Community helps people get to know each other better. Reading can introduce people to new ideas and worlds. When these are combined, places such as community-based bookstores can help people learn new things in a comfortable, familiar space. Politics and Prose is an independent bookstore located in Washington, D.C., that values these principles. It has a wide selection of books and hosts many community events such as author visits, school trips, and book-based trivia nights.
Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, the store was originally located in Chevy Chase, a neighborhood in D.C. They first started with a small number of employees. Over time, the store grew into a new location. Community is one of the main reasons Politics and Prose grew. When the bookstore changed locations, the entire community showed up to help them move to the new location.
I recently visited Politics and Prose on a field trip with my classmates for an event featuring Padma Venkatraman, the award-winning author of The Bridge Home. The event was very informative. We listened to the author share more about her life and book. We learned what it is like to live in India, and the different customs and cultures there. She also told us about what it is like to be an author, including the writing process.
