A Black Women's Oasis for Reading and Empowerment

How D.C's seven-year Sisterspace & Books has evolved into a community resource center "Once you walk in, you can't leave," says Shireen Mitchell. Indeed, visitors to Sisterspace and Books in Washington, D.C., immediately realize they are in a special place. There are books on the shelves by Toni Morrison, Octavia Buffer, Alice Walker, Connie Briscoe, Shay Youngblood and others. The posters on the walls unabashedly celebrate the achievements of black women. Since November of 1994 co-founders Cassandra Burton and Faye Williams have nurtured Sisterspace from a shelf of books for sale in a boutique to a bona fide community resource for black women. Today, Sisterspace specializes in books, magazines, posters, cards, tapes and other items that "reflect the vast literary experiences of African American women." Sisterspace quickly became a meeting place, an oasis and a safe haven for women to come to talk about their issues--health, career, family, romance and finance. While there…