Our Mission
JOY | CELEBRATION | REST | CONNECTION
Belonging Books is a community bookstore that centers the voices and stories of people of color and other underrepresented people. We create and hold space for joy, celebration, rest and connection.
Our Story
A GATHERING PLACE
We opened our "doors" in the Spring of 2022 with a creative writing workshop for BIPOC high school students and a pop-up event at A-Way with Words, a spoken word event honoring those lost to police brutality.
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At the end of 2022, Belonging Books, along with three other organizations focused on art, culture and equity, formed The Arts & Justice Collective. Through this collaboration, Belonging Books has been able to reach more people, organize joyful community gatherings, and empower and uplift our historically-excluded communities.
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We continue to partner with value-aligned community organizations all across Cape Cod and offer thoughtfully-curated books all year long. Recently, we found a home - a gathering place - at 438 Main Street, Hyannis.
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Whether it’s a book club, writing circle, open mic night, school program or author event, we are most proud of being able to create and hold space for people of color on the Cape — to carve out a small sanctuary.
Meet the Team
ERICA TSO HAIDAS - Founder & Owner
I’m Erica Tso Haidas, a first-generation Chinese-Canadian who grew up in Vancouver, BC. Throughout my life, I’ve always been drawn to diverse cities—Montreal, Toronto, NYC—vibrant places where cultures and stories thrive. My career started in law in NYC, and in 2015, I moved to Cape Cod with my young family to be closer to my husband's family.
It was here that I experienced a profound sense of isolation and the feeling of being a perpetual outsider—something that felt all too familiar, yet amplified in this setting. I realized there was a need for a place where people who feel like they live in the grey spaces could gather, connect and find community.
That’s when I decided to start Belonging Books—a bookstore with the mission to center the experiences of people of color, LGBTQIA+ and other underrepresented communities. A place where Cape Codders can share their stories and feel seen and heard.​​
ERICA LEE SMITH - Bookseller
Hello! I’m the other Erica you’ll find here at Belonging Books. I’m a freelance writer who grew up in Brewster and now I live in Cotuit with my husband, my kids, and our dog, Bodhi. The only thing I love as much as reading and writing is swimming, so I consider myself fortunate to live here on the Cape. I’m so excited to be part of the Belonging Books team because I know firsthand the transformative power books can have—they can be an escape, a refuge, a friend you can’t wait to get back to—it’s an everyday sort of magic that can only be found between the covers of a good book and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help connect people with their next great read.
KAI BARROWS - Bookseller
Hi, I’m Kai Bee, an artist, educator, and lifelong book lover, especially when it comes to comics! As an aspiring comics creator, I’m passionate about the power of storytelling and visual narratives. I’m so excited to be part of Belonging Books, a space that uplifts diverse voices and fosters a love of reading. Whether it’s stocking a new graphic novel or helping my community connect with stories that resonate, I’m thrilled to be here!