The California State Library and California Library Association are pleased to announce the second cohort of participants in the Catalyst leadership development program. Catalyst is a cohort-based program under the banner of California Libraries Learn (CALL) designed to equip and support California library workers with development opportunities that allow them to lead from anywhere.
This year’s Catalyst selection process was competitive, with 94 applications received for only 25 available spots. The evaluation involved an anonymized scoring process conducted by a panel of library leaders from around the state, followed by a final review to ensure a balanced representation across California’s diverse geography, library types, jurisdictions, and roles.
During the program, participants will explore and apply critical skills in library leadership, including equity, effective communication, community engagement, and co-design. The cohort will also engage in enriching networking experiences, reflective practices, and mentorship opportunities designed to foster both personal and professional growth.
The Catalyst cohort participants for this year are:
Name: Adriel Ahern
Library: Sebastopol Regional Library
Adriel Ahern has worked as a Children’s Librarian at the Sebastopol Regional Library since 2017. She has participated in a variety of leadership styles in her many years working in health food stores. She now focuses on building relationships with her community and promoting nature literacy and social justice in all areas of children’s services.
Name: Alice Erickson
Library: Alameda Free Library
Alice is a School Outreach Librarian with Alameda Free Library where she brings the library out to students in schools all over the city. She is passionate about building capacity for families to support youth development and learning and loves nothing more than singing and reading with young children and their caregivers. In her spare time, she explores her creative side through knitting and dancing.
Name: Allison Bridgewater
Library: Ontario City Library
Allison Bridgewater is the Senior Librarian for Youth Services at the Ontario City Library. She originally became interested in library work because of her love of reading, but the meaningful connections she’s formed with families are what really inspires her each day. A former ESL teacher, Allison is especially passionate about providing services for newcomer families and English language learners.
Name: Barbara Lawrence
Library: Gault Elementary School
Barbara Lawrence is a school librarian at Gault Elementary School in Santa Cruz. She works in a library that actively works to provide a safe space for families within the school community.
Name: Brandy Maldonado
Library: Santa Clara County Library District
Brandy currently serves as a Supervising Librarian of Adults & Teen Services for the Santa Clara County Library District. She is deeply committed to fostering inclusive programming, exploring the intersection of culture and libraries, and actively engaging with her community. In her free time, Brandy enjoys reading horror novels and hiking.
Name: Briana Herrod
Library: Sonoma County Library
Briana is currently an Outreach Librarian with the Sonoma County Library. She enjoys getting out in the community in remote areas of the county, and areas with challenges to accessing library services. She is an intentional listener that works to develop programs in response to community needs.
Name: Christina Lacayo
Library: Alameda County Library
Christina works for the Alameda County Library as an Adult Services Librarian at the Union City branch. In addition, she is an active member of the Spanish Language Programming Team as well as the Marketing & Editorial Team for ACL.
Name: Darren Heiber
Library: San Francisco Public Libraries
Darren Heiber is currently a Branch Manager at the beautiful Glen Park Branch of San Francisco Public Libraries. He has previously been a Teen Services Librarian, Academic Librarian, High School English Teacher, waiter, itinerant worker, gas station attendant, and Co-Executive Director of Free Geek, a Portland, Oregon-based e-waste and technology education non-profit.
Name: Denise Fournier
Library: Baywood Elementary School
Denise works at Baywood Elementary School where she loves to inspire and encourage young readers. Denise fosters community by dressing in costumes as the school crossing guard each day. What will she be today? A T-Rex, an Icee, or even Spiderman. When not ensconced in a book, Denise enjoys hiking, camping, watching middle schoolers and high schoolers run in circles as a track and cross county coach, and writing notes to people with lots of happy exclamation points!
Name: Elizabeth Tapia
Library: Riverside Public Library
I recently joined the Riverside Public Library as a librarian, and I am excited to be working in my neighborhood library. I am also excited to work alongside my colleagues to continue developing collections and programs that promote literacy as a foundational tool for self-advocacy and community engagement.
Name: Esmeralda Gamez
Library: Fresno County Library
Esmeralda Gamez is a library assistant who helps with bilingual programs and events in Fresno and is always excited to share information about the library with the Spanish speaking community. She spends her free time watching horror movies, writing poetry and attending concerts all over CA.
