Member

Vera Warren Williams has always been passionate about the preservation and celebration of her African cultural heritage. While working as a substitute teacher in the New Orleans Public School System Vera observed an absence of books and other educational materials for African-American students; that reflected their own experiences and the true history and contributions of people of African descent. She began sharing books, puzzles and games from her personal library and noticed the profound affect this had on the students when they were exposed to positive images and narratives that mirrored them. The demand for such books grew beyond the annual Black History Month displays in mainstream bookstores in February. Thus CBC was born as a home based community service in 1983. CBC and has grown into a cultural institution that is “More than A Bookstore”. rnrnCBC, a literary and cultural hub is a local gathering place that host meetings, book signings, children and youth programs, book clubs and other special events. Vera serves on numerous committees and advisory boards and is an educational consultant and public speaker. rnrnShe earned a Bachelor’s in Social Work in 1981 and earned her Master’s degree in Museum Studies, spring 2018 both from Southern University in New Orleans. As part of her graduate thesis the Youth Arts Mentoring Program (YAMP) was created to provide arts, cultural, educational and career opportunities for African American youth ages 13-18 as museum professionals and future cultural preservationists. rn rn