Author Next Door Series | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Date and Time
Jun 28, 2026 6:00 pm
Location
Hyattsville
5331 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, Maryland, 20781
Jun 28, 2026 6:00 pm
Hyattsville
Join us to nourish your mind and soul with stories of identity and healing from local authors illuminating new paths toward recovery
On Sunday, June 28th at Busboys and Poets Hyattsville, join us for Author Next Door: Food for Your Mind and Soul, the next installment in our rotating DMV-wide celebration of community storytellers.
This self-help and psychology focused panel will spotlight authors whose works center restoration and reclamation. From navigating anxiety and repairing family bonds, to building generational wealth and confronting racism in the workplace, each author offers a unique path toward personal and collective empowerment. Each of our featured authors will read from and discuss their writing, come together for a conversation about the intersections of their books, and answer questions from the audience.
A Story of Family Restoration by Arthur Thompson
A Story of Family Restoration is a powerful memoir about healing broken family bonds through restorative practices. Raised by his grandparents, the author learned that even families grounded in love, respect, and tradition can face devastating fractures-but they can also be rebuilt. Drawing from his experience as a Black male navigating both personal pain and systemic challenges, he offers readers practical tools for mending relationships, asking the hard questions: Who do you need to restore with? What conversations have you avoided? This isn't just about fixing conflicts-it's about breaking cycles of trauma, celebrating resilience, and creating wholeness for the next generation.
In The Black: Generational Wealth Through Real Estate by Ericka S. Black
In The Black by Ericka Black is a powerful resource for anyone looking to navigate the world of real estate and build lasting wealth. Through a blend of expert insights and straightforward guidance, Ericka demystifies the real estate industry, from property investment basics to advanced strategies for financial growth. Packed with practical advice and real-world examples, In The Black helps readers understand how to leverage real estate opportunities, overcome common obstacles, and create a profitable, sustainable portfolio. Perfect for beginners and seasoned investors alike, this book is a roadmap to financial empowerment through real estate
Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man: Reflections on Healing, Faith, and Freedom by Jaret Lloyd
Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man: Reflections on Healing, Faith, and Mental Health is a deeply honest exploration of what it means to live, love, and heal while carrying the weight of anxiety as a Black man in America.
Through a blend of storytelling, reflection, and cultural insight, Jaret Lloyd invites readers into the quiet battles often fought behind strong faces and silent endurance. This book dismantles the myth that strength means suffering in silence — revealing instead that true power comes from vulnerability, faith, and community.
From the sleepless nights of panic to the sacred moments of peace, each chapter moves through the realities of generational trauma, unspoken expectations, and the slow, sacred work of healing. With compassion and courage, Lloyd offers a roadmap for brothers learning to breathe again — and a message of hope for anyone navigating their own unseen storms.
This isn’t just a book about anxiety. It’s a conversation, a mirror, and a movement — one that reminds every reader:
You are not alone. You are not broken. You are allowed to heal.
Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces: A Practical Guide for Black People Responding to Racism in the Workplace by Dr. Pearis Jean
An empowering guide to help you navigate racism in the workplace, find solutions that work for you, and stay focused on your professional goals and well-being.
Have you ever been in a meeting or had a conversation where a coworker or manager said something racist, and wondered how to respond? People often understand racism in terms of blatant, overtly hostile behaviors and attitudes--such as verbal abuse or physical intimidation. At work, however, racism is typically more subtle, and often takes the form of microaggressions, being ignored, being invalidated or talked over, being overly criticized, or having assumptions made about your abilities. The perpetrator might think nothing of their actions, but the impact is real, and over time it may deteriorate your mental health, well-being, and job satisfaction.
You should not have to experience racism--and it is not your fault--but the unfortunate reality is that many Black people do, especially in their workplace. Experiences of racism can leave you feeling disempowered, hurt, and unsure of what to do next. Having the confidence to stand up to racism can be incredibly difficult. And once you muster the courage to say something, what do you say, and when do you say it?
Based on the author's innovative SNAPS (Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces) decision-making model, this empowering workbook provides practical skills for navigating and responding to anti-Black racism in the workplace. With this much-needed guide, you'll find solutions that work for you and your unique situation, as well as tips for addressing interpersonal issues, setting boundaries, and attending to your emotional and mental health while ensuring that you achieve your professional goals and aspirations.
Whether overt or covert, if you've experienced racism in the workplace, you may feel trapped in a dilemma. How should you respond to an incident of racism? Should you ignore it, potentially allowing it to fester beneath the surface like an unseen infection? Or should you speak up, and risk the very real consequences: being disbelieved, criticized, or worse, fired?
This workbook offers essential tools to help you make informed choices about how to respond to racism in the workplace, assert yourself with confidence, and prioritize your own well-being.
Copies of each author’s book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and all authors will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Doors open at 4:30pm and there will be full dinner service throughout the program. The program begins at 5:00 pm and will be followed by Q&A and book signing. Please note that this event is in-person.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Arthur Thompson is rooted in faith and driven by a deep love for people and community. He is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience as an educator and entrepreneur, serving the PGCPS system as a Crisis Teacher the last 10 years, mentoring and training educators in general education and autism classrooms, on how to support our students. Arthur is also a restorative practitioner and life coach in Maryland, dedicated to healing and connection. Currently, Arthur is building his educational consulting business, specializing in restorative practices, and developing a curriculum for parent training. Inspired by his ministry of sharing hope, Arthur integrates his core values—faith, quality, professionalism, and service—into every endeavor: a devoted husband, father of three children. Arthur rises early each day to inspire change in his community. His mission is to create spaces where individuals and families can thrive through care, authenticity, and possibility.
Ericka S. Black is a dynamic author, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and creative visionary whose work bridges legacy, leadership, and love. With a voice that blends authenticity and purpose, Ericka empowers others to dream boldly, build wealth, and live with intention.
A proud graduate of North Carolina Central University, Ericka has carved her path as a respected REALTOR® in the Washington, DC area. She guides clients through one of life’s most meaningful journeys, homeownership. Alongside her husband, she invests in real estate with a focus on creating generational wealth and leaving a lasting legacy. Her passion for financial literacy and empowerment inspired her brand, In The Black, which has become a platform for education, transformation, and community impact.
Ericka is the author of In the Black: Generational Wealth Through Real Estate and Dreamer: Motivational Journal. Both works inspire readers to think bigger, take action, and build the future they deserve. Her writing blends personal experience, faith, and practical strategies to help others achieve financial freedom and personal growth.
With several new works underway, Ericka is expanding her voice into storytelling and children’s literature. Her upcoming projects will inspire both adults and young readers by offering life lessons, encouragement, and creativity through engaging stories that spark imagination and hope.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Ericka’s greatest joy is being a mom to her son, AJ. She often includes him in her creative projects and real estate ventures, showing other mothers that it is possible to balance ambition with family life.
Whether speaking on stage, writing words that resonate, or leading through her business ventures, Ericka’s mission is clear. She is committed to helping others dream bigger, achieve financial freedom, and create legacies that last for generations.
Jaret Lloyd is a writer and advocate for mental, emotional, and physical wellness among Black men.
Drawing from his own journey with anxiety and healing, he creates spaces that encourage honesty, vulnerability, and community.
Originally from Chesapeake, VA by way of Prince George’s County, MD, Jaret works in technology as a Sr. Cloud Database Engineer while pursuing his passion for storytelling and mentorship.
A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, he is also a U.S. Navy Reserve veteran and active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Through writing, service, and mentorship, Jaret challenges traditional ideas of strength and emphasizes that healing is essential to true well-being.
Dr. Pearis Jean is an assistant professor of psychology at Towson University and a licensed psychologist in Maryland. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the development of individual and community-level interventions to support the wellness of survivors of trauma with a focus on the Black community. Dr. Jean is also the author of the psychoeducational workbook, Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces: A Practical Guide for Black People Responding to Racism in the Workplace.
BOOK DETAILS
A Story of Family Restoration
By Arthur Thompson
November 04, 2025 | Paperback, 60 pages, $17.50
In The Black
Generational Wealth Through Real Estate
By Ericka S. Black
July 30, 2025 | Paperback, 72 pages, $25.99
Thoughts of an Anxious Black Man
Reflections on Healing, Faith, and Freedom
By Jaret Lloyd
October 29, 2025 | Paperback, 152 pages, $12.99
Strategically Navigating Anti-Black Racism in Professional Spaces
A Practical Guide for Black People Responding to Racism in the Workplace
By Pearis L. JeanJune 01, 2024 | Paperback, 160 pages, $24.95
