The inaugural event brought together celebrated local authors Matt Thomas and Christina Baker Kline. The Chairs, Jennifer Dorr and Dave Jones, have since convened more than fifty conversations with leading figures in the arts, politics, law, journalism, among other areas.
Jennifer Dorr Dave JonesJennifer Dorr loves shaping the stories of individuals who are passionate about what they do. She has contributed lifestyle pieces and profiles to The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Yoga Journal, Adirondack Life, and other print and on-line publications. Her belief in the power of words, ideas and personal narrative inspired her to co-found the Open Book / Open Mind Conversations Series at the Montclair Public Library.
Dave Jones is the former Assistant Managing Editor of the New York Times for eight years. Previously, he was the Editor of its National Editions for 10 years and, before that, the National Editor for 14 years, directing national news coverage, including that of four Presidential elections. Twice a Pulitzer Prize juror, Dave directs seminars for The New York Times Foundation, works with the News Literacy Project in Washington, and helped establish journalism education programs in Eastern Europe. Dave has served as a board member of the Montclair Public Library Foundation.