Brooks serves as President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, an outcomes-driven research and innovations network of more than 160 leading North American public libraries. Under his leadership, ULC champions the future of public libraries by engaging and uplifting members, focusing intently on equity and inclusion and leading on core policy issues that drive our communities forward. Throughout his career, Brooks has worked to advance urban policies that expand local democracy and provide funding for local programs related to economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and sustainability. Prior to joining ULC in July 2022, Brooks served as Senior Executive & Director, Center for City Solutions at the National League of Cities where he drove the organization’s research agenda and oversaw technical assistance efforts and leadership education. Brooks holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kellum, Ph.D. is the CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Dr. Adams Kellum formally started her role as CEO on March 26th, but has worked as a Consultant advising the Mayor’s Chief of Housing and Homelessness Solutions since January, helping to build out the encampment resolution component of the Inside Safe Strategy. Prior to her work at LAHSA, Dr. Adams Kellum was the President and CEO of St. Joseph Center, a social service organization offering outreach & engagement, housing, mental health, and education & vocational programs across Los Angeles County. She was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s “No Place Like Home” Program Advisory Committee and has served on the LAHSA Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness and the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Race Equity Network. She currently sits on the Housing California Board, Policy Lab Advisory Board, and the Board of Trustees for Mount Saint Mary’s University. She stepped down today as a member of Mayor Bass’ Transition Advisory Council. Born and raised in Southern California, Dr. Adams Kellum received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and earned an M.A. from Ball State University before completing her Ph.D. at Stanford University.

Tommi Laitio is an award-winning urbanist and an experienced leader who supports organizations in understanding the friction of urban life and turning that into partnerships, leadership, places, services, staff development, policies, and structures. Tommi is a popular speaker on cities, public places, and partnerships. Tommi is currently writing a book on convivencia, the capability to co-exist across difference. As the inaugural Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellow at Johns Hopkins University, his international research and projects focused on the skills and practices local governments need to build innovative partnerships that sustain the legitimacy of government and the future of public parks and libraries. As Helsinki´s first “Director of Fun", he led 1800 professionals in creating more than 20 million annual culture, sports, library, and youth experiences.

Skye Patrick is the director of LA County Library. Committed to breaking down barriers and increasing access for all, Skye introduced the iCount equity initiative, which ensures that the library services and programs address the needs of the diverse communities served throughout Los Angeles County. As the director, Skye continues to reinforce the library’s role in the community as a civic and cultural center, a hub for public information and services and an institution of literacy, innovation and lifelong learning. In January 2019, Skye was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. Under her leadership, the library has also won the Library Journal 2018 Marketer of the Year award and 2019 Library of the Year award, in addition to being named a finalist for the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Medal in 2018 and 2019, and a medalist in 2023.

A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes, April Rinne (pronounced Rih-Nee) is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationship with change, uncertainty, and a world in flux. She is a trusted advisor to well-known startups and companies, financial institutions, nonprofits, and think tanks worldwide, as well as governments ranging from Singapore to South Africa, Canada to Colombia, Italy to India. Her work has been featured in major publications worldwide, including Harvard Business Review, Wired, Fast Company and CNBC. April is the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change. A graduate of Harvard Law School and member of the Silicon Guild, April has been weaving a story about how to thrive amid flux for as long as she can remember, drawing on her history as a futurist, advisor, global development executive, microfinance lawyer, investor, mental health advocate, certified yoga teacher, globetrotter (100+ countries), and insatiable handstander.

John F. Szabo is the City Librarian of the Los Angeles Public Library, which serves over four million people—the largest population of any public library in the United States. He oversees the Central Library and 72 branches. Under his leadership, the Library’s major initiatives include those related to immigrant integration and citizenship, sustainability, civic engagement, digital inclusion and lifelong learning. He has expanded the library’s reach into the city’s diverse communities through partnerships with several community-based organizations. He has more than 30 years of leadership experience in public libraries, previously serving as the director of four libraries including the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of OCLC, a global library cooperative. He has previously served on the Executive Boards of the Urban Libraries Council and California Humanities and as president of the Florida Library Association.

Cheri Todoroff assumed leadership of the Los Angeles County Homeless Initiative effective April 1, 2021. She previously served as the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) Director of Community Programs, overseeing the development and implementation of community-based health, social, and housing programs and services for people experiencing homelessness and/or have been involved with the justice system who have complex health and/or behavioral health conditions. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from UCLA and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UC Berkeley.