Founders’ Day 2025 | Sowing Community: Living with Octavia E. Butler’s “Parables”

Nikki High is the owner of Octavia’s Bookshelf, a Black-owned independent bookstore in Pasadena that celebrates BIPOC authors and serves as a place for community connections. A former communications executive with Trader Joe’s, High opened Octavia’s Bookshelf in 2023 to create a welcoming space for readers of all walks of life to enjoy magical stories and discover specially curated products from artisans from the neighborhood and around the world. The bookstore’s name honors Octavia E. Butler, an Altadena/Pasadena native, award-winning sci-fi author, and MacArthur Fellow.

Tamisha A. Tyler (she/her/hers) is a visiting assistant professor of theology and culture and theopoetics at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana. She also serves as a theologian-in-residence at the Center for Restorative Justice in Pasadena, California, and is part of the Level Ground Artist Collective in Los Angeles. Her current research explores religion in the literary world of Octavia E. Butler.

John Williams is the executive director of the Center for Restorative Justice. With nearly 30 years of experience in peacemaking and racial reconciliation, he specializes in coaching, training, and immersive history tours. A former attorney with 23 years of experience in civil litigation and mediation, he also taught race, reconciliation, and justice at the university level.

Monique L. Thomas is the diversity, equity, and inclusion manager at The Huntington, where she works to promote an inclusive organizational culture and strengthen employee engagement. As a writer and performer, Thomas’ creative works focus on celebrating Black cultural identity and the intersection of the personal and political. She serves on the boards of All Saints Church and Young & Healthy.