Let’s Talk: Beyond Author Visits, What Could Real Partnership Look Like?

Rethinking how we show up—and stay—in schools, libraries, and communities.

Hey friends,

A little over a week ago, I attended a powerful community conversation hosted by our local school district—part of a panel created specifically for district ambassadors like myself.

The theme? The Power of Community Engagement: How Can