Oakland Spring Forum 2025
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 9th StreetSte 290
Oakland, CA 94607
United States
Agenda
April 1 | |
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Registration Opens |
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM | AUDITORIUM - Keynote Breakfast Featuring Charlie Jane Anders Join us for the kick off event featuring best-selling author Charlie Jane Anders, celebrating her new book Lessons in Magic and Disaster. |
9:40 AM - 10:25 AM |
AUDITORIUM - Education: How to Make the Most of the CALIBA Holiday Catalog
RAMP's Holiday Catalog is an amazing marketing resource that comes with your membership. Learn the ins and outs on how to use the catalogs to your advantage. Panelists: Claire Bone (Wild Sisters, Sacramento), Hannah Walcher (CALIBA Executive Director). |
9:40 AM - 10:25 AM | BREAKOUT ROOM - Author Panel: Writing Messy Families A lively author panel about writing messy families featuring Kathy Wang, author of The Satisfaction Cafe; Carolyn Huynh, author of The Family Recipe; and Angela Flournoy, author of The Wilderness. Moderated by Melinda Powers (Bookshop Santa Cruz). |
10:35 AM - 11:20 AM |
BREAKOUT ROOM - Education - Supporting Your Community with Mutual Aid (Panel)
The “What, Why & How’s” of developing a mutual aid strategy to serve your community. Hear how to assess your store, your community & the situation - find the big project actions & the little project actions. Gather resources & share training tools to initiate action when faced with potential freeze or inaction because there's so much work to do. Panelists: Emily Autenrieth (A Seat at the Table, Elk Grove), Nick Cuzzi (Green Apple Books by the Park, SF) |
10:35 AM - 11:20 AM | AUDITORIUM - The Book Business: Then and Now Two Industry Veterans Discuss the Book Business of the Past and How it Informs the Future. Conversation with Publisher Vicki DeArmon and Bookstore Owner Alison Reid (Camino Books). The session is both educational and a celebration of Vicki's new memoir Foghorn: The Nearly True Story of a Small. Publishing Empire |
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM |
AUDITORIUM - Education - Collaborating with Other Local Stores
Identify, Connect & Innovate with neighboring businesses and your bookseller community. Thinking beyond the competition and becoming synergistic within your region. Take home ideas, resources & tools to begin collaborating today! Panelists: Kamuri Spears (Underground Books, Sacramento), Paula DeBoard (Bookish Modesto, Modesto), Bel McNeill (Rakestraw Books, Danville). |
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM |
BREAKOUT ROOM - Roundtable - Mutual Aid for Booksellers
Booksellers are threatened on multiple fronts from book bans to personal identity attacks which have far ranging impacts for our staff and businesses. Discuss and share existing resources and develop strategies to address unmet needs to create support and be ready for whatever the coming storm brings. Roundtable led by Ivy Quirk (Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz) and Jessica Hahl (Books Inc, San Leandro). |
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
AUDITORIUM - Rep Picks Lunch
Enjoy lunch & learn about the season's upcoming titles! Presenting Reps: -Suzi Hough, HarperCollins -Leslie Jobson, PGW -Chithra Vedantam, PGW -Bob Belmont, PRH -Shannon Grant, S&S -Andy Weiner, Abrams -Vicki DeArmon, Sibylline Press -David Goldberg, Steerforth/Pushkin Press -Brittany Greenway, Macmillan -Emma Mundorff, Stanford University Press -Kevin Peters, Imprint Group West -Nick Pauley, HBG |
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM |
AUDITORIUM - Author "Speed Dating"
Moderator: Amy Davis (Banter Bookshop, Fremont). Featuring authors: -Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve -K. L. Walther -Elaine Castillo -Varian Johnson -Arree Chung -Bridget Crocker -Markus Redmond -Isaac Fellman |
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM |
AUDITORIUM - Roundtable - Owner Networking Breakout Session
Network with other owners in a roundtable style discussion on the issues we are currently facing from payroll and staffing to leases and cost of goods. Find solidarity and engage in some group problem solving to see how we can work it out together, as a community. Led by Flo Grosskurth (Linden Tree Books, Los Altos). |
3:10 PM - 4:00 PM |
BREAKOUT ROOM - Kids Rep Picks Bingo
Join the CALIBA staff and presenting Reps for a fun game of Bingo! Participating Reps: - Kevin Peters, Candlewick -Jordan Standridge, Sourcebooks - Kristin Rasmussen, Scholastic Press - Marissa Moss, Creston Books - Jill Eisenberg, Lee & Low - Dandy Conway, PRH |
4:10 PM - 5:00 PM |
AUDITORIUM.- Author Reception
Moderator: Leigh Odum (Leigh's Favorite Books, Sunnyvale). Meet the authors: -Hope Lim -Diane Schaffer -John Bersani -Rachel Gillig -Scott Alan Lucas -Amber Ren (illustrator) |
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
Mix & Mingle
Enjoy small bites while chatting with fellow booksellers and the authors from the Reception. |
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM |
Happy Hour with The Collective Book Studio & Author John Bersani
Location: Port Labs 2044 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612 Limited space available: please limit attendance to 2 people per bookstore. RSVP here! |
CALIBA is returning to the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for a day of lively conversation, education, rep picks, and networking.
