Lisa Cleri Reale is principal of Cleri Reale & Associates. She provides consulting to multiple sectors including corporations, government, and academia, but has built a 40+ year specialty in the non-profit and philanthropic fields. Cleri Reale considers herself a generalist, advisor, and implementation strategist.

Cleri Reale spent 11 years with Times Mirror and the Los Angeles Times directing their community affairs efforts. During her tenure there, she launched several initiatives, including a literacy hotline and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Cleri Reale is an active, passionate community leader. She was appointed by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to serve on the LA County Library Commission where she serves as Commission Secretary. She serves as a standing member of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ corporate board. She also serves as the chair of Community Partners and Cause Communications.

Cleri Reale has championed several events and community initiatives, including the Measure L campaign for Los Angeles Public Library, the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights Celebration, the Olympic Torch Relay Events in LA and others.

She has received awards from SBCC Thrive LA for her work in the community. State Senator Curren Price named Lisa a “SHero” and she was one of 30 nonprofit leaders in LA to be honored by the Center for Nonprofit Management with its Nonprofit Excellence Award on the occasion of the Center’s 30th Anniversary.

A 38-year resident of Los Angeles, she remains proudly connected across generations through her son, age 34, who is a graphic designer and daughter, age 30, who is an actress.

Tess Shih is a strategic leader with 20 years of experience working with institutions in corporate and non-profit sectors to expand brand presence and tangible market share. Spending almost a decade at JPMorgan Chase, Shih was a member of the Corporate Strategy team and provided recommendations to senior J.P. Morgan business executives. She is also passionate about applying her strategic and financial acumen to non-profit organizations providing access to education and building strong inclusive communities. Ms. Shih was appointed by the Fifth District Supervisor to the Los Angeles County Library Commission where she currently serves as Chair of the Benchmarking Subcommittee.

Ms. Shih received her MBA from Harvard Business School as a Eugene Sit Fellow. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and International Relations from the University of Southern California where she was Vice President of the USC Student Body and Commencement speaker for USC’s Marshall School of Business.

Richard L. Crosby has been a committed La Verne City Council Member since 2020, bringing a wealth of experience from his 28-year career in education. Throughout his tenure as a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, Richard has demonstrated a profound dedication to fostering educational and community growth.

In addition to his role on the City Council, Richard has actively contributed to the Los Angeles County Library Commission. His extensive background in education allows him to understand the vital role libraries play in lifelong learning and community enrichment. Richard advocates for innovative library programs and initiatives that promote literacy, digital inclusion, and community engagement.

Known for his collaborative leadership style, Richard works closely with fellow commissioners, library staff, and community members to ensure the library meets the evolving needs of Los Angeles County’s residents. His passion for public service and education drives his commitment to enhancing library services and resources, making them accessible and beneficial for all.

Richard’s vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and resource-rich library environment that supports the educational and cultural development of the community. His strategic insights and dedication continue to inspire positive changes within the Los Angeles County Library system.

Corey Calaycay is serving his fifth term on the Claremont City Council (November 2020 – November 2024). He previously served three one-year terms as Mayor (December 2018 – December 2019, March 2015 – March 2016, and March 2009 – March 2010).

Corey was born in Chicago. Not long, thereafter, his family moved to Claremont where he has resided for the past forty-six years. He is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church. He attended the United Church of Christ Pre-School, Foothill Country Day School, and Webb School of California. He went on to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, receiving a degree in Business Administration in 1992.

In 1990, he ran his first race for Claremont City Council at age nineteen. While he did not win, he garnered a strong 2,382 votes. He ran unsuccessfully again in 1992 and 1994 before finally receiving the nod of the voters in the election of March 2005. At his installation on March 16, 2005, Mayor Pro Tem Calaycay remarked that his 15-year journey to City Council brought new personal meaning for him to the old adage, “if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.”

Corey had been an active leader in the community in the years prior to his election. He served on the County of Los Angeles Local Suppression of Drug Abuse in Schools Advisory Committee and is Past-Chair of the City of Claremont Library Task Force, Past-President of the Friends of the Claremont Public Library, Past-Treasurer and Past-President of the Claremont Educational Foundation, and a founding member and Past-President of Active Claremont.

Corey has over ten years of experience working as a staff member for the California State Legislature and has had the opportunity to serve constituents in more than thirty communities in the region around Claremont including parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange Counties.

Mayor Pro Tem Calaycay is Chair of the Los Angeles County Library Commission and Chairman of the Pomona Valley Transit Authority Board. He also serves on the Foothill Transit Governing & Executive Boards, San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District Board of Trustees, and Clean Power Alliance of Southern California Board of Directors.

Steve Croft was first elected to the Lakewood City Council in March 2005 after having served the four previous years on the city’s Planning and Environment Commission.

Steve has served as mayor four times, in 2008-2009, 2013-2014, 2018-2019 and 2022-2023. He ran unopposed in the March 2009 and March 2013 elections, and was re-elected in March 2017. He was most recently re-elected in June 2022 by the voters of the new District 2 in Lakewood, and he is now serving his fifth term on the council.

