Burst Into Books Community Art Space: Building a Village Through Books, Literacy, and Art
Updated: Aug 13
We’re headed to Chicago to feature Burst Into Books Community Art Space, a Black-owned bookstore, creative hub, gathering place, and community resource located in the city’s Roseland neighborhood.
Founded by Jurema Nicole Gorham, Burst Into Books Community Art Space opened in June 2024 with literacy, arts, cultural programming, and community at the center of its work.
Building a Village
Burst Into Books was created from the belief that every child deserves access to books, safe spaces, and opportunities to learn, create, and belong.
The organization puts that belief into practice through author events, workshops, storytimes, youth programs, family programming, and community partnerships. Gorham describes the work as building a village, with the space serving children, families, and the broader community.
Gorham is an educator, literacy advocate, entrepreneur, and nonprofit leader whose work has earned national recognition. She was selected as an Obama Foundation USA Leader and graduated from the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program.
What Are They Reading?
Looking for a recommendation from their shelves? Burst Into Books recommends The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther by Jeffrey Haas and All About Love by bell hooks.
Celebrating Black Bookstore Day
On August 29, Burst Into Books plans to celebrate Black Bookstore Day by highlighting Black authors, illustrators, and independent publishers.
Their celebration will include special book displays, author appearances, children’s storytimes, community programming, family-friendly activities, exclusive promotions, and opportunities for the community to discover and support Black literature.
The celebration also reflects Burst Into Books’ commitment to recognizing the role Black-owned bookstores play in preserving culture, fostering literacy, and strengthening communities.
Support Burst Into Books Year-Round
Support for Burst Into Books can continue throughout the year. Shop with them, attend an event, volunteer, become a donor, or help introduce others to their work.
Learn more about Burst Into Books Community Art Space at bibarts.org and follow @burstintobooks for events, programming, and updates from the organization.
Black Bookstore Day is Saturday, August 29, 2026. Learn more about the celebration and continue discovering Black-owned bookstores at blackbookstoreday.com.
*Information and media featured in this post were provided by Burst Into Books, sourced from the organization’s official website and social media channels, and/or obtained from publicly available online sources.
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