Two Friends Books, a bookstore and cafe in Bentonville, Ark., has launched a nonprofit arm called Two Friends Community Books, Axios reported.
The nonprofit aims to foster literacy and increase access to literary arts throughout Northwest Arkansas. Early next year, Two Friends Community Books will open a pay-by-donation pop-up store inside Casa Magnolia cafe in Springdale, Ark. Casa Magnolia's owner, Rafael Rios, is also the owner of Yeyo's El Alma de Mexico restaurant, which is next door to Two Friends Books.
Through the nonprofit, Two Friends owners Monica Diodati and Rachel Stuckey-Slaton will also create an author speaker series that will bring authors to diverse audiences of all ages. The talks will feature a book giveaway component, and the nonprofit status will allow them to access grants and other new modes of funding. The nonprofit will also provide books to schools and libraries in the area.
"The publishing industry is not necessarily paying attention to the mid-South, and we think that they should be, and this allows us to sort of raise our hand a bit higher," Stuckey-Slaton said of the author series.