Espacio 1839 and Re/Arte Centro Literario in Boyle Heights, Radical Hood Library and Reparations Club in Los Angeles, and Memories of El Monte – the list goes on. As government and nonprofit agencies struggle to stabilize the housing crisis and respond to mental health issues, multifunctional bookstores and libraries are finding practical ways to sustain their communities and address their concerns at a grassroots level. They also make room for creativity, not confined to institutional structures, hosting author visits and exhibitions to welcome emerging ideas within the arts.