Finding Connection Through Solito

In a quiet corner of International House Davis on a Tuesday evening, a group of about a dozen Davis community members and UC Davis faculty, staff and students gathered for conversation that was anything but small. They came together to discuss Solito — Javier Zamora’s powerful memoir of migration from El Salvador to the United States — and in doing so, they found connection, courage and belonging.

The gathering marked the launch of a new community book club inspired by the UC Davis Campus Community Book Project (CCBP), which this year centers on Solito and the theme of Belonging.

“We wanted to be a part of expanding the reach of CCBP into the local community,” said I-House Executive Director Shelly Gilbride said. “And now it has come to be; we’ve built a little community here. What a lovely thing we have done tonight!”

Building Community Through the Campus Community Book Project

The idea for this new group began as “a seed” months ago, according to Gilbride. I-House Davis is a nonprofit cultural center focused on connecting the local community to the UC Davis community through the exchange of arts, culture and ideas with an international and intercultural lens. With the formation of this book club, it is the first time I-House has participated in CCBP in this way.

A sense of community was felt deeply among attendees, many of whom shared personal reasons for joining. Daniela Molina, a visiting scholar from Costa Rica pursuing a Ph.D. in plant pathology, arrived at UC Davis only a month ago.

“I am here because I am new to this country and because I am solita,” she said, her voice trembling. “I wanted to connect with others and meet new people.”

Desire to Learn More About Stories of Migration

Another participant said she joined because she felt helpless in the face of recent ICE raids across several U.S. cities and wanted to talk with others about the immigrant experience. Others came to expand their understanding of migration stories beyond their own cultural perspectives.

“The immigrant story in the U.S. is something I want to educate myself on,” shared one woman originally from Europe.

Facilitator Viki Montera-Heckman encouraged participants to reflect on what belonging means to them and where they find it most strongly. Yun Lyu who moved from China for her husband’s career, said she had long wanted to join a book club.

“I’ve created a home for myself here, and for that, I am so proud,” she said.

Several attendees described how Solito opened their eyes to stories that too often go untold.

“I used to teach many immigrants,” said Regina Rosenzweig. “Many had never seen their story told in a book before. So, I’ve been engaged with this story for a long time.”

Exploring the Journey Through the Author’s Words

To deepen their understanding of Solito, the group also watched interviews with author Javier Zamora. In the video, Zamora shares both the trauma and hope embedded in his story — the perilous passage north, the fear of death by dehydration and the importance of strangers who quite literally carried him to safety. As the final scene faded, the room fell silent. Then came a collective, deep sigh, as Gilbride softly observed, “I know. It’s a lot.”

A Safe Space for Conversation and Learning

Throughout the evening, participants emphasized the importance of creating a safe and respectful space for honest dialogue. The group adopted a shared understanding early on:

“What’s said here, stays here; what’s learned here, leaves here.”

That spirit of confidentiality and openness allowed attendees to explore sensitive topics — from migration and identity to fear, resilience and belonging — with empathy and curiosity. Organizers said that cultivating this kind of environment is central to the Campus Community Book Project’s mission: fostering learning through meaningful, courageous conversation.

Several Book Clubs This Year

The book club at I-House Davis is just one of many discussions unfolding around Solito this year. At UC Davis Health, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing’s Interprofessional Book Club is also reading Solito, continuing a decade-long tradition of engaging with each Campus Community Book Project selection through the lens of health and healing.

Co-facilitated by Dr. Jann Murray-García, recently retired from the school’s leadership team, and Dr. Erik Fernández y García of the School of Medicine, the group plans to host sessions in December, January and February to explore how themes of migration, empathy and belonging intersect with health equity and care.

Members of both book clubs plan to attend the Campus Community Book Project author visit with Zamora at the Mondavi Center in March.

An On-Going Open Invitation for Belonging

Back at I-House, that same spirit of connection carried into the evening’s final reflections. Several participants commented on how meaningful it was that this year’s Campus Community Book Project centers on belonging — a theme that feels both timeless and especially timely. Many shared that Solito not only deepened their understanding of the immigrant experience but also reminded them of the universal desire to find connection and home.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a book club,” said Andrea Gaytan, chief of staff at UC Davis Global Affairs. “The topics of belonging and the immigrant story are such an important part of my life and career right now. So, it’s exciting to be part of a community and a conversation that is so meaningful.”

The group agreed to continue the conversation with plans to meet again following an upcoming Solito-inspired exhibit at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. Organizers encouraged participants to invite others to join and to foster an ongoing culture of openness and welcoming for any participant who may join later in the book club.

“How lovely,” said Gaytan, smiling as she looked around the circle of new friends, “that a book about belonging gives me the sense of belonging here.”

I-House Executive Director Shelly Gilbride sits in the center of group at I-House Davis on Oct. 28, 2025 to discuss the 2025-26 Campus Community Book Project, Solito, as part of a new book club. (Photo credit: Sarah Colwell)