Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Janelle Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Janelle , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

One of our missions of the bookstore is to reach children who have never experienced the joy of reading. Our community has sections that have never understood how reading can change your world. Many view books as a tool required in school but not necessary item for life. The lack of literacy is understood when poverty is involved, however it does not have to be accepted. If we can share how reading can give you hope to change your environment or at least help endure it. Then we find our work successful. So, we are proactive and reactive to this disparity. We travel to read stories to local daycares, pre schools, and elementary schools. In addition to attending and giving books away during community festivals, back to school jams, and church events. We also provide STEM and reading activities to the community at the bookstore. This is done every 3rd Saturday of the month and is at no cost to the participate. During the Summer months organizations can schedule a book date to bring their students for an enriching experience.
Sometimes this is the first introduction to an actual bookstore to the child. Reactions have varied, some wonderment, some curious, some skeptical, and some in tears.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a native to North Alabama. Educated and raised there. I do believe reading can change your world. I entered the business world because I knew my life had an assignment and purpose to serve the forgotten communities. So, I created two businesses at once. Brown Books & More and Brown Homes & More. These businesses were open with the specific purpose to enhance, enrich, and provide a better quality of life to others. Our goal is to solve the problem of hopelessness. We are set apart because we are genuine and have the ability to show individuals that they are loved, seen, and appreciated.
I am most proud of the joy people feel and tell us about once they enter into our bookstore. We hear often that they feel the love every time they visit.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brownbooksandmore.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/brownbooksandmore
• Facebook: facebook.com/brownbooksandmore
• Twitter: @BrownBooksMore1
• Youtube: @brownbooksandmore
• Yelp: Brown Books & More

Image Credits
Photo credit: Neville Simpson, Headshot HSV