“Independent bookshops are vital spaces where stories illuminate our minds and open hearts. They help us stir empathy, inspire action, take our imaginations to borderless places, and understand lives beyond our own. By celebrating the richness of voices across the world, they remind us that we are all connected, and that honoring our shared humanity and the expansiveness of our differences makes us stronger and wiser. They transform communities and offer hope, connection, care, and delight.” - Jamia Wilson