BALTIMORE — Six years after opening her doors, Urban Reads Bookstore owner Tia Hamilton is doubling down on her mission: inspiring young readers, restoring hope through literacy, and reaching the people who need books the most — even if she has to bring the books directly to them.
Hamilton says the stakes are too high for anyone to ignore.
“We can't just turn a blind eye to these youth and think that, oh, take them to jail and think that's gonna solve something. It's only creating more chaos.”
From the start, Hamilton says she has seen firsthand how deeply literacy could connect families; especially when engaging young readers.
“First thing I say to them is, 'you want a superpower?” It instantly gets their attention. They’re like, ‘Yeah, how we do that?’ You gotta read. There’s nothing more powerful than picking up a book and reading and connecting your imagination with that book.”
Her free outdoor library proves there is a hunger for learning in the city. On the daily, she fills it up with several books and she says it has yet to go 24 hours without being empty.
She believes it's just another sign that God placed this mission on her path.
TIA URBAN READS BUS.jpgHamilton, who has experienced what it's like to be incarcerated and turn her life around, continues to support families affected by the justice system.
“We send books to children with incarcerated parents… [we get] their age, their address — and I’m sending these books to them in [their parents] name.” Her store features revolutionary authors, history texts, and books she says connect directly to today’s struggles.
“Any revolutionary book is very popular… because what they were talking about back then is still happening today. It’s very important to grab that history to understand why things are happening today.”
Hamilton says she isn’t a traditional educator — but embraces the roles her community needs.
“I’m not a teacher, I’m not a mental health therapist, I’m not a psychologist… but I act like it.” And her message for others:
“Walk in your truth, walk in your purpose, and everything — everything — will work out.” With the Black Star Line book bus on the horizon, Hamilton believes the city’s literacy movement is just getting started.
