Author Talk and Book Signing Featuring Char Adams
Sunday, January 18 | 1:00 PM | Guild Theater. 

Please join us in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend for an inspiring conversation with award-winning journalist and author Char Adams and former Mayor Kevin Johnson about race, activism, and civil rights and the  important role Black bookstores have played in shaping culture, community and activism. Char is a former reporter for NBC News and for People and her writing on race and identity has appeared in The New York Times, The New Republic, Oprah Daily, Vice, Teen Vogue, Bustle, and elsewhere.

Her recent book, Black Owned, is about the history of black bookstores, activism and political movements, including abolition, the Civil Rights movement, Black Power and Black Lives Matter,  community culture and modern relevance. Her book shows why bookstores remain vital in fostering community, joy, and shared learning.

General admission is free and VIP tickets are available. You can find more details and RSVP here.

Special Offer: WIN 2 free VIP tickets to the Oak Park Black Film Festival.  All attendees will be entered into the drawing which will be at the conclusion of the conversation. Must be present to win.

Readers are Leaders Annual Jack & Jill Book Giveaway

Saturday, January 17, 2026  | 3:00 PM | Underground Books

Join us at Underground Books for an afternoon focused on youth, education, and community. In partnership with Jack & Jill of America, Inc., Underground Books invites families to the Readers Are Leaders Children’s Book Giveaway. This free community event celebrates literacy and encourages a love of reading among young people.

Children who attend will be able to choose a book of their own, helping them build confidence, curiosity, and a personal connection to reading. Our goal is for every child to leave with a book that sparks imagination and inspires a lifelong love of learning. When children read, they lead.

Register now