Fostering Community Through Books with Alexandra Brown Chang, Annabelle Chang, and Raegan Revord | SXSW EDU 2025 Rewind

It is more important now than ever to find community, and recently many have been able to achieve that through reading. Whether it’s discovering fellow readers through a blog or meeting your favorite author, there are endless opportunities for connection. At SXSW EDU 2025, people from all corners of the education industry explored how they could learn both from books and others in the literary community.

The Featured Session Three Innovators Discuss Books, Media, & Entrepreneurship spotlighted three young entrepreneurs who are making strides in the storytelling community. Each harnesses their creativity and passion to offer a unique approach to business, and share their love of reading with the world.

Annabelle Chang, founder of Annabelle’s Book Club LA, uses her passion for books to uplift diverse voices and celebrate young adult stories. Raegan Revord, founder of the Read with Raegan book club, has created a safe space for all to discuss their favorite reads, and fosters connections between readers and authors. Moderated by Alexandra Brown Chang, the conversation digs into the inspiration behind these businesses, and the impact that has been made on the reading community thus far.

Building Book Communities

Through both of their endeavors, Annabelle and Raegan strive to celebrate young adult stories, and challenge the stereotype that the genre is only for teens. While they do embrace young readers, they also convey the message that anyone can find themselves in YA stories, and that the genre is for everyone. The two also stress the importance of independent bookstores in continuing to support diverse voices, as they offer unique opportunities to connect with like-minded readers and authors.

The Journey of Young Entrepreneurs

Both having begun their entrepreneurial endeavors as teenagers, Annabelle and Raegan challenge expectations of what a business owner can look like. Although their young age may have initially seemed like a disadvantage, the two have embraced this and used their fresh perspective to make themselves stand out.

Staying Creative

Touching on the role of creativity in entrepreneurship, the two go hand in hand. Raegan’s experience as an actor has offered industry knowledge that influences their choices as a business owner and as a writer. Annabelle reflected on how the playful displays in her bookstore have created an inviting atmosphere and drawn in a broad audience.

Watch the full Featured Session to learn more about harnessing the power of books to foster community:

Watch SXSW EDU 2025 On-Demand Content

Take a look back at SXSW EDU 2025 and relive exciting Keynotes, Featured Sessions, and more, now available to watch on our official YouTube channel, plus listen to hundreds of audio recordings in the schedule.

Stay tuned for more information about registration and participation opportunities for SXSW EDU 2026 coming later this summer.

Photo by Stephen Olker