History of EPEL

In 2011, community leaders convened an Early Childhood Task Force at a coffee shop to establish an early childhood community collaboration of public and private partnerships to design a model for an early childhood system that addressed not just early education, but all facets of young children’s health and development. The task force recognized the collaboration and all early childhood partners — including families, early educators, health providers, state agencies, social service organizations, philanthropies, faith-based, businesses, and others — to play a role in thriving children and families.

In 2012, the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL) was formed as an early childhood community collaboration to ensure the healthy growth and optimal development of young children in the context of their families through local systems development. Community partners are committed to take action by giving up individual agendas and adopting an approach called Collective Impact, which leverages its partners’ commitment and contributions to improve local early childhood resources and sustainable outcomes. The collaborative work brings together early childhood care and education providers, community-based organizations, education, government, health care, social services, and a broad array of community stakeholders. 

In 2021, EPEL rebranded and adopted a new logo to symbolize the mission and vision of children and families in the center of the work with overlapping circles that signify the cross-sector systems of support.

In 2022, Elgin Partnership for Early Learning filed for 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status.

In 2024, Elgin Partnership for Early Learning (EPEL) officially changed its name to Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL). This rebranding reflects the organization’s ongoing mission to convene, collaborate, and enrich partnerships that deepen the impact on early childhood education. The name change signifies a renewed commitment to building and strengthening partnerships that support young children’s development and readiness for kindergarten.

In 2025, Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL) launched The Basics of Greater Elgin, a community-wide initiative aimed at equipping families with simple, science-based strategies to support early childhood development. The program focuses on five key principles designed to foster cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth in children from birth to age five.

A connected community plan provides a map for creating a coordinated, high-quality early childhood system that supports all of our community’s youngest children and their families, working towards narrowing the achievement gap as they enter Kindergarten.