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Click on the Reps' Names Below to Access Their Lists
Rep Picks Lunch:
- Suzi Hough, HarperCollins
- Leslie Jobson, PGW & Two Rivers/Ingram Academic
- Chithra Vedantam, PGW & Two Rivers/Ingram Academic
- Bob Belmont, Penguin Random House
- Shannon Grant, Simon & Schuster
- Andy Weiner, Abrams Books
- Vicki DeArmon, Sibylline Press
- David Goldberg, Steerforth/Pushkin Press
- Brittany Greenway, Macmillan
- Emma Mundorff, Stanford University Press
- Kevin Peters, Imprint Group West
- Nick Pauley, Hachette Book Group
Rep Picks Bingo:
- Kevin Peters, Candlewick
- Jordan Standridge, Sourcebooks
- Kristin Rasmussen, Scholastic Press
- Marissa Moss, Creston Books
- Jill Eisenberg, Lee & Low
- Dandy Conway, Penguin Random House
The Oakland Asian Cultural Center
HISTORY
The Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) was founded in 1984 by a coalition of volunteers who recognized the need for a strong artistic and cultural force in the Chinatown area. Since opening its own facility in 1996 in the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown district, the OACC has presented countless high-quality cultural programs including performances, workshops, festivals, school tours, classes, and exhibitions.
MISSION
OACC builds vibrant communities through Asian and Pacific Islander arts and cultural programs that foster inter-generational and cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, collaboration, and social justice.
VISION
OACC envisions vibrant, healthy, and just communities where diverse Asian and Pacific Islander identities and heritage are affirmed and celebrated through cross-cultural exchange, intergenerational dialogue, and educational programming.
For our group rate, book a room at the Courtyard Oakland Marriott via this link by March 10th.
Address: 988 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607
This hotel is walking distance from the Oakland Asian Cultural Center
If you're coming from outside of the Bay Area, we recommend flying into the Oakland Airport or taking the Amtrak Train to Oakland/Jack London Square station.
If you're in the Bay Area, you can take Bart and exit at either the 12th St. Station or Lake Merritt Station.
If you are interested in carpooling, fill out this Carpool form. Already filled out the form and want to find a carpool buddy? Click here to access the carpool buddy list.
There is a parking garage underneath the Oakland Asian Cultural Center for $4 an hour. Other alternative parking locations include:
Street Parking: $3 hour.
If you're coming from outside of the Bay Area, we recommend flying into the Oakland Airport or taking the Amtrak Train to Oakland/Jack London Square station.
Since you're coming all this way, you might as well explore our host city!
Local Bookstores:
- Spectator Books
- The Oakland Museum of California Bookstore
- Books Inc. Alameda & Books Inc. San Leandro
- Builders Booksource
- East Bay Booksellers
- Sistah Scifi (Book Vending Machine)
- Mr. Mopps' Children's Books & Toys
- Mrs. Dalloway's
- Walden Pond Books
- Moe's Books
- Pegasus Books, Oakland & Berkeley
- Clio's Books (Bookstore & Bar)
Local Restaurants:
Local Attractions:
- Oakland Zoo
- Children's Fairy Land (children's theme park, limited hours)
- The Oakland Museum of California
- Jack London Square (views of the Bay and restaurants)
- Lake Merritt, a beautiful 3 mile walk around the lake!
For More Information:
Thank you, sponsors!
Sponsorships help us keep the event affordable for booksellers and help fund bookseller grants to attend.