The Houston Public Library Foundation has appointed six young professionals to serve as the inaugural leadership team of the newly established Prologue Society, a group dedicated to supporting, celebrating and championing the Houston Public Library.
The Prologue Society brings together culturally engaged and civically minded professionals ages 22-40 who support the library through membership, volunteer service, advocacy and philanthropy. Members connect through cultural experiences, exclusive programs and opportunities to help advance one of Houston’s most important public institutions.
The inaugural leadership team includes:
Alishan Alibhai, Esq., Membership Chair
An associate at Yetter Coleman, Alibhai will lead membership recruitment and retention efforts. “The Houston Public Library is one of our city’s most important institutions—a place of learning, discovery and connection that serves as a vital third space for the entire community,” said Alibhai. “Supporting our libraries means recognizing that a thriving public library system reflects a thriving city, and that the work of sustaining these spaces belongs to all of us who have benefited from them.”
Stasja Drecun, Esq. Volunteer Vice Chair
An associate at Williams Hart & Boundas LLP, Drecun will help coordinate volunteer opportunities and member engagement projects. “Each branch of the Houston Public Library is the living heart of its neighborhood, where all are welcome to improve, learn and explore new perspectives,” shared Drecun. “I support the Houston Public Library because I deeply appreciate the human aspects of learning and want to ensure all Houstonians can partake equally.”
Kailey Euceda, Development Vice Chair
A product and services developer with Accorders, Euceda will support fundraising and development initiatives. Reflecting on the role of the Houston Public Library in building community, Euceda said, “Coming together around the Houston Public Library means valuing culture, art and people—and that has to start with us. It has to be about relationships and cultivation, and the Library is the place for that.”
Scout Odegaard, Volunteer Chair
A public policy manager at the Greater Houston Partnership, Odegaard will lead volunteer engagement opportunities that support library programs and services. Emphasizing the Library’s impact beyond its traditional role, Odegaard shared, “Supporting the public library means providing access, opportunity and community for every Houstonian. Libraries are, of course, places where people can discover books, but they are also so much more. For many Houstonians, the library is one of the few truly free and welcoming public spaces available, offering access to Wi-Fi, language learning programs and job training support, to name a few essential services. Supporting the Houston Public Library means investing in literacy, civic engagement and the overall strength of our community.”
Matt Pham, MPA, CFRE, Development Chair
Pham is a consultant with the firm Dini Spheris. As Development Chair, he will lead the effort to identify and integrate development opportunities for Society members to support the work of the Library financially. “In a city like Houston, with its size and diversity, the Houston Public Library brings communities together around shared values, educational programming, cultural events, and vital access to information that is always free of charge,” noted Pham. “I am proud to personally support an institution that keeps that access strong and available for everyone, and to help create pathways for others to do the same.”
Lauren Pickens, Marketing Chair
Pickens is a senior communications manager for Lockton’s Texas Series. As Marketing Chair, she will lead the promotion of the Society and its work to the wider community. “The library holds a special place in my heart,” said Pickens. “Literature has been an escape and a joy throughout my life and the library has served as a point of access to so many stories and authors that have shaped my worldview.”
Together, the founding leadership team will help strengthen community engagement, cultivate civic leadership and support the Houston Public Library’s mission to serve residents across Houston. For more information about the Prologue Society, visit houstonlibraryfoundation.org/youngprofessionals.