The Power Of The Book Club
**Events may have been canceled or postponed. Please contact the venue to confirm the event.
Date & Time
Sun, May 03 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Address (map)
1535 Santa Barbara Street
Venue (website)
Unitarian Society of S.B.
Book clubs have long been more than a gathering of readers—they are engines of connection, empathy, and change.
The Power of the Book Club brings together leaders who are redefining what communal reading can accomplish, from living rooms and bookstores to libraries, media platforms, and even correctional facilities.
Moderated by award-winning journalist and founder of the Los Angeles Times Book Club, Donna Wares, this dynamic panel features Jordan Moblo of Jordie’s Book Club, Alice Perez, Programs and Services Manager at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, and Mary Melton, an award-winning editor, writer, and editorial director.
Together, these panelists will explore how shared reading builds community, expands access to literature, and creates spaces for dialogue, healing, and personal transformation.
From grassroots book clubs to large scale programs, this conversation highlights the profound social power of books—and the communities that grow around them.
A must-attend event for readers, educators, organizers, and anyone who believes stories are meant to be shared.
This panel is brought to you by the Santa Barbara Literary Festival, a 501c3 non-profit celebrating readers, writers, and storytellers.
