I’ve had a variety of jobs since graduating from college -- coordinating service puppy research, studying developmental psychology, and teaching abroad -- but with my first week of Book Harvest behind me, I can confidently say that the welcome I received stood out amongst the rest thanks to the team’s genuine warmth, hospitality, and authenticity.

As External Relations Coordinator at Book Harvest, my new role will help support both the marketing and advancement sides of the organization. With this multi-faceted job description comes an inherent flexibility and creativity that I am excited to make my own, especially given the immediate guidance and support of my coworkers and supervisor.

From the moment I walked in the door, I was thoroughly welcomed, onboarded, and given opportunities to ask questions and clarify processes that were already tediously documented and explained to me. I heard the words, “We are so excited that you’re here” from nearly everyone I met, and the ongoing note I kept on my phone, where I jotted down everyone’s name and something differentiating, overflowed with so many “so nice!!!”’s that it ultimately defeated the purpose. While it’s only been a week, my first impressions of this supportive work culture have only been bolstered by genuine helpfulness when I reach out with simple, clarifying, or repetitive questions. 

Not only does the team at Book Harvest create this intentional culture of inclusion, but they also embody their mission when it comes to a passion for literacy and reading. I was lucky enough to start working the week of the monthly staff book club meeting, and even luckier that I had already read the book of the month: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang. As a big fan of Kuang’s work and a regular book club attendee, even I didn’t anticipate the structured questions, prepared interview clips, and robust discussion that ensued. Afterwards, I texted multiple friends, “I just attended the most incredibly thoughtful book club meeting… at work,” only to be met with the same sentiment that had been floating around in my head all week: “You are in the right place.”

I’m excited to continue to get to know this incredibly passionate and supportive team, as well as to grow into my new role in the coming weeks. A huge thank you to everyone who has made me feel welcome so far, and see you for future blog posts!