The Basics of Greater Elgin Initiative Launches on Friday, April 11, 2025  ELGIN Launches “The Basics of Greater Elgin” Initiative Dr. Ron Ferguson, faculty director of Harvard’s Achievement Gap Initiative, will headline the launch event on Friday, April 11, at the Centre of Elgin. The event introduces The Basics of Greater Elgin—a community-wide movement aimed at giving ... Read more

For the past 12 years, EPEL has built relationships, strengthened partnerships, and worked alongside you to ensure that every child enters school ready to learn. Together, we have created a collaborative network where you—our partners—are the hands and feet of this essential work, making a lasting impact on children and families. As we continue this ... Read more

EPEL is committed to engaging, informing, equipping, and supporting families from the very start. Families like Janet’s are at the heart of our work—helping parents build confidence, access resources, and create strong early learning foundations for their children. From her first child as an infant to now supporting her new baby, EPEL has walked alongside Janet, ensuring ... Read more

Dear Valentine, We LOVE the LOVE you show to EPEL! What’s not to LOVE? Your dedication to EPEL reflects the power of love in action—creating opportunities, strengthening families, and shaping brighter futures for our youngest learners. Together, we are building a community where every child is nurtured, supported, and loved, ensuring they are ready to ... Read more

Exciting News for the Greater Elgin area! The future of our youngest learners is brighter than ever!  SAVE THE DATE to join us for the launch of The Basics of Greater Elgin, a powerful community-wide movement dedicated to equipping families with simple, fun, and effective ways to boost early brain development.  Together, we can ensure every child gets the strong ... Read more

As the year comes to a close, I’ve spent time in Florida with my family reflecting on 2024 and excited about where EPEL is headed in 2025. Walking along the beach each day, I’ve noticed footprints in the sand. The larger footprints—those of adults—are making a path that mostly goes forward and back, potentially following ... Read more

In FY 23-24, our early childhood community collaboration team achieved significant milestones that underscore our commitment to strengthening early childhood development in the Greater Elgin area. The impact of our collective efforts highlights the power of community involvement. Please read, share, and support other families on the Road to Readiness, so that all children start ... Read more

The Basics launch team has selected the name for the community’s Basics network. ‘The Basics of Greater Elgin’ was chosen from a list of 15 potential names. The team also added the tagline, ‘Where Learning Begins,’ to emphasize the initiative’s focus on fostering early childhood development and learning from birth. EPEL is proud to have ... Read more

Twenty-five cross-sector community partners have come together to support a new initiative led by EPEL as the backbone organization, called ‘The Basics.’ Over the next few months, the community launch team will work to increase the initiative’s reach and impact. The community will soon hear more about the five key Basic Principles and how they ... Read more