Help Us Bring Early Literacy to the Forefront at SXSW EDU 2025: Vote for Our Panel!
We’re thrilled to announce that Book Harvest co-authored a proposal for an inspiring and transformative panel discussion at SXSW EDU 2025. Titled "If We Build It, They Will Read: Igniting Literacy from Birth," our proposed panel will present a compelling case for a comprehensive early literacy system-of-care that begins at birth and continues throughout a child’s first decade. This approach is powered by parents, nourished with books, and designed to be embedded within existing systems, ensuring it’s sustainable and scalable.
Meet the Panelists
We’re honored to have an incredible lineup of thought leaders joining us for this discussion:
Ginger Young, Founder and CEO of Book Harvest (Moderator) – A passionate advocate for early literacy, Ginger has dedicated her career to ensuring that all children have access to books and the opportunity to thrive.
Joe Waters, Founder of Capita – A visionary leader focused on improving the well-being of young children and their families, Joe brings a wealth of knowledge about the intersection of early childhood development and social justice.
Joy Thomas Moore, Author and Consultant – Joy’s work as an author and consultant shines a light on the power of parenting and community support in shaping children’s futures.
Kyle Zimmer, Founder of First Book – A trailblazer in ensuring access to books and educational resources for children in need, Kyle’s insights will be invaluable as we explore how to build an equitable literacy landscape.
We hope attendees of our session will walk about with the following takeaways:
A deep understanding of why literacy is a civil right that remains out of reach for too many children in America today.
Insight into how literacy development begins at birth and the crucial role that parents and books play in this process.
A vision for how we can achieve literacy equity by implementing a sustainable early literacy system of care that supports every family.
How You Can Help
We need your support to bring this vital conversation to SXSW EDU 2025. Voting is now open for panel proposals, and your vote could make all the difference in ensuring that our session is selected.
To cast your vote, follow these simple steps:
Visit our proposal page: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/147384
Sign in or create a free account.
Vote by arrowing up (you can only vote once, so make it count!).
Voting is open from August 6-18—don’t miss this opportunity to help us ignite literacy from birth and transform the future for countless children.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to bringing this important dialogue to the SXSW EDU stage!