Leaving an imprint: How a WSU alum builds community through books

Pages Bookshop co-owner Jelani Stowers, a 2022 WSU graduate, began managing the store after noticing how reading issues hindered the development of local youth. "Literacy," he says, "was the bottleneck of all other skills."

When Wayne State University graduate Jelani Stowers thinks about success, he doesn't start with business plans or profit margins. He starts with people.

"Networking is the biggest skill," Stowers says. "Building those relationships and moving forward with a position of genuine care … has led me from one opportunity to another."

That philosophy - shaped during his time at Wayne State - has guided Stowers from a curious undergraduate to managing co-owner of Detroit's Pages Bookshop, a neighborhood bookstore he once frequented as a teenager and now helps lead.

Pages Bookshop carries roughly 2,000 to 3,000 titles, blending new releases with classics and offering a diverse selection that reflects Detroit's communities.

Finding direction at Wayne State

Stowers arrived at Wayne State in 2018 on scholarship, unsure exactly where his path would lead. He graduated in 2022 with a major in philosophy and a minor in film - an academic combination that, in retrospect, reflects both his analytical mindset and his passion for storytelling.

Philosophy sharpened his critical thinking, while film helped him understand communication and narrative. But Stowers is quick to point out that his most important lessons came outside the classroom.

He credits Wayne State's Office of Multicultural Student Engagement and the male-centered WSU learning community "the Network" as central to his success. "That community became my bedrock of fellowship," he says, especially during moments of isolation and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without that support system, he's candid about what might have happened: "I would've dropped out … I wouldn't have made it."

Through The Network, Stowers built relationships that helped him navigate campus life, access resources and stay on track to graduate - connections that would later shape his professional trajectory.

From public relations to purpose

After graduation, Stowers took a job at a public relations firm working with pro-Black nonprofits. There, he combined his academic training with real-world application, helping organizations communicate their missions and build relationships.

Stowers became a co-owner of Pages Bookshop, his neighborhood bookstore, after it nearly closed: "When people come into Pages, they feel like … 'This is my bookstore.'"

That role introduced him to the BMe Community, a national network recognizing Black leaders. Through that work, he met Jeremiah Steen, a fellow Detroiter and youth advocate who would become his business partner. (They are also co-owners with Jasahn and Krystal Larsosa, leaders of the Black Marriage Movement organization, and other members of the Larsosa family.)

Together, they focused on youth engagement and leadership development, including Gen Z design sessions that connected young people with organizations across Detroit. But through that work, Stowers noticed a deeper issue.

"Literacy was the bottleneck of all other skills," he says.

If young people weren't reading - or didn't enjoy reading - it limited their ability to engage civically, think critically and even interact with technology.

A bookstore with a mission

Around that same time, Pages Bookshop - located just minutes from Stowers' home - announced it was closing.

For Stowers, the news hit personally. He had spent years browsing its shelves, buying books that shaped his interests in technology, business and beyond. "It was a super integral piece for me," he says.

But he also saw an opportunity, one that has since panned out.

Pages also hosts events and offers not only thousands of books but jewelry, reading glasses and T-shirts. Says Stowers: "Browsing a bookstore allows you to discover something completely new."

Today, as managing co-owner, Stowers oversees a shop that carries roughly 2,000 to 3,000 titles, blending new releases with classics and offering a diverse selection that reflects Detroit's communities. (In addition, it also sells reading glasses, jewelry and the occasional T-shirt.) "It's a Black-owned bookstore, but it is not a Black bookstore," Stowers explains, emphasizing its inclusive approach.

Competing in the Amazon era

Running an independent bookstore in the age of Amazon and e-books might seem daunting, but Stowers sees a clear value proposition.

"I can't lie and tell you that I haven't bought books on Amazon," he says.

But what online platforms lack, he argues, is human connection.

At Pages, customers come not just to buy books, but to browse, attend events and discover something unexpected - something an algorithm might never suggest. "The internet just regurgitates a mirror back into your face," Stowers says. "Browsing a bookstore allows you to discover something completely new."

He likens it to music: Spotify can shuffle songs endlessly, but DJs still exist because people crave curated, communal experiences.

That same principle applies in competition with larger retailers like Books-A-Million. While big-box stores may offer scale, Stowers believes independent shops offer something more meaningful: a sense of ownership and belonging.

"When people come into Pages, they feel like … 'This is my bookstore,'" he says.

Building a literary community

On any given day, Pages might welcome anywhere from a handful of visitors to dozens, with events drawing crowds of 60 or more. But for Stowers, success isn't measured solely in foot traffic.

He sees the bookstore as a platform - especially for local authors. His advice to aspiring writers is simple: build relationships early.

"Talk with your bookseller before the book comes out," Stowers says. "We're the most accessible person to … make sure that your story is shared."

It's a perspective rooted in the same values that carried him through Wayne State: community, connection and the belief that success is rarely a solo endeavor.

As Stowers continues to build Pages Bookshop, he's doing more than selling books. He's creating a space where stories - and the people behind them - can thrive.