Steve and his wife Tess live on Castana Avenue in the western portion of Lakewood, but Steve grew up in the eastern portion of the city on Pioneer Boulevard and remembers his grandparents’ enthusiasm for Lakewood’s annexation of their neighborhood in the early 1960s.

Great memories of growing up in Lakewood and participating in Lakewood Youth Sports and the after-school programs at Bloomfield Park made Lakewood the first choice for Steve and Tess when they decided where to make their home and raise their daughter Ana.

Steve is a proud member of the Lakewood Lions Club, and both he and his wife Tess are active members of the Friends of the Lakewood Libraries.

He serves as a board member of the Lakewood Regional Medical Center and Pathways Volunteer Hospice.
Council Member Croft’s current term on the City Council runs through June 2026.

Vilma Cuellar Stallings grew up in Paramount and graduated from Paramount High School. She has served on the City’s Public Safety and Parks & Recreation commissions, was elected to the Paramount City Council in March 2020, and has served one term as Mayor.

She is the appointed president of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments Board of Directors and is the City’s representative on the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, the Clean Power Alliance, the City Council/Paramount School District Ad Hoc Committee, the Landscaped Median Enhancement Ad Hoc Committee, and the Paramount Historical Society. She is also a representative for the LA County Library Commission.

Cuellar Stallings is retired from a 30-year career as a Librarian with the Paramount Unified School District. With her husband, Danny, she has two daughters and five grandchildren.

Vice Mayor Mary Mendoza is serving her second term on the San Fernando City Council (November 2020 – November 2022), first appointed to fill the City Council vacancy on October 7, 2019. Vice Mayor Mendoza previously served as Mayor from December 2021 to December 2022 and Vice Mayor from December 2020 to December 2021.

Mary was born and raised in the City of San Fernando. She is deeply rooted in the community as five generations of her family, including all of her children, live in San Fernando.

Mary attended Morningside Elementary, San Fernando Junior High, San Fernando High School and Los Angeles Mission College, when it was located in the City of San Fernando. She received her Associate in Arts Degree from Mission College, where she also worked for 43 years. Mary is deeply involved in the community, including as a member of the Las Palmas Senior Citizen Club and a Boardmember of the Greater Van Nuys Rotary Club.

As a City Councilmember, Mary has prioritized the residents of San Fernando. She will work to ensure public safety, protect the City’s water resources, improve roads and infrastructure, promote a healthy business environment, and a green community by planting more trees while being a good steward of the community’s tax dollars.

In addition to serving on City Council, Mary represents San Fernando on the Los Angeles County Library Commission, San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, Los Angeles County City Selection Committee, Upper Los Angeles River and Tributaries Working Group, League of California Cities, and various City Council Ad Hoc Committees.

Marianne Riggins was elected to the City Council in November 2022. Her term will expire in November 2026.

Marianne’s family moved to Malibu permanently in 1968 when she was 18 months old. She attended Point Dume Elementary School (now Malibu Elementary), Malibu Park Junior High School (now Malibu Middle School) and Santa Monica High School. She also lived in Mammoth Lakes and Bishop, California. For 17 years, Marianne worked at the City of Malibu in both the Planning and Environmental Sustainability Departments.

Marianne is married and has one child who attended Malibu public schools. She has volunteered for many community organizations, including Girl Scouts, Malibu High School Athletic Booster Club, and the SMMUSD Bond Oversight Committee and Facility District Advisory Committee, and has been involved in many other community activities.

Nicole has nearly 20 years of cross-industry expertise related to philanthropy and is the Sr. Executive Director of External Relations at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. She began her development career at the United Way of Greater Kansas City and then spent seven years as Sr. Director of West coast regional giving at Northwestern University, the last four years of which she resided in Los Angeles.

She grew up in Kansas City where her love of community building and service began. Nicole has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and a BA in Communications from William Jewell College.

Building community continues to be a passion as she serves on the West Hollywood Public Facilities, Recreation and Infrastructure Commission. In her free time, she loves to travel both locally and internationally, seeking new places, experiences and people to learn from. She lives in West Hollywood with her husband and two-year-old daughter, they often frequent the library for story hour and explore new books.

Revé Gipson Parks is the Publicity Coordinator for the legendary group, Frankie Beverly and Maze. Revé was the first African American Publicist hired worldwide for Capitol Records where she worked with Peabo Bryson, Ashford and Simpson, Tina Turner and many others.

Revé has many professional affiliations. She is a lifetime member of the Recording Academy (NARAS) and an active voting member for the Sciences; Alpha Theta Chapter of Beta Phi Gamma; National Honorary Journalistic Fraternity; Child Care Advisory Board; County of Los Angeles; and the American Guild of Authors and Composers.

She has served on many city and county commissions. She formerly served as a Commissioner of Music & Performing Arts, County of Los Angeles; a Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, County of Los Angeles; a Commissioner for the Aging, County of Los Angeles and she is presently serving as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles County Library Commission, appointed by Supervisor Yvonne Burke and re-appointed by Supervisor Holly Mitchell.

