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books on bookstore shelf
books on bookstore shelf
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Wellness

Bluestockings Cooperative: Creating Community in a World of Chaos

Sierra Vendas
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pace chapter.

With so much uncertainty in the world, it’s necessary that we educate ourselves on pressing social issues, and that we take the initiative to foster growth within our communities. We, as individuals, only hold so much power in nationwide matters, which is why it’s essential to get involved at the ground level and control what we can in times where things feel ungovernable. I understand that the world has been a crazy place these few past weeks, but shining through this darkness are beautiful rays of light, such as the Bluestockings Cooperative.  

Located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Bluestockings is embodying the true definition of democracy, and has been for over 20 years. This “collectively-run activist center, community space, and feminist bookstore” aims to better society by increasing the availability of certain educational and hygienic resources. Acting as a coffee shop, bookstore, and rehabilitation center for individuals of every gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity,  Bluestockings represents hope in a world that may seem especially dim right now. 

I spoke to Aidann Gia of Cusp of Clarity to learn more about Bluestockings and how you can get involved in this community initiative. I have previously written about Cusp of Clarity and Gia’s astounding drive to tackle intersectional global issues. A year later, that motivation has only grown. Cusp of Clarity teamed up with Pace’s American Marketing Association this October, and together, they organized a book and hygienic products drive to pass along to Bluestockings. This may seem small, but it truly is the little things that matter the most. We often forget that reading is a privilege, and many people in our own communities don’t have access to books, let alone to certain necessary hygienic products. After all, a single page of a book or just a single penny can make a giant difference in someone’s life. 

Moreover, Bluestockings has a long-standing commitment to harm reduction and mutual aid, meaning they have increased accessibility to resources that help marginalized individuals grow in their communities. This includes their “take what you need and give what you can pantry,” where anyone can access food and sustenance. The cooperative also hosts a variety of training sessions to inform their community about safe sex and drug practices, offering condoms and fentanyl testing strips to those who need them. With respect to this, Gia also expressed her plans to collaborate with Bluestockings on a Narcan training session here at Pace University in December, to teach students how to properly administer this life-saving tool.
Going into the winter and holiday season, it’s crucial to be mindful of those struggling in your community and lend a hand where you can. Education and knowledge will always be of great importance, but kindness is truly your greatest strength. If you are someone seeking the resources that Bluestockings has to offer, you can find them on their website, and to stay up to date on details regarding their Cusp of Clarity collaboration, you can follow @cuspofclarity on Instagram for more!

Sierra is a sophomore, Digital Marketing major and a Graphic Design minor at Pace University. She is a second year staff writer for Her Campus at Pace and enjoys writing more humorous pieces about pop culture. In the past, Sierra has written for her high school newsletter known as "The Dawg Print" and taken several journalism classes and she is looking forward to expanding on this background. In addition to Her Campus at Pace, Sierra is also a member of the Pace Advertising Club, the American Marketing Association at Pace, and P.A.C.E. Board. She enjoys brainstorming for both these clubs and especially likes that they expose her to people of all backgrounds and stories. Outside of school and work Sierra spends most of her time listening to music, watching romantic comedies, binging sit-coms, shopping for clothes she probably doesn’t need, going to museums, or exploring new places to eat. She likes a variety of different musical artists and will never turn down the opportunity to go to a concert. Sierra frequently watches the movies A Rainy Day in New York and Breakfast at Tiffany’s but is no stranger to shows such as The Office and New Girl. Sierra is also interested in museum hopping however her favorite exhibits remain at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.