May 26, 2022 |Benay Hicks
From left: Tabitha Blackwell, Sarah Wood, Ginger Young
Today was an exciting day: today was the day Book Harvest’s staff and Board of Directors gathered together to welcome Tabitha Blackwell as Book Harvest Durham’s Executive Director. The organization’s founder and CEO, Ginger Young, and Board Chair, Sarah Wood, presented Tabitha with a basket of wishes from the Board and staff and shared their excitement for Tabitha’s new role.
As Executive Director of Book Harvest Durham, Tabitha oversees all of Book Harvest’s operations and programming in Durham, with a focus on program excellence, scaling the reach and scope of existing programs, and piloting new and innovative initiatives that provide books and literacy supports to Durham’s children and families.
This is a new chapter in the long story of Tabitha’s leadership at Book Harvest. From 2016 – 2021, she served on the Book Harvest Board of Directors and held the role of Board Chair for four years. During her tenure as Board Chair, the organization’s reach, staff, and budget all grew significantly, laying the groundwork for the Book Harvest’s ambitious second decade. Tabitha’s volunteer involvement was so remarkable, her young daughter thought that she worked at Book Harvest. Today, Tabitha exclaimed, “now she can actually say that!”
Welcome, Tabitha! We are so excited to have you at the helm of Book Harvest Durham.
Several Members of Book Harvest’s Staff and Board of Directors Top (left to right): Sarah Wood, Ginger Young, Meytal Barak, Gabby Angeles, Rick Hunt, Tabitha Blackwell, Sandy Heard, Taquoia Street, Charlia Vance, Tiara Lassiter McCarter, Rachel Stine, Lou Rollins, Perry Robinson, Wilmarie Cintron-Tyson, Parker Nelson; bottom (left to right): Benay Hicks, Isabel Geffner, Amy Franks, Victoria Arrivillaga, Laura Bastian Webb, Caitlyn Bergmann, Maria Garcia, Ranita Anderson
“I am thrilled to continue my journey with this organization I love, as Book Harvest Durham’s Executive Director. I have had the honor of working for over 15 years in the areas of literacy, book access, and education. This work is more than a passion; it is my life’s purpose.” – Tabitha Blackwell
Read the press release regarding Book Harvest’s expansion and the hiring of Tabitha.