below-basic readers are significantly more likely to be high school dropouts.
"Our school is founded on the principle that the best education will result from a partnership between parents, teachers, and children."
- Laurie Petersen, EDUCATE Board.
Our School Is:
- IN 2008 WE CREATED, DEVELOPED, BUILT AND OPENED THE SCHOOL
- A FREE AND/OR LOW-COST LICENSED, PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH
- WE OFFER FREE AND LOW-COST FULL AND PART DAY KINDERGARTEN READINESS PROGRAMS TO THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS
- AS OF JUNE 2018, OVER 1400 KINDERGARTEN READY CHILDREN HAVE GRADUATED FROM OUR PROGRAM
- ANNUALLY THE SCHOOL PROVIDES A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION TO 96 CHILDREN 3-5 YEARS OLD
- MAJORITY OF OUR FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE
- WE PROVIDE FREE PARENTING CLASSES IN CENTRAL LONG BEACH
- ALL OF THE LEAD TEACHERS HAVE BACHELOR’S DEGREES
- WE PROVIDE A TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO OF 1-8
- CHILDREN LEARN IN A DUAL LANGUAGE ENVIRONMENT
Our Board
passion is what it takes to ensure success for every child.
Laurie Petersen
PRESIDENT & CEO
Laurie has held key management positions with not-for-profit organizations for over 30 years. In addition to her professional background, Laurie has participated on several highly impactful boards, including Vice Chair of Antioch University Los Angeles, current Co-Chair of the Long Beach Mayors Fund for Education, and a member of the Munzer Task Force. She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) working with teenagers. For the past 15 years, Laurie has focused her time and skills to providing free preschool for children ages 2 through 5 in Long Beach. She is the founder of Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool with two locations serving over 150 children per year in one of the highest need areas in Los Angeles County. Laurie continues her commitment to addressing social injustice and underserved populations through the development of a third campus scheduled to open in 2023. Laurie graduated from Antioch University and has a master’s in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She is a visionary and a tireless champion for children and families.
Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.
At EDUCATE we understand that people will always be our GREATEST asset.
Dawn Emling
Ms. Emling has over 22 years experience in international development, Corporate Social, Responsibility sustainability, philanthropy, human rights and democracy. She has proven senior management experience in strategic and program design, program implementation, political and reputational risk, budgets, reports, monitoring and evaluation, training and communications. Most recently Dawn was Global Head of Strategy, Sustainability Initiatives, and Inclusion at Thomas Reuters Corp. Prior to this she worked for Credit Suisse in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Ms. Emling has degrees from American University and University of Michigan.
Julie Filkoff
Julie Filkoff is currently in her 17th year at City of Hope, where she is a manager in the Events Department, specializing in strategic planning, project management, marketing, communications, contract negotiation, production, staff management, relationship management and fundraising. Before joining City of Hope, she worked eight years in the public relations and marketing industry. Received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at CSUN. Filkoff is a former small business owner. She was world-ranked on the Women’s Tennis Association’s professional tour. Filkoff played varsity tennis for UCLA and SDSU. She is a southern Californian native, presently living in Long Beach, Calif. Filkoff is passionate about the City of Long Beach, early childhood education, animal rights and the environment. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, playing Pickleball and golf.
Ellen Weitz
Ellen Weitz is Associate General Counsel, Labor and Employment at Siemens Corporation. Ellen began her legal career in New York City at a boutique labor and employment law firm representing management and has worked for businesses in a variety of industries including healthcare, ready mix and electrical building materials. Ellen was recently chosen as one of the top 50 Women in Law in Ellen has always loved children and been especially committed to those in underserved communities. Ellen grew up in a big family, and appreciates the childhood she had and it is important to her than all children have an equal start and opportunity to succeed. Ellen is on the Board of Houston PetSet a 501©(3) dedicated to providing funds to animal welfare agencies. Ellen has a BA from Skidmore College and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Jennifer Nottoli
Ms. Nottoli is a Managing Director at TBWA/Chiat/Day overseeing multiple global accounts and has over 20 year of experience in marketing and advertising. Jennifer’s commitment to underserved populations is highlighted in her years of involvement with agencies providing services to women and children in need. Some of the nonprofit organizations she has been involved with include Upward Bound, A Family Place, Turning Point, and St. Monica’s Church. Ms. Nottoli has been a Board Member of Educate Long Beach for the last two years. Ms. Nottoli earned her BA in Communication at University of Iowa
Lynda Dorf
Lynda Dorf is a seasoned media relations and corporate communications executive based in Los Angeles. With a strong focus in digital entertainment, audience engagement and branding, Dorf understands the importance of relationship development with clients and media in order to tell compelling stories that will reach broad audiences. During her tenure at the national firm of BWR Public Relations, Dorf represented key financiers and producers of feature films and television along with a strong focus in technology tools and applications. All of her business practices have had a strong connection to cause related marketing, as her first career path was in the area of non-profit management and fund-raising. Lynda takes great pride in developing her rapport with clients, with the goal of helping them reach audiences across multiple platforms and mediums, for maximum recognition and engagement.
A SINCERE THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS, SPONSORS & FRIENDS
Get in Touch
If you are interested in supporting us at EDUCATE Long Beach, please contact us and help those in need receive the high quality early education they deserve for lifelong success. You can also reach us at (562) 591-3666.
Federal Nondiscrimination Statement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
NOTE: The only protected classes covered under the CNPs are race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.