Harriett’s Bookshop owner Jeannine A. Cook is aiming to send 10 North Philadelphia youth to study abroad in Paris this fall, writes Shara Dae Howard for KYW Newsradio.

Cook’s reasoning is because of her understanding that there are kids that would otherwise rarely get such a life-changing opportunity.

Just like the bookshop itself, Harriet Tubman is the inspiration behind the trip to Paris.

“If you’re in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, you know the Underground Railroad is this sacred passage between places with people you may not know are in the railroad with you, but are there to help you move from place to place,” she said.

Cook is also the owner of two other bookshops: Ida’s in New Jersey and Josephine’s in Paris, named in honor of Ida B. Wells and Josephine Baker, respectively.

Cook and her team worked diligently with the School District of Philadelphia to “crest the first-ever credit-baring course for young people in an accelerated high school.”

Fundraising efforts are ongoing as the bookstore seeks more donations before it can reach its goal of sending 10 students to France for its study abroad program.

Read more about Harriett’s Bookshop and its owners quest to send local youth abroad in KYW Newsradio.

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