Row House Takeover and Book Release Party @ Ida's Bookshop

Row House Takeover @ Ida's Bookshop

Join us on June 1 for Row House's first-ever live community "stoop party" and fundraiser at Ida's Bookshop. We're taking over the whole shop to celebrate two major releases:

by Tamela Julia Gordon and Frederick Joseph's

Come browse shelves filled with every Row House title, meet and mingle with founder and president Rebekah Borucki, and get your books signed by Tamela and Fred!

The first 100 kids under 10 will receive free books and totes for from our Wheat Penny Press Little Readers Big Change Initative, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of Row House Publishing.

And, of course, we'll have fun goodies for our donors, too!

Now, a little on the Who, What, Where, When, and Why!

• 50% of proceeds will benefit Row House Publishing and our Little Readers Big Change Initiative, a nonprofit providing free books and literacy resources to K12 students and funding for projects by Black and Brown artists
• 25% will go to Ida's Bookshop, a Black-woman-owned bookshop and community hub
• 25% will support the Marsha P. Johnson Institute (on behalf of Tamela Julia Gordon) and programs supporting victims of violence in Congo and Palestine (on behalf of Fred Joseph)
• And Row House is donating all of their books to the shop, so 100% of the proceeds sold at the event benefit Ida's Bookshop

• Being in community with other book-lovers
• The opportunity to be the first to pick up Hood Wellness and We Alive, Beloved before their official release dates and meet their authors
• Goodie bags, sweet treats, and the wonderful feeling of supporting local businesses and justice initiatives

Ida's Bookshop, the sister shop to Harriett's in Philadalephia is a Black-woman-owned bookshop in the heart of historic Collingswood, NJ.

We at Row House felt this was the perfect spot to kick-off a whole month of Juneteenth celebrations and the release of two of our biggest books of the year, both written by Black author-activists.

Reason 1: Black-owned businesses are crucial for economic empowerment, wealth redistribution, and community development. When you buy Black, you contribute to social justice, foster a more inclusive economy, and help create a more equitable and prosperous society for all of us.

Reason 2: A recent study by Penguin Random House revealed that only 6% of books are written by Black authors, while more than half of all Row House titles are authored by members of the African diaspora. When you read books by marginalized authors, you raise the volume on voices that matter and help offer diverse perspectives and experiences that are often underrepresented in mainstream literature.

Reason 3: Black-women-owned businesses face unique economic challenges, including limited access to capital and financing due to intersecting gender and racial biases in the financial sector. Discriminatory lending practices, lack of access to networks and resources, and systemic barriers to business growth and development further exacerbate these challenges. Your financial support is critical to the success of these businesses.

We're asking community-minded businesses and individuals to join our "stoop party" with a contribution at one of our "pot-luck" levels. All donations of $500 or more will receive special thank you gifts from Row House.

Sweet Tea and Lemonade $500+: You'll get access to Row House's digital bookshelf where you'll be able to read and download every Row House release—past, present, and future. Our signature Row House book tote.

Greens and Cornbread $1000+: The gifts from the previous level and your name or organization printed on the official event program as a sponsor.

Auntie's Baked Mac n' Cheese $2500+: All of the gifts from the previous levels and your name or organization printed on the official event tote and banner as a sponsor.

Uncle's Famous Pork Ribs $5,000+: All of the gifts from the previous levels, a signed watercolor archival print of "Row House" by Alexandra Jamieson,

Gran's Secret Recipe Peach Cobbler $10,000+: All of the gifts from the previous levels and one copy of every future Row House book for life.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Ida’s Bookshop, 734 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, United States