Keynote Speaker: Philip Falcone

Philip Falcone was sworn into office to represent Riverside's first ward on April 9, 2024. Philip is a New Orleans native, raised in Riverside and attended Riverside schools including Notre Dame High School, Riverside City College, UC Riverside, and obtained a Master's degree from California Baptist University.

Over the past decade, Philip’s service has focused on historic preservation, education, public art, infrastructure, and environmental protections. He began his career of public service in 2017 as the youngest commissioner in the City of Riverside’s history and the chairman of the City’s Cultural Heritage Board. On the commission, he advocated for historic district protections to maintain Riverside’s century-old built environment and expanded the recognition of cultural landmarks. He was later appointed to serve as County of Riverside Historical Commissioner.

As an educator, Philip has worked in bilingual after-school programs in the Riverside Unified School District and currently serves as a professor of oral communications and local government at Riverside City College, California Baptist University and Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. He previously served as Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Riverside.

Philip resides in the Downtown neighborhood and in his free time researches and authors local history articles for various Riverside publications. Philip’s published book “City Hall 50: Building a City Beautiful” chronicles Riverside history and municipal architecture.