Welcome to California’s library leadership initiative. Catalyst is a cohort-based 18-month program designed to equip and support California library workers with development opportunities that allow them to lead from anywhere. (Please note that activities beyond the first year are contingent on available funding.)
Anyone who is currently working in a California library is eligible to apply for the Catalyst learning cohort. Those already in leadership positions, front-line library workers, and behind-the-scenes staff are all invited to apply. An MLIS degree is not required. We’re looking for people to lead from everywhere, and from any type of library!
2024 – 2025 Cohort Applications
The application period for 2024 – 2025 is now closed.
Learn More
For more details about the learning experience, program benefits, important dates, and expectations, please see the Catalyst 2024-2025 FAQ.
2024 – 2025 Cohort
- Adriel Ahern
- Alice Erickson
- Allison Bridgewater
- Barbara Lawrence
- Brandy Maldonado
- Briana Herrod
- Christina Lacayo
- Darren Heiber
- Denise Fournier
- Elizabeth Tapia
- Esmeralda Gamez
- Fiorella Casella
- Jerrica Edmundson
- Jessie Wu
- Joshua Bonk
- Journey Lefay
- Karen Arcos
- Kevin Vigil
- KK Tetrault
- Kyle Moreno
- Luisa Leija
- Mary Yamanaka
- Pedro Orellana
- Sara LeBlanc
- Stephanie Levin
More information about the Catalyst Cohort Participants is available.
Program Coordinators
- Maddy Walton-Hadlock
- Akiliah Manuel
Past Catalyst Cohorts
2023 – 2024 Catalyst Cohort Members
Other Leadership Opportunities
Many people are interested in developing leadership skills and experience for a variety of reasons. If you are not able to participate in the Catalyst cohort this year, or are not selected, CALL continues to support your leadership aspirations. Through Leadership for All, CALL provides opportunities for everyone. Anyone who works in a California library can benefit from these grant-funded webinars, courses, and workshops. All California library workers are invited to visit the CALL events calendar and look for the professional development and leadership learning opportunities under the Leadership for All banner.
If you receive CALL Letters on a weekly basis you can find all leadership opportunities there as well. Just look for this icon.
You will also find self-paced learning opportunities around leadership in CALL Academy under the Leadership/Management category, and a compiled list of resources.
Information about the previous leadership programs – Developing Leaders in California Libraries and Leadership Challenge – is still available.