People of Book Harvest: Bria Davenport, Events Manger, External Relations
In your own words, what do you do at Book Harvest?
I develop and manage all the in-person experiences here at Book Harvest from small-scale donor events to very large community events.
What are you working on right now that you're especially excited about?
Dream Big 2027, it's our first event of the year and it's one of our biggest events where we collect thousands of books on one very special day! & Book or Treat, our annual Halloween event where we are able to provide a safe kid-friendly event for families to enjoy Halloween fun plus take home books forever.
Why does that work matter to you?
I enjoy doing this work because it allows parents to be able to provide the world for the kids at no cost to them. Plus minimal effort, we have so many easy ways that parents are able to choose from that makes it easy for them to be able to help their kids tap into a whole new world. That matters because the barrier to being able to get great books can sometimes be a burden with the rising costs of everything so I enjoy making it easier for parents to have access to such a great resource.
What's something about your work that people outside Book Harvest might not realize or see?
Event planning looks like a lot of fun from the outside, but it takes a lot of strategy & MATH! Deciding what's too much to order or buy vs. what might not be enough, deciding which area is best for a high-traffic activity, and knowing what to do when there's an emergency at the event. It's lots of hard work and pivoting at the drop of a hat.
What's one Book Harvest moment, interaction, or experience that has stayed with you?
I don't have just one; I enjoy seeing kids being so eager to pick their own books at every event they attend, or anytime someone says they've never heard of Book Harvest, then we end up seeing them at every event moving forward!
When you think about the future of Book Harvest, what are you most excited or hopeful about?
I am excited for all the children and their families who will be able to connect with a simple book and how many more possibilities the little ones will have in the future.
Finish this sentence: “I hope one day…”
I hope one day we will all see the celebration in every day!
A little about you outside of work: What's something that brings you joy right now?
Right now, I am into reading romance novels! Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorites currently. I also enjoy everything fashion and digging what's new to wear or what's coming down the runway.
