Katherine Hennigan Ohanesian ’04

Los Angeles County Library Foundation

Tell Us What Connected Your Nominee to This Organization
As a native Angeleno, Katherine Hennigan Ohanesian is passionate about giving back to the city she was born and raised in. Kate currently serves as chairperson for the board of directors of the Los Angeles County Library Foundation. Kate is a literacy advocate who is devoted to the creation and support of programs that provide free access to books and reading programs to everyone despite their economic situation.

Kate earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in English from Loyola Marymount University and later received a Master's Degree in International Public Policy and Management from the University of Southern California. Kate is an avid fan of classic literature and her drive can best be summarized by her favorite author Jane Austen, "It isn't what we say or think that defines us, but what we do," from Sense and Sensibility.

What Inspires You About the Organization, Mission or Your Nominee's Role
The Library has four cultural gems, each housed in a community library: Black Resource Center; American Indian Resource Center; Asian Pacific Resource Center; and Chicano Resource Center. They're unique to LA County Library: accessible to all — children, teens, and adults — and with resources for the public and academics.

Libraries are essential: antidotes to a fragmented society, where people too often fear difference and lash out with hate.  They are ways to explore and understand race, racism, civil rights, and protest. They're a place for conversation, a way to build inclusion and understanding in our community.

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