Local bookshops are staples in the Philadelphia community. Bookshops are more than places to buy books—they are community gathering spaces. Join us for a conversation with Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, James Darrin Hillyard, Jr. of Black and Nobel, and Jeannine Cook, owner of Harriett’s Bookshop, about their experiences running local bookshops.

About the speakers:

For the last 10 years Jeannine A. Cook has worked as a trusted writer for several startups, corporations, non-profits, influencers, and most recently herself. In addition to holding a master’s degree from The University of the Arts, Jeannine is also a winner of the South Philly Review Difference Maker Award. Jeannine opened Harriett’s Bookshop in 2020 and is currently producing an art installation of her writings deconstructed into paper art sculptures, collages, and calligrams called Conversations With Harriett.

James Darrin Hillyard, Jr. is a South Philadelphia artist who left and came back to South Street as a part of Black and Nobel, a cultural center that ships books to prisons and provides a variety of products like knowledge books and all natural products, like Sea Moss Gold.

A true child of the 80s, Ariell R. Johnson, Fox ‘05 grew up on a diet of He-Man, She-Ra, Thundercats, & Transformers. With the love and support of her family and friends, she turned this passion into a career at the age of 32 when she opened Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse in Philadelphia; a comic book store and coffee shop hybrid. Amalgam is the only black-woman owned comic book store on the East Coast. Amalgam, which opened on December 14, 2015, just celebrated its 5th birthday!

On the day of the program, use this link to join: https://temple.zoom.us/j/95766148759.