Name: Fiorella Casella
Library: Long Beach Public Library
Fiorella is a General Librarian in the Collection Services department at Long Beach Public Library. She solely focuses on developing the adult fiction collection for the 12-branch system. Outside of work she enjoys being a dog mom and doing some serious comic book reading.
Name: Jerrica Edmundson
Library: Madera County Library
Jerrica is a Library Branch Assistant with the Madera County Library and has been in her position for 7 years, working to improve the Madera Ranchos branch of the library system. She has wanted to work in libraries since her early teens and is currently working towards finally obtaining her MLIS degree so that she can better implement her love of community-based programming to serve those in her surrounding communities.
Name: Jessie Wu
Library: Hayward Public Library
Jessie Wu is an immigrant, TESOL instructor, and Literacy Program Coordinator at Hayward Public Library. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, Zumba, volleyball, relaxing with matcha tea, and spending time with her family.
Name: Joshua Bonk
Library: Santa Monica Public Library
I am a library assistant with the Santa Monica Public Library, and one project I loved working on was developing a bike tool collection. I’m very excited about co-creating bike-centered programs that our community will find valuable.
Name: Journey Lefay
Library: Los Angeles Public Library
Journey (they/them) has 2 years of librarianship experience at the Los Angeles Public Library system in the International Languages Department, Science Department, and Octavia Lab makerspace. Journey is passionate about psychology, UX design, disability advocacy, and gaming as immersive interactive storytelling medium.
Name: Karen Arcos
Library: Braille Institute Library
Karen is Outreach Manager for Braille Institute Library, an affiliate of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress. She identifies as a Spanish bilingual and bicultural totally blind woman and enjoys hiking and baking.
Name: Kevin Vigil
Library: San Diego County Library
Kevin is a Youth Librarian at the San Diego County Library, a University of Arizona MLIS graduate, and Knowledge River Scholar alum. He believes libraries help build healthy communities and sustain democracy by providing free and equitable access to information resources. He has a strong interest in digital archives, zines, fuzzy guitar music, and Star Wars. He also enjoys being with his family.
Name: KK Tetrault
Library: Freshwater Elementary School
KK Tetrault’s job title is Library Tech but technically, she runs the whole little library at Freshwater Elementary school in Humboldt County. She is excited and enthusiastic about providing community support through librarianship, which she is delving into with heart and soul!
Name: Kyle Moreno
Library: Burbank Public Library
Kyle Moreno is the Reader Engagement Librarian at the Burbank Public Library. They are passionate about creating inclusive programs and activities that bring readers and writers together.
Name: Luisa Leija
Library: Long Beach Public Library
Luisa is the Senior Librarian of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Multilingual Collections at the Long Beach Public Library. She is passionate about community engagement, youth development, social justice, knowledge production, cultural heritage, and creative writing. She enjoys dreaming with people to find innovative and collaborative ways libraries can better serve the needs of their diverse communities.
Name: Mary Yamanaka
Library: Fresno County Public Library
Mary Yamanaka is an Adult Librarian for the Fresno County Public Library, and also worked as a Children’s Librarian and an FDLP Coordinator in the past. She was born on the island of Guam and is indigenous Chamorro. When she earned her B.A. and MLIS degrees, she became the first generation graduate in her family for both.
Name: Pedro Orellana
Library: Cerritos Library
Pedro Orellana is the adult services librarian at Cerritos Library. As a passionate community builder, my mission is to create inclusive spaces where diversity is celebrated, accessibility is prioritized, and local history is cherished. My commitment to these values stems from a deep-seated belief that every individual deserves to be seen, heard, and valued in our collective journey.
Name: Sara LeBlanc
Library: Ontario City Library
I am a teen librarian at a public library with 7 years of experience working at a high school. I am also a mother, a crafter, and a serial hobbyist.
Name: Stephanie Levin
Library: Camarillo Public Library
I am a dedicated and enthusiastic Circulation Manager at the Camarillo Public Library. I enjoy creativity through crafts, photo taking and cooking. And I am a music lover at heart.