2024-2025 EPEL Impact Report
Dear EPEL Partners and Friends, This past year, EPEL has experienced remarkable growth with the addition of The Basics of Greater Elgin under our umbrella and a new full-time staff member to lead this exciting work. Our reach and impact continue to expand as partners, families, and community champions step forward with passion and purpose—meeting ... Read more
Exploring Careers that Shape the Future
Introducing middle school students to future career paths helps them see what’s possible and start envisioning how they can make a difference. Events like the Explore event, hosted by the Alignment Collaborative for Education, give students the chance to connect with professionals who inspire them to dream big. EPEL Board Member Joy D’Amico, founder of Elevate & Sustain, LLC ... Read more
SBB Research Group Foundation
We’re honored to share that the SBB Research Group Foundation has answered the call for early childhood by investing in Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL). This generous support will strengthen EPEL’s efforts to engage, inform, and equip families — ensuring every young child in the Greater Elgin area has the opportunity to thrive and ... Read more
Free Connect & Play Group
Connect & Play is a free, bilingual playgroup for families with children birth to five. Families gather in welcoming, neighborhood-based settings to explore play-based learning, build early literacy and social-emotional skills, and connect with other parents and caregivers. Each session includes hands-on activities, story time, and take-home resources that extend learning at home. Guided by The Basics ... Read more
Learning On the Go Impact
Meeting families where they are is a priority for Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning (EPEL) and its community partners. Launched in 2016, Learning On the Go (LOG) has grown into an 8-week summer initiative in Elgin, Hanover Park, and Streamwood. Each week, families with children birth to five gather in neighborhood play areas to create playful learning ... Read more
Free Early Learning Text Tips
Did you know if you have a child or grandchild ages birth to three you qualify for free early learning text tips that come straight to your phone each week? The Basics Insights™ text messaging helps parents and caregivers integrate early childhood learning into daily routines. Families with children from birth to age three will ... Read more
Learning on the Go program brings education, resources and fun to Elgin-area families
Today was a great first day of Learning On the Go at Cornerstone Park. Daily Herald Article by Rick West We served….. -44 families and 83 children with programming and early learning materials-159 visitors on the library mobile bus and had 30 summer reading sign-ups-Elgin Parks and Rec served over distributed 70 lunches-138 families served at mobile pantry resulting in 600 ... Read more
EPEL is Coordinating the Plays: Strengthening the Early Childhood System
EPEL serves as one of the quarterbacks of the early childhood system, helping coordinate and guide efforts across our community. But like any great team, we rely on strong players—our cross-sector partners—who are stepping up in big ways. If you attended The Basics Greater Elgin kickoff, you heard the call to action to “take the call” for ... Read more
Community effort aims to prepare our youngest for the future
Few things bring more joy than interacting with a young child who is discovering the world around them. You watch their senses come alive as they smell the beautiful fragrance of a flower, eat a sweet and juicy strawberry or pet a dog or cat’s soft fur for the first time. With each new experience, ... Read more