Ruth Low was first elected to the Diamond Bar City Council in 2015. She just completed her second term as mayor and served her first term as mayor in 2018. Ms. Low was a member of the City’s Planning Commission from 2013 through 2015, and from 2003 through 2005. She held the position of chairman in 2015 and vice-chairman in 2005. Prior to that, Ms. Low served on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission from 2005 through 2009, and served as its chair and vice-chair.

Ms. Low is a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. She regularly appears in the Los Angeles County Superior Court and the California Court of Appeals representing the People of the State of California. She has prosecuted serious and violent crimes such as murder, vehicular manslaughter, robbery, home invasion robbery, burglary, rape, and child sexual abuse.

As a member of the Special Prosecution Bureau, she has successfully prosecuted multi-defendant cyber-crimes involving losses in excess of $1M, large-scale financial fraud cases, major health care frauds, and crimes involving controlled substances and firearms. In 2011, she was recognized as Outstanding Prosecutor by the FBI for successfully prosecuting complex cases involving state and federal laws.

Ms. Low and her family have lived in Diamond Bar since 1995. She and her husband, Rick Rogers, are active in community activities, most notably co-chairing the Annual Wine Soirée and Benefit Auction. They have been members of the Diamond Bar Friends of the Library for 16 years; Ms. Low served as its President from 2013-2014.

Emmanuel J. Estrada was first elected in November of 2020 and is one of the youngest to ever serve as Mayor. He is a proud son of an immigrant, working-class mother. He credits her for instilling in him a strong work ethic and principles.

Emmanuel is a product of Baldwin Park. He graduated from Sierra Vista High School and then went on to study automotive services at the Baldwin Park Adult School. He holds a certificate in accounting and is currently finishing his bachelor’s in marketing.

Emmanuel is an advocate for working families. He understands the need for a more equitable city that hardworking families can be proud to come home to after a long day’s work. His priorities include housing, green spaces, and increasing civic participation.

When Emmanuel is not at work you may find him doing a variety of activities. He enjoys volunteering to serve the homeless, playing in a Latin band, and spending time with his family.

Kim Yu grew up in Taiwan and was a pharmacist before moving to California. She has lived in Rowland Heights since 1999. Kim has actively served the community for 15 years, including the completion of a neighborhood road safety project and the creation of a neighborhood activist group. Kim is also a member of two books clubs, where members read and discuss over 30 books a year. Kim’s bi-culture background and focus on the community inspire her to accept various leadership roles where she can effectuate more positive change.

David Lesser is a Manhattan Beach City Council Member. Initially elected in 2011, he left office in 2019 due to term limits and was elected to his current term in 2022. David served as Mayor in 2013 and 2017 and is scheduled to serve as Mayor again beginning in August 2025.

During his Council service, David has pursued issues including open government, environmental sustainability, and construction of new community facilities. He helped lead efforts to build the new Manhattan Beach Library. His current Council assignments include representing the City of Manhattan Beach on the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, South Bay Regional Public Communications Agency, and Clean Power Alliance Boards of Directors.

David and his wife have lived in Manhattan Beach since 1996 and are proud parents of two young adults. He has served as a Planning Commissioner, coached Little League and AYSO soccer teams, and remains active with multiple community organizations. He currently serves on the Greater LA Scouting Board of Directors and Chairs its Pacifica District.

Professionally David has been a business attorney since 1989 with several law firms and as general counsel. David is a graduate of the University of Oregon, Loyola Law School, and Georgetown University Law Center.

City of Alhambra – Resident
Eric Alfaro (he/him) is excited to join the library commission of Los Angeles County as reading has been a passion of his since he was a young boy. Growing up his family worked in the farms of northern California and helped organize with the United Farm Workers. Witnessing both the work and efforts of his family he went on to study at UC Berkeley and graduated with a major in Political Science. He landed his first job as a union organizer with SEIU but quickly discovered a passion for political organizing and became the Political Coordinator of SEIU/UHW. In 2020 as he witnessed the impact of the pandemic on so many communities but primarily children he decided to join the California Teachers Association, to continue his work on the frontline as a Political Organizer. In 2021 he also helped lead Gavin Newsom’s recall campaign (no on the recall) as the Deputy Field Director. Eric has a deep understanding and knowledge of California’s political landscape but knows that access to education and resources are key in building a progressive future for the state he calls home.

City of San Fernando – Mayor
Mayor Celeste T. Rodriguez is serving her first term on the San Fernando City Council (November 2020 – November 2024), first elected in November 2020.
Celeste has worked in public service for over a decade, beginning in the City of San Fernando for the Recreation and Community Services Department, followed by the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and currently as the lead for Community Wealth Initiatives with the City of Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department. Throughout her professional career, she has worked to improve the quality of life in communities by creating policies and programs that respond to people’s needs.

Celeste brings her passion for service and social justice to the City Council as well as a wealth of experience designing, funding and implementing programs. Her priorities are to provide a voice for San Fernando residents to engage with decision making at City Hall, ensure economic stability for residents and businesses to build a path for community wealth, strengthen programs for families to thrive, and to invest in vital infrastructure to strengthen the City’s beauty and resilience.
Celeste received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from San Diego State University and master’s degree in Social Work from USC. She is raising her two young children, 6th generation San Fernando residents, with her partner Robert C. Gonzales.