WASHINGTON - s4story -- MahoganyBooks has received a $5,000 grant from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to launch a new content series, Black Books Matter: From the Writers' Perspective, featuring writers from Washington DC's Ward 8 region. The series will be curated by ward 8 resident Panama Jackson, co-founder of the award-winning website, VerySmartBrothas.com, and current senior editor at TheRoot.com. The yearlong series will feature original pieces from new and emerging voices examining the events of the past year using bestselling and classic black literature as a touchstone for reflection, empowerment, and healing. Each writer will have their work highlighted on BlackBooksMatter.com, a property of MahoganyBooks. Writers interested in being considered for the series, should contact (mailto:panamadjackson@gmail.com) Panama Jackson for submission guidelines.The deadline for submission consideration is January 27, 2021.

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"Establishing a content series that promotes Black writers and gives them a platform to speak for themselves and their community has been a long-held vision of MahoganyBooks. Through the LISC grant, MahoganyBooks and other culturally aligned businesses are given resources and tools to thrive and continue engaging the community, which is critical during the COVID-19 pandemic," stated Derrick Young, co-founder and co-owner of MahoganyBooks.

This will be the second collaboration between MahoganyBooks and Panama Jackson. Since 2018, Panama Jackson and MahoganyBooks have hosted a monthly book club, featuring the work of Black writers.

"I'm honored to team up with MahoganyBooks again," shared Panama Jackson. "We're providing a creative space and platform for Black artistic voices as well as elevating the deep cultural roots in the Ward 8 community. As a member of the creative community and a Ward 8 resident, I'm excited to see the talent and depth of work that emerges."

LISC partnered with the Cities of Service (https://citiesofservice.jhu.edu/) and the District Of Columbia Office of Planning (https://planning.dc.gov/) to launch RESILIENT TOGETHER, a creative grant program designed to cultivate local artist and small business partnerships and support the Ward 8 economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a competitive application and review process, six artist/business partnerships were selected.

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About MahoganyBooks
Started in 2007 by husband and wife, Derrick and Ramunda Young, MahoganyBooks is the fastest growing online bookstore for people of the African Diaspora. It has grown from being exclusively an online bookstore to opening the doors of their first award-winning physical location in the historic Washington, DC neighborhood of Anacostia. Over the years, MahoganyBooks has connected thousands of readers to writers for exciting and thought-provoking literary events with the likes of U.S. Representative John Lewis, Walter Mosley, Chimamanda Adichie, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Misty Copeland and D.C.'s "Mayor for Life" Marion Barry among others.