About Us / Sobre Nosotros

 

Palabras is a local bilingual bookstore, community refuge and cultural hub centering the voices of BIPOC (black indigenous, people of color) across intersections. Palabras maintains a specially curated diverse collection of books, an art gallery, a workshop and event space and mutual aid garden. Palabras is part of a community space called Nurture House which also includes Wasted Ink Zine Distro, Andria's Tienda and The Monarca Center for Healing and Justice.

Palabras es un centro cultural con una diversa colección de libros especialmente curada, una galaría de arte, un espacio para eventos y talleres y tambien tiene un pequeño jardín para ayuda mutua. Palabras is parte du un espacio comunitario llamado Nurture House que tambien incluye Wasted Ink Zine Distro, Andria's Tienda y La Monarca Center for Healing and Justice.

 

Mission 

To counter and challenge the history and currently very active silencing of BIPOC stories and voices by providing a safe and encouraging space for cultural representation, healing and liberation of historically minoritized BIPOC (Black Indigenous, People of Color, across intersections) through community engagement involving literature and the arts.

Promover la representación cultural y la liberación de personas históricamente marginadas a través de interacción comunitaria utilizando literatura y las artes.

 

Vision Statement

To be an example of what solidarity and community healing through creative expression, knowledge sharing and active listening looks like and help to encourage others to start their own projects, creating a ripple effect of sharing, healing and liberation.  

 

Our Story

Chawa Magaña was inspired to create Palabras Bilingual bookstore because of her personal experience as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, as well as the need to provide an inclusive space where BIPOC voices are represented & valued. The bookstore began as an event & workshop space as Chawa added to Palabras' inventory of books by BIPOC authors. Palabras has since evolved into a local community and cultural hub with a specially curated diverse collection of books, an art gallery, a workshop & event space & small mutual aid garden. Palabras is part of a community space called Nurture House which also includes Wasted Ink Zine Distro, Andria's Tienda and Pachanga Press 

  

Nuestra Historia

Inspirada por su experiencia personal como hija de inmigrantes mexicanos, y la necesídad de crear un espacío inclusivo donde las voces de personas marginadas sean representados y valorados, Chawa Magaña decidió comenzar una librería bilingüe. La Libería comenzó como un espacio para eventos y tallers mientras que Chawa agregó el inventario de libros de autores afrodescendientes, indigenas y personas de color . Desde entonces, Palabras se ha convertido en un centro cultural con una diversa colección de libros especialmente curada, una galaría de arte, un espacio para eventos y talleres y tambien tiene un pequeño jardín para ayuda mutua. Palabras is parte du un espacio comunitario llamado Nurture House que tambien incluye Wasted Ink Zine Distro, Andria's Tienda y Pachanga Press.