Reflections from the Hill

By Mary Mathew, Senior Director of Advocacy

I just missed the cherry blossoms on my trip to Washington, D.C., in April for a convening of the Southern Early Childhood Education Justice Network. What I experienced instead was the beauty, and power, of collective advocacy, partnership, and sustained leadership for literacy.

The Southern Early Childhood Education Justice (SECEJ) Network, an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation, is a regional coalition of diverse partners that convenes regularly to strengthen the early care and education ecosystem across the South. Book Harvest joined the SECEJ Network last year as a voice for early literacy and home libraries from birth.   

Partnership and advocacy for children comes in different forms. The following three experiences with early childhood and literacy champions on the Hill continue to inspire me. 

Advocacy in Community 

The SECEJ DC convening began in my favorite way with an opportunity to get to know each other and build connections. Representing organizations from across the 16 Southern states, coalition partners shared stories of successes, challenges, and hopes for our communities over a meal and a brilliant view of the city skyline at sunset hosted by EducationCounsel.

For the next two days, we gathered, prepared, and visited Congressional offices to advocate for the protection and strengthening of federal investments for children and families, and to communicate the value of early care and education. I joined the North Carolina team, including partners from Black Child Development Carolinas, Empowered Parents in Community, MDC, and others, as well as parent leaders and providers who shared their powerful stories. 

Left: SECEJ partners gather at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill (Photo credit: Rex Nash Media LLC). Right: The NC team with Caroline Drury, Senior Policy Advisor for U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams.

While we represented different areas, our collective focus was to ensure that young children, parents, and early educators have what they need to thrive. As a representative of Book Harvest, I emphasized how early literacy and early care and learning are inextricably linked. Investments in one area support the other, and strengthen families and communities. 

Learning and advocating together, in community, strengthened our voices and our spirits. 

Partnering with Policymakers 

When I was not with the North Carolina team, I had the opportunity to meet with staff of Members of Congress who are currently leading legislative efforts to improve book access and literacy for children across the country. 

The Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026, led by Congresswoman Foushee and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Adams, Congresswoman Ross, and Congressman Doggett, establishes a pilot program to award grants to eligible organizations for the purposes of building children’s home libraries, donating books to public libraries, and organizing literacy-related programming. For more information, read the press release here.

The Open Books, Open Doors Act, led by Senator Andy Kim, aims to improve literacy by increasing children's access to books, especially in areas with limited or no access. This bill would establish a grant program to support local and state efforts that increase community book access, literacy screening, and family literacy initiatives. You can learn more here.

Left: Mary with Alex Blanton, Legislative Assistant for U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. Right: Mary with Sarah Taffett, Legislative Correspondent, and Marshall Burkhardt, Legislative Assistant, for U.S. Senator Andy Kim.

Book Harvest is proud to endorse both of these bills and partner with staff and Congress members to grow home libraries for every child through federal policy. In our meetings, we shared ideas and opportunities for collaboration with other policymakers who care about early literacy and book ownership. 

Steadfast Literacy Champions 

Before the convening began, I arrived early to meet with someone who felt like an old friend, but with whom I had never met. 

Joe Mahar, the Head of the Surplus Books Program at the Library of Congress, and I had exchanged several emails over the past year. We had planned to meet on two occasions in the past, but had to reschedule due to bad weather and a government shutdown. 

For the past 23 years (that’s right, 23 years!) Joe has faithfully led the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program, located in the basement of the Madison Building on Capitol Hill. The program provides free books to schools, libraries, and organizations nationwide from the extra supply of the Library of Congress. 

Members of Congress and their staff can request and collect books from the program to send to their districts. Book Harvest has benefitted from several of these donations. 

Joe has quietly advocated for book access from the Hill over many years, reaching communities across the country with opportunities to grow their literacy, knowledge, and civic engagement. He is particularly passionate about ensuring that children’s books, among the greatest in demand, reach the kids who most need them.

Mary with Joe Mahar, Head of the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program 

Most people visiting the Hill will never know about Joe or his dedicated team of volunteers, but they are doing the work every day, behind-the-scenes, to spread the joy of books. 

Each of these encounters give me hope for what’s possible, including investments, policies, and systems that one day provide home libraries with an abundance of books for every child to read and love.