Meet Marie Y. Lemelle

Marie Y. Lemelle, the director of the Glendale For You Network, is the founder and CEO of Platinum Star Public Relations, a full-service public relations and communications company, designed to assist underserved businesses to achieve their goals through positive and consistent exposure.  Her career covers the gamut from boxing to the music industry and from corporations to nonprofit organizations.

She serves as the events manager and community liaison for the Urban Issues Breakfast Forum of Greater Los Angeles, which is a free monthly forum that discusses relevant urban social, economic and political issues that affect the community at large in Los Angeles.

Marie possesses a keen insight and ability to gauge community attitudes and trends. She has political savvy and is very knowledgeable about the issues affecting our communities, women, and the youth. For her unwavering commitment to the community, she has received numerous certificates of recognition and appreciation from elected officials, such as, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, Congresswoman Diane E. Watson, Assemblywoman Karen Bass, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Councilman Herb Wesson, Councilwoman Jan Perry, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa.

In 2008, Ms. Lemelle was appointed to the City of Glendale Commission on the Status of Women. She will serve a three-year term.  Marie also is recipient of the 2008 Women of Excellence Award for Community Service from the National Association of Female Executives. The NAFE Women of Excellence is a national awards program that celebrates the achievements and accomplishments of NAFE members in their careers, businesses and communities. In 2007, she was honored as the Community Advocate of the Year by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. 

As a journalist, her writing appears in the Inland Valley News, the African Times, Save the Date Magazine, Our Weekly, and other publications.  As a television producer, she hosted a local public access cable show, “Beyond the News,” which included such guests as the late Yolanda King, and members of the South Africa cast from the Disney production of the “Lion King.”

A committed activist and civic leader, Marie serves on the boards of the African American Firefighter Museum and the Los Angeles Humanity Group Foundation.  She is a member of the New Frontier Democratic Club, the Affirmative Action Association for Women, National Association of Female Executives, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Los Angeles African American Women Public Action Committee, and a lifetime member of the National Council of Negro Women.  Marie also served on the host committee for a successful “Obama for America” fundraiser.

Ms. Lemelle earned a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of La Verne. Her Bachelor of Science degree was obtained from Excelsior College.  Marie also received a Professional Certificate in Journalism and Public Relations at UCLA.  She is a 2008 graduate of the Los Angeles African American Women Public Policy Institute's Public Policy/Leadership Program offered at USC.