Long Beach Public Library Foundation

M. Lissette Flores, 2021 Board President

M. Lissette Flores is a marketing communications practitioner with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in Hispanic, multicultural and international public relations and marketing communications. She founded estrella pr + marketing in 2002. Estrella PR clients included Time Warner, Northwestern Mutual, Orange County Fair, CicLAvia, Symantec, La Opinion, Azteca America TV, among others.

Prior to founding her consulting firm, Lissette worked for, developed and implemented strategic marketing communications and Hispanic/multicultural public relations programs for FORTUNE 500 companies The Walt Disney Company’s Disneyland Resort, DIRECTV, Inc. and McDonald’s Corporation. While at DIRECTV she served in a leading role in launching DIRECTV Para Todos, the first nationwide multichannel television service for Hispanic viewers. 

Lissette currently serves as President of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board and serves on the Boards of the WomenShelter of Long Beach and Long Beach Cancer League (American Cancer Society). She also serves on the Long Beach Human Relations Commission and the CSULB Journalism Department Advisory Council. 

A Letter From Our Board President

Dear Library Supporters,

As a lifelong supporter of literacy and education, I am honored to serve as President of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation for 2021. This year marks two important anniversaries — the Library Foundation’s 25th and the Long Beach Public Library’s 125th year of service to the Long Beach community. We invite you to celebrate these milestones throughout the year with us as we rally support for our nationally recognized Library.

2020 was an incredibly challenging year for all of Long Beach, but the Library continued to provide crucial resources to the thousands of families, students, job seekers, veterans, those with disabilities, and older adults who depend upon its services. Following the closure of the City’s 12 public libraries in mid-March, the Library quickly pivoted to a contactless pick-up service of library materials and providing services through a wide array of online resources. Thanks to donations of all sizes, the Library Foundation has funded virtual literacy programs for readers at all levels and of all ages, one-on-one online homework help and job search support, scholarships for adults earning their accredited high school diploma online, e-books and audiobooks that promote equity, and new Chromebooks to bridge the digital divide.

The Library Foundation provides key funding to the Library as it serves on the front lines of our city’s most pressing issues, including its resources that bridge educational, digital, economic, and cultural divides. Now more than ever, we depend upon the support of those who are able to donate and help us keep library resources widely available for the many who urgently need them.

We look forward to commemorating this momentous year with you and celebrating Long Beach’s incredible libraries, librarians, library staff, and avid library patrons. 

Happy reading,

M. Lissette Flores,
2021 President, Long Beach Public Library Foundation Board of Directors