BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//InvisionCommunity Events 5.0.18//EN METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN REFRESH-INTERVAL:PT15M X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT15M X-WR-CALNAME:RMCommunityCalendar NAME:RMCommunityCalendar BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London TZURL:https://tzurl.org/zoneinfo/Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T020000Z RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=3;BYDAY=-1SU END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T020000Z RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=10;BYDAY=-1SU END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:National Association of Black Bookstores Officially Launches DTSTAMP:20250806T191553Z SEQUENCE:0 UID:448-7-c3fe8195a3dde498d013e477e2142422@aalbc.com ORGANIZER;CN="richardmurray":noreply@aalbc.com DESCRIPTION:\n From @Troy\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n\n\n \n\n NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK BOOKSTORES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES TO CHAM PION BLACK LITERARY CULTURE\n\n\n\n \n\n Sacramento\, CA (August 4\, 2025) — Inspired by the legacy of the country's first Black-owned bookstores and the remarkable individuals behind them\, the official launch of the Na tional Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) took place today. As a first -of-its-kind national organization\, NAB2 has been built to unify\, elevat e\, and empower Black-owned bookstores across the country.\n\n\n\n \n\n NA B2 is a nonprofit collective created to promote literacy\, amplify Black voices\, and preserve Black culture by increasing the visibility\, sustain ability\, and impact of Black bookstores and booksellers. The organizati on represents a powerful step toward creating long-term infrastructure and collective advocacy for one of the most vital cultural cornerstones of Bl ack America.\n\n\n\n \n\n “For decades Black bookstores have been the co nnective tissue in communities across the nation. Many of us have talked f or years about the power of collective action and now\, with the founding of NAB2 we have the ability to institutionalize policies and practices th at will allow for the further growth and flourishing of these important in stitutions”— Blanche Richardson\, Founding Board Member and Owner\, M arcus Books\n\n\n\n \n\n The organization’s inaugural board includes tra ilblazers from some of the country’s most historic and impactful Black b ookstores. Many of these are now being led by third\, fourth and fifth gen eration family member bookstore owners including Marshall’s Music and B ooks (Jackson\, MS)\, Hakim’s Bookstore (Philadelphia\, PA)\, Marcus Books (Oakland\, CA)\, and Source Booksellers (Detroit\, MI). NAB2’s multi-tiered membership model invites bookstore owners\, professional boo ksellers\, and at-large industry allies\, authors\, publishers\, and distr ibutors\, to join in shaping a national agenda rooted in equity\, culture\ , and commerce.\n\n\n\n \n\n “My mother\, Mother Rose\, founded and ran  Underground Books in Oak Park. My involvement in the National Associati on of Black Bookstores is deeply personal. It’s a way for me to honor h er legacy and ensure that the stories\, voices\, and spaces she cherished continue to thrive\,” said Kevin Johnson\, Founder\, National Associati on of Black Bookstores.\n\n\n\n \n\n The core priorities of the organizati on are as follows:\n\n  \n\n\n\n \n Elevating the Black bookstore commun ity by offering professional resources\, increased visibility\, and a str ong network of support\;\n \n \n Expanding representation in the booksel ling industry by supporting long-term financial sustainability and growth\ ;\n \n \n Leveraging economies of scale to benefit both current and futu re Black bookstores and booksellers\;\n \n \n Serving as a collective voi ce for Black bookstores through advocacy and public engagement\;\n \n \n Educating the public about the rich history and enduring legacy of Black bookstores in America.\n \n\n\n\n \n\n Structured with a full board of di rectors\, advisory board\, and general membership body\, NAB2 plans to co nvene virtually and in person throughout the year\, with key events slated during Black Lit Weekend in New York (August 15–16) and the Sacramento Black Book Fair (September 12–13).\n\n\n\n \n\n For more information\, t o become a member\, or to support NAB2\, visit www.nab2.org or follow @n ab2blk on social platforms.\n\n\n\n \n\n About the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2)\n\n\n\n \n\n The National Association of Black Bo okstores (NAB2) is the first and only national organization dedicated to e mpowering Black-owned bookstores and booksellers. Founded in 2025\, NAB2 e xists to promote literacy\, amplify Black voices\, and preserve Black cult ural heritage by strengthening the visibility\, sustainability\, and impac t of Black bookstores across the United States. Through advocacy\, educati on\, strategic partnerships\, and a unified membership network\, NAB2 supp orts Black literary spaces as engines of community\, commerce\, and cultur al change. Learn more at www.nab2.org and follow @nab2blk on social plat forms.\n\n\n\n \n\n Media Contact:\n\n Pristina Alford\n\n Alford &\; C o. Public Relations\n\n pristina@alfordandco.com\n\n\n\n USE THE FOLLOWING QRCODE TO SHARE TO ANY BLACK BOOKSTORE YOU KNOW TO SIGN THEM UP\n\n\n\n \ n\n\n\n URL\n\n\n\n https://aalbc.com/tc/topic/11761-national-association- of-black-bookstores-officially-launches\n\n\n\n \n\n DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250804 RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;INTERVAL=1 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR