Update #2 (Oct 16, 2025)

Implacable Books — Six Month Update

We're Open!

Peace and blessings!

We want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported our journey since the days of Save the Bridge. Even after losing that building to developers, we never stopped doing what we set out to do; equipping young people with the tools to transform their community through organizing, cooperative economics, and trades-based education.

With your support, we transformed 189 Washington Street into a dynamic mutual aid and community hub. On March 31, 2025 (New Afrikan Nation Day), we opened Implacable Books, a cooperative, multi-stakeholder bookstore, library, and community space. That moment marked the completion of Phase 1 of our “Bridge the Gap” plan.

Today, we’re celebrating six months of life, learning, and revolutionary love in the space, inviting you to be part of what’s next, and supporting our community through the next steps.

(1) Our Transformation

Early in 2024, Addison and Dan started talking about building a community bookstore inside part of Dan’s auto shop. Here's the first photo Addison took to start envisioning the project. Can you see the vision?!...

...and here's what it looks like today!

With support from the Worcester Youth Cooperatives (WYC), we started chipping away at the project ourselves. Though we were told by potential finance partners that it would be “impossible” to open within six months, we did it, without a dollar of institutional financing. Just community willpower, DIY labor, and shared vision.

(2) What We’ve Been Up To

1 - Stewarding A Revolutionary Collection of Books
Now home to more than 2,000 books for all ages on Afrikan and New Afrikan history, women’s studies, anti-imperialism, philosophy, anthropology, and more. Members of our circulating library have access to hundreds of titles — and hundreds more are available for sale every day.

2 - Hosting Events
We’ve hosted three author talks, including two local Black female authors:

Grand Opening of Implacable Books with Russell Shoatz III (March 31, 2025)

We opened our doors on New Afrikan Nation Day with a powerful evening featuring Russell Shoatz III, son of the revolutionary political prisoner Russell “Maroon” Shoatz, in discussion of I Am Maroon. This event marked the official opening of Implacable Books, bringing together community members, organizers, and artists to celebrate a space rooted in New Afrikan revolutionary nationalism, anti-imperialism, and feminism. Guests shared food, music, and collective vision, setting the tone for everything Implacable Books has come to represent: national liberation culture, study, and struggle.
Fallin’ Is Angel: Book Launch with Blesser Bonsu (August 9, 2025)

Implacable Books celebrated the launch of Fallin’ Is Angel by Annaliese-Blesser A Bonsu, a Ghanaian-Canadian writer from Worcester. Blesser shared excerpts from her debut book and spoke candidly about love, identity, and creative self-discovery as a young Black woman growing up in the city. The evening blended critical reflection, prose, food, and community, uplifting a new youth author whose story resonates with the heart of our mission to nurture young voices.

Feminist Book Circle: Raising Pickney, Finding Me with Jacqueline Harris (September 13, 2025)

Our Feminist Book Circle welcomed Jacqueline Harris, author of Raising Pickney, Finding Me: What Raising My American Daughters in Jamaica Taught Me About Life, Motherhood, and Jamaican Culture. In an intimate and intergenerational setting, participants discussed motherhood, migration, and transformation, exploring how personal stories become sites of feminist connection and community power. Books were available on site, and the discussion opened space for women and girls to share their own stories of resilience and belonging.

Project Priceless also launched a Feminist Film Series, beginning with Born in Flames.

3 - Collective Study & Learning
Our Feminist Reading Group and New Afrikan Reading Group continue to meet regularly, while Project Priceless meets weekly and recently published in Total Woman Victory — honoring sisters lost to the sex trade and reflecting on survival and resistance. Join us in congratulating Project Priceless! Follow them at instagram.com/project.priceless

4 - Crash Course Creations
Three youth completed a six-week hands-on course with Dan Ford, combining trades skills with cooperative learning.

5 - Harm Reduction Access Point
Dozens of community members, housed and unhoused, have been trained in overdose response and received free Narcan and harm reduction supplies. One of the things we are most proud of us being a safe space and refuge for people on the streets to have a drink of water, access what they need to survive, and also discuss politics and life with us. We eagerly look forward to the opportunity to tell the story Implacable Books has had in more intimate detail.

What’s Next

Implacable Books is just getting started. Over the coming months, we’ll continue improving the space, expanding our programs, and strengthening the movement for self-determined community power. Expect an exciting line-up of guests in the Spring including veterans from the Black Panthers and Black Liberation Army.

Ways to Support

Community support keeps this work alive. You can help by:

Contributing to our Givebutter campaign (or through Venmo @BuildWYC / CashApp $PowerWYC — write “Implacable” in the memo).
Sponsoring youth book access by donating a gift card (write “giftcard” in the memo).
Donating books to expand the library and inventory.
Visiting us! Join the library, teach a skill, or share a story. Implacable Books is a space to build with, not just visit.

Together, we’re proving what can be done with determination, creativity, and love for the people.
Let’s keep building.

Also, don't forget to follow us at instagram.com/implacablebooks

Update #1 (Feb 24, 2025) - Help Us Open Implacable Books by March 31st—We’re Almost There!

Peace!

We are living through turbulent times. The tightening grip of political repression, the relentless uncertainty, and the daily pressures of a world in crisis press heavily upon us. Under such conditions, alienation deepens. It is precisely in these moments—when the weight of oppression threatens to crush the will—that the necessity of hope and action becomes undeniable. It is especially in these moments that each of us must do what we can.

And so—we’re still building!

Since December, a small group of volunteers has been putting in the work—blood, sweat, and tears—to transform an auto shop into Implacable Books, a space for connection, resistance, and mutual learning. In a moment when so much feels out of our control, this project is a reminder that we can still create something new. We’re discovering on our own terms that pooling our resources and creative powers and pouring them into organized projects rooted in revolutionary principles are the antidotes to despair, alienation, and the paralysis imposed by a system designed to isolate us and limit our imagination.

Thank you to everybody who has supported our campaign so far. You've raised an increible $4,797 from 30 people!

What We’ve Accomplished So Far:

✅ Built a dividing wall with metal studs, plywood, and insulation
✅ Painted the entire space
✅ Poured concrete and filled in cracks for a solid foundation
✅ Purchased materials to finish the floor
✅ Purchased a new heating system

What We Still Need to Do:

🛠️ Install lighting and complete the ceiling
🪑 Purchase and install furniture
🚻 Renovate the bathroom
☕ Acquire a commercial coffee maker and cover other essential start-up costs

Thanks to dedicated volunteers working tirelessly we’re confident we’ll open our doors by March 31st. But we need your help to cross the finish line.

Why Your Support Matters—Now More Than Ever:

We’re building this space from scratch using nothing but volunteer labor. Every contribution goes directly toward creating a space for learning, connection, and fearless self-determination. Community support right now is crucial!

🔗 Contribute Now – Support the Opening of Implacable Books

Let’s make sure that when we open on March 31st, it’s because all of us believed in the power of this project and made it happen together. We’re working on putting together a special program for opening day and we want as many people as possible to feel like they are a part of making this happen!

Thank you for supporting us every step of the way. Let’s bring Implacable Books to life!

Other Ways to Help Implacable Books

Other than donating directly to Our Campaign, you can support our goal of opening the space in other ways, such as:

📚 Donating Books

New or gently used books, especially those aligned with our focus on Black literature, anti-imperialism, feminism, and revolutionary thought.
Children’s and young adult books that center marginalized voices.

🛠️ Donate Materials

Please reply to this email, reach out to implacablebooks@gmail.com or DM us on instagram if you have any materials you think might be applicable to our space. Here are some ideas of things we could need:

Office Supplies: computers, printers, and other tech equipment to support programming and operations.
Furniture: Tables, chairs, reading lamps, couches, and comfortable seating for the community space; merchandising fixtures.
Renovation Materials: Art, posters, lighting fixtures, insulation, or paint to help complete the buildout.

⏰ Volunteer Your Time

Renovation Support: Help with painting, construction, or setting up furniture.
Event Support: Start planting the seeds of ideas for book talks, cultural events, or workshops you're interested in collaborating on or running in the space. Just reach out!
Book Sorting & Cataloging: Help organize donated books, curate sections, and get the store ready for opening.

📣 Spread the Word

Share Implacable Books and the Dare to Capitalize campaign on social media.
Host a small fundraiser or book drive in your community.
Recommend Implacable Books to friends, family, and organizations.

🤝 Offer Professional Skills

Plumbers: Help us complete necessary renovations to the bathroom
Marketing & Graphic Design: Help create materials to promote the bookstore and its events.
Grant Writing: Assist in researching and writing grant applications for future funding.
Web Development: Support the creation and maintenance of an online presence.

💬 Engage with the Space

Plan to attend the March 31st opening event and future programming.
Join or start a reading group focused on revolutionary texts.
Suggest and help organize community discussions or study sessions.

Building something together is a powerful and necessary act of resistance. We’re grateful for everyone who believes in this vision and walks with us as we bring it to life. Every book donated, hour volunteered, or story shared brings us closer to opening our doors and creating a lasting resource for the people.

In solidarity,
Addison Turner
Implacable Books
📚 A community cooperative space for reading, organizing, and fearless self-determination

Full Campaign - Dare To Capitalize/Bridge the Gap December 27th, 2024

1) Dare to Capitalize!

Worcester Youth Cooperatives (WYC) is taking a significant step forward to meet the needs of our member cooperatives and the communities they serve. With your support, we’re launching a campaign to raise funds for key capital improvements that will strengthen our infrastructure and expand our capacity to deliver essential services. While many wind down during the holidays, we’re doing the opposite. We’re ramping it up to ensure that these final weeks of the year are our most productive yet. This is our moment to push forward, set the foundation for 2025, and deliver on our commitment to the community. Let’s get it—and let’s go!

This campaign will fund three critical initiatives:

Building Renovations: Transforming our shared bookstore and community space into a functional hub for knowledge-sharing, mutual aid, and cooperative organizing.
Fleet Vehicle Acquisition: Replacing our totaled van with a reliable vehicle to support outreach, transportation, and emergency response efforts.
Equipment Upgrades: Purchasing a high-volume printer and laptops to improve the efficiency and reach of our educational and organizational work.

These investments will have an immediate impact, reducing operational barriers for our volunteers, creating new opportunities for collaboration, and better serving the needs of the community. They will also enhance the ability of our active member cooperatives—SOS Worcester, Implacable Books, Project Priceless, BikeLife Access Courier Cooperative, and Crash Course Creations—to fulfill their missions effectively.

Your contribution will help us meet these goals and prepare for a public launch of the renovated space in March 2025. Every donation brings us closer to creating a shared resource that empowers community members and expands the reach of our cooperatives. Thank you for being part of this transformative effort!

Background and Links to Learn More about Active Member Co-ops

SOS Worcester (Solidarity, Outreach, and Survival)

An anti-imperialist harm reduction collective supporting people who use drugs and unhoused individuals in Worcester.
Reaches and supports 100+ unhoused individuals each week.
Provides harm reduction supplies, advocacy, and crisis response
- on pace to distribute 3456 doses of free narcan directly to the people who are most likely to need it by the end of the year

Implacable Books

A bookstore and community safe space specializing in New Afrikan, Black, feminist, and anti-imperialist literature for all ages.
Focused on creating a space for learning and organizing, with a feminist perspective on anti-colonial and liberation politics.
Supports the community by providing accessible resources for political education and empowerment.

Project Priceless

A self-organized collective of homeless women surviving prostitution.
Engages in mutual aid and advocacy, addressing systemic issues around housing and exploitation.
Leads initiatives like RMVillage, a politicized encampment responding to the lack of shelter capacity for homeless women in Worcester.

BikeLife Access Courier Cooperative

A cooperative that supports courier work as a means of empowerment and economic opportunity.
Emphasizes the principles of cooperative economics, allowing members to have shared ownership and decision-making power.
Provides a sustainable, community-oriented model for transportation and delivery services in Worcester.
Plans to partner with Implacable Books to make same-day deliveries of books available across the city of Worcester

Crash Course Creations

A well-loved program relaunched in the summer of 2024 with WYC support, CCC is a program that combines trades-based education with cooperative economics training.
Walks young people through the process of renovating a vehicle, filing paperwork, and ultimately selling it to sustain themselves and the business.
Prepares participants to develop skills for cooperative enterprises, emphasizing practical knowledge and collective ownership.
Aims to create pathways for community members to access stable, cooperative employment opportunities.

The Role of Worcester Youth Cooperatives (WYC)

Worcester Youth Cooperatives exists to provide the critical infrastructure, leadership, and support that empower our network of member cooperatives—SOS Worcester, Implacable Books, Project Priceless, BikeLife Access Courier Cooperative, and our core programs like Crash Course Creations and DTCA. Our role is informed by the direct feedback of these organizations and by our shared understanding of the structural challenges they face.

WYC’s mission is to reduce the operational costs and logistical barriers that burden grassroots organizations, enabling them to focus on their essential work. By fostering collaboration and creating shared resources, we help these cooperatives operate more efficiently and sustainably.

In addition to logistical support, we prioritize rapid responses to crises that disproportionately affect oppressed communities. WYC goes beyond addressing immediate needs by working to understand and confront the root causes of these crises. This approach strengthens our network, unites people across struggles, and contributes to the systemic change needed to eliminate the conditions that perpetuate harm.

Ultimately, WYC serves as the backbone of a growing ecosystem of cooperatives and programs, creating opportunities for resilience, solidarity, and collective liberation.

We have broken down our campaign into 4 phases with key milestones and an impact assessment of each one.

Phase 1: Initial Preparations (December 2024 – January 2025)

Goal: Finalize planning, purchase initial equipment, and begin renovations to enable immediate use by member cooperatives.

December 2024

Finalize quotes and vendors for renovations, vehicles, and equipment.
Order and purchase a high-volume printer and laptops for immediate use.

Impact

Enhanced ability to produce zines, flyers, and educational materials for outreach.
Improved operational efficiency with better technology for members and volunteers.

Phase 2: Early Renovations and Vehicle Acquisition (January – February 2025)

Goal: Begin renovations to make parts of the space functional for storage, meetings, and mutual aid distribution. Acquire the van for outreach and transportation.

Early January 2025:

Begin initial renovation work (e.g., clearing and prepping the bookstore space).
Purchase the van for outreach, transportation, and emergency response needs.

Impact:

Cooperatives can start using parts of the space for storage, prep, and meetings.
The van provides immediate relief for transportation and reduces reliance on personal vehicles.

Late January 2025:

Continue phased renovations, focusing on areas needed for short-term use (e.g., storage and workspace improvements).
Hold internal orientation for members on using new equipment and the van.

Impact:

Members and volunteers can take on more work as their personal capacity is freed up.
Mutual aid efforts benefit from better organization and access to a central space.

Phase 3: Mid-Project Enhancements (February – March 2025)

Goal: Complete major renovations and optimize space for cooperative use while preparing for the public launch.

February 2025:

Complete interior renovations for safe and effective use by collectives.
Start furnishing and equipping shared workspaces with necessary furniture and technology.
Use the renovated space for mutual aid distribution, zine workshops, and meetings.

Impact:

Greater organizational capacity for mutual aid projects and events.
Streamlined communication and outreach with better equipment and centralized operations.

Early March 2025:

Finalize renovations and set up the bookstore and community areas.
Test-run the space with members and volunteers for events and operations.

Phase 4: Public Launch and Full Operational Capacity (Mid to Late March 2025)

Goal: Open the bookstore and community space to the public while maintaining internal momentum.

Mid-March 2025:

Host a soft opening for internal teams and key supporters.
Showcase completed projects, including the renovated space, van, and equipment.

Late March 2025:

Hold a public launch event to introduce the community to the space and celebrate campaign success.

Impact:

- Fully operational community space and bookstore serving the public.
- Strengthened ecosystem supporting member cooperatives and their constituents.

2) Bigger Picture: Bridging the Gap

The "Dare to Capitalize" campaign is not just about infrastructure—it’s about continuing a legacy of collective action and community-driven vision. In many ways, this campaign is a direct continuation of the mission embodied by the 2021 "Save the Bridge" campaign, where volunteers and organizers came together to preserve a vital community space in Worcester. Although that effort faced setbacks, the spirit of the campaign never faltered, and its volunteers have remained active in keeping the mission alive.

The Bridge was the very first office space for Worcester Youth Cooperatives (WYC). It was a place where we built connections, collaborated on ideas, and imagined a future where community ownership could take root and thrive. Now, we are proud to carry forward that mission by raising funds to develop the infrastructure needed to sustain that movement, vision, and momentum for years to come.

This campaign also marks the next step in a larger, shared vision. Over the years, we have been working with The Bridge on plans to build out a multistory, collectively owned development above our bookstore—a development that reflects the values of cooperative ownership and mutual support. By investing in the current capital improvements, we are "bridging the gap" between organizations with aligned missions and ensuring that their work continues to thrive.

“Dare to Capitalize” is more than just a fundraiser; it is a commitment to preserving and expanding the community-driven legacy that The Bridge helped inspire. Together, we can ensure that setbacks do not define us but instead strengthen our resolve to build something enduring, empowering, and transformative.

Let us give you a glimpse into the bigger picture in which our capital campaign is embedded. Once we are successful at building out our bookstore space/mutuaid aid hub, we will move onto additional phases of our project which include affordable housing. Here are a few renderings of what we are working on building in the years ahead.

Some Highlights from 2024

Update!!! Implacable Books is offering anybody who donates at least $100 to our campaign a free copy of "Stand Up, Struggle Forward: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings on Nation, Class and Patriarchy" by Sanyika Shakur.

About Stand Up Struggle Forward:

Stand Up, Struggle Forward: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings on Nation, Class and Patriarchy See more

“It was over 20 years ago that the book Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member exploded on the scene and gave us all a front row seat to explore the genocidal brutality of the neo-colonial world of gangbanging. A world that exists at the expense of New Afrikan communities and New Afrikan youth in particular, through our social savage way of attempting to gain power through AK’s, bats and beat downs … it was in the belly of the beast (prison) that ‘Monster’ underwent a revolutionary transformation, dissecting and re-building himself from the inside out, slaying the colonial thug ‘Monster’ and emerging through a re-birth as ‘Sanyika Shakur,’ a New Afrikan Revolutionary Nationalist.” — from the Foreword by Yusef “Bunchy” Shakur

This collection of writings by Sanyika Shakur, formerly known as Monster Kody Scott, includes several essays written from within the infamous Pelican Bay Security Housing Unit in the period around the historic 2011 California prisoners’ hunger strike, as well as two interviews conducted just before and after his release in Black August 2012.

Shakur rejects the easy answers and false solutions of the neocolonial age—integration and racism, the colonial-criminal mentality and subservience to imperialism—as the “oppo-sames” that they are. Firmly rooted in the New Afrikan Communist tradition, he skillfully uses the tools of dialectical materialism to lay bare the deeper connections between racism, sexism, and homophobia and how these mental diseases relate to the ongoing capitalist (neo-)colonial catastrophe we remain trapped within. Defending the legacy of New Afrikans’ historic struggle for Land, Independence, and Socialism, Shakur spells out a uniquely liberatory Revolutionary Nationalist vision. Annihilating the “amerikan” mental fog that has new generations continuing to self-defeat rather than coming together against the real enemy, Stand Up, Struggle Forward serves as a battle cry against all forms of oppression. Stand Up, Struggle Forward also contains a valuable account of political repression in the California prison system, including several of the intelligence memoranda they were used to condemn Shakur to years of solitary confinement in Pelican Bay. These internal prison documents clearly show that this prolonged solitary confinement was a direct result of Shakur’s continuing promotion of New Afrikan Revolutionary Nationalist politics. As such, they provide a clear example of the way in which solitary confinement continues to be used as a tool of political repression against thousands of prisoners in California today."

Bridge the Gap → Build Implacable Books!

Investing in Infrastructure, Believing in Ourselves, & Empowering Community Action

Team Members