The Power Of The Book Club : Santa Barbara Literary Festival

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 and Alice Perez, Programs and Services Manager at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, who has helped establish book and writing groups within the county J*il system.

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.

Donna Wares is an editor, writer and live event producer. She founded the Los Angeles Times Book Club, hosting such authors and thought leaders as President Obama, Susan Orlean, Walter Isaacson, Amanda Gorman, Lisa See, and LeVar Burton. The author of three books, she also edited “My California: Journeys by Great Writers,” a bestselling anthology that supported writing programs for children throughout the state.

Alice Perez is the Programs and Services Manager at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. She has helped establish book and writing groups at the county J*il. A Ph.D in literature, she previously served as dean with the Fine and Performing Arts, English, and the Social Sciences departments at Santa Barbara Community College. As a Fulbright Scholar, she taught multicultural American literature at Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany and in 2004 served as a teaching scholar at Keio University in Tokyo.

Jordan Moblo is the founder of Jordie’s Book Club, a widely followed reading community that brings people together through thoughtful discussion and a shared love of books. What began as a grassroots book club has grown into a vibrant platform championing diverse voices, meaningful conversation, and the joy of collective reading. Known for his inclusive approach and genuine enthusiasm for literature, Moblo curates selections that spark dialogue and connection both online and in person. Through Jordie’s Book Club, he has helped reimagine the book club as a space not just for readers, but for building community, empathy, and cultural engagement through stories.

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