Events › Silicon Valley Reads: The Power of Bridging (Pearl Avenue Book Club)

The Pearl Avenue Book Club meets virtually, on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to join in the lively discussions. Currently, the Club is meeting on Zoom.  If you register, you will be contacted with the link on the day of the program.

This event is a part of the annual Silicon Valley Reads (SV Reads) program.

Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m.  

The Power of Bridging, by John A. Powell.

This is a Silicon Valley Reads book for 2026. How to Build a World Where We All Belong.  A bold guide for connecting across differences - even those that seem impossible. "Wise and visionary, powell helps us find the courage to forge connections with others, the earth, and ourselves in order to transform the world from the inside out." -Valarie Kaur. We don't want to live in a society in turmoil. In fact, 93 percent of people in the US want to reduce divisiveness, and 86 percent believe it's possible to disagree in a healthy way. Yet with increasing political and social fragmentation, many of us don't know how to move past our differences. Civil rights scholar, john a. powell, presents an actionable path through "bridging" that helps us communicate, coexist, and imagine a new story for our shared future where we all belong. With inimitable warmth and vision, powell offers a framework for building cohesion and solidarity between disparate beliefs and backgrounds. Bridging is more than a discrete list of actions to follow - it's a mindset we can develop to help us foster belonging and connection. Key elements of the bridging mindset include: Understanding how deeply "othering" shapes our world, priming us to see difference of any kind - race, gender, political orientation, etc. - as a threat Identifying where "breaking" happens, when people are excluded or treated differently for being perceived as other. Embracing "belonging" as one of our core human needs - we all want to feel seen, valued, and appreciated just as we are. Committing ourselves to treat all people like they belong. Allowing ourselves grace when we inevitably fall short - and resolving to try again. Throughout the book, powell shares personal reflections as well as practices to help you begin bridging wherever you are - in your community, friendships, family, workplace - even with those whom you might never have imagined you could find common ground. "Bridging is a salve for our fractured world," powell says. "We can overcome the illusion of separateness by honoring our differences, transcending the notion that difference divides us, and instead cocreate a world where everyone belongs."

Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m. 

"Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting," by Clara Pooley.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m. 

"Downton Shabby," by Hopwood DePree.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 5:30 p.m. 

"Speak to Me of Home," by Jeanine Cummins.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, July , 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 5:30 p.m. TBD

This event is a part of the annual Silicon Valley Reads (SV Reads) program.

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