Verlean Singletary’s love for books began early. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, her mother said she was already reading by age three. But it wasn’t until she found books by Black authors and saw herself within the pages of their writing that her passion truly clicked into place.
“When I discovered books by authors who looked like me, I knew I had to bring this to my community,” Verlean said.
In 2007, she brought that vision to life by opening Da Book Joint — a bookstore dedicated to amplifying Black voices and making literature more accessible, especially to local children.
To get started, Verlean secured a small business loan from A4CB in 2007, which helped cover inventory and other essentials. However, not long after the shop opened, the 2008 mortgage crisis hit. Business slowed, but Verlean adapted, shifting her focus to online orders to keep the store afloat.
Years later, her daughter Courtney joined the mission. Together, they launched Options for Literacy, a nonprofit that partners with local schools and organizations to provide literacy support and help close reading gaps among underserved youth. Most importantly, it encourages kids to fall in love with reading.
“They can see themselves…they can see great possibilities,” said Courtney. “Black stories are their stories. They’re everyone’s stories.”
Despite their business’s growing impact, the store’s location in Chicago’s Boxville on 51st Street sometimes had inconsistent customer traffic. When faced with possible closure in 2023, the community rallied, and Da Book Joint generated the revenue needed to remain open.
In 2024, an A4CB small business loan and a grant from the Chicago Community Trust’s We Rise Together (which A4CB helped administer) helped them move to a new location in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. The funding gave them time to find the right space and build partnerships with fellow grantees.
Now, Verlean and Courtney are planning their next chapter: a community center offering book clubs, GED prep, financial literacy workshops, and more. “We just wanted to present that safe space for people,” Verlean shared. “They can relax…find a place to sit, grab a book, and just be.”
