my need for community care, the impact of women of color led spaces and my reverence for books ignited the desire to create a physical space for black women and literature in a homelike setting. a space for stillness, beauty and care. a space to support our whole selves.

yes please is brick and mortar space yet remains abstract in the most beautiful ways. because the space is dedicated to care and community i keep the uses of the space flexible enough to respond to the communities needs while providing four constant fixtures:

1. the books, i spent two and a half years collecting used books for the lending library of books written by black women and gender expansive writers. we currently hold nearly 600 books to read at yes please or borrow for 45 days free of charge. we also have books for sale at yes please, yespleasebooks.com, bookshop.org/shop/yespleasebooks and audiobooks on www.libro.fm/yespleasebooks

2. the garden and seed library, on the land we tend a garden together with the community. we grow herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables and maintain a seed library. we regularly host gardening parties so that people without the means and space to grow can learn and share what they know for the benefit of us all.

3. the kitchen table, which serves as a place to gather for shared meals, conversations and co-working, much like the kitchen table found in the homes of our loved ones.

4. a welcoming atmosphere and a person to hold the space, currently i am the primary space holder and each day when i close the space, i feel a sense of accomplishment.

yes please has become something beyond my own desires and imaginings. my purpose has been affirmed by the words and support of my community. here are two reviews:

"a brief but exquisite first time encounter with this lovely and powerful space. i was moved. i'll be back! much gratitude." - E

"it felt so easy to meander thru this space and really sink into book browsing as an emergent process. thank you for offering this space to us all!" - K

as a small, self-financed third space, every book and experience is thoughtfully curated with intention and love. yes please is and will always be a love offering to myself and to you and I desire to see it in the future.

this gofundme is an invitation for support. i have done the hard part of revealing my desires, my commitments and my work in the world to the community and the next challenging step is asking for help. so here we are. the loving community that has grown from the fertile soil of this place is evidence of the beauty we can create in the world when we grow together. i trust that the resources necessary to ensure longevity are available and that i do not have to hold the weight of it alone.

your support will help me to continue to do the work. to reveal and give life to the desires, the commitments and the work that serves our community.

this gofundme will serve the following purposes:

1. affirm: that others see value in the work that we have done and wish to support us into the future.

2. materially support our stewardess and the space: 10% of the funds raised will go to our Sunday's stewardess for her own rest, joy and care, 20% of the funds raised will be placed in a savings account with the remainder to be used to keep our free offerings free, provide pay what you can or no cost books to those who need them, sure up our food and pantry fund and our community garden budget. if/ when we reach or exceed the goal of $22,00 40-45% of the funds raised will go towards improvements to the physical space (seeking a contractor for the front porch).

3. notice: to our community that i am committed to the longevity of yes please and am open to help with creating a pathway from self-financed to community financed(fiscal sponsor, paid collaborations, grant writing, etc).

this gofundme will be active through Apr 5, 2024. over the next 12 days i will share via the @yespleasebooks instagram and substack memories of the work we’ve done together since february 12, 2022 and share some of the dreams i have for the future and ask that you:

1. contribute at your own capacity

2. share our gofundme with 3 other people

3. if you’ve spent time at yes please, received a book or gift from yes please or admire yes please from afar, let it be known via instagram posts/stories, google reviews, and love letters (snail or email). use this time to let your love for yes please: a bookhouse and carespace to be known.

thank you

thank you

thank you

as a prayer,

lauren jones

founder and steward of yes please: a bookhouse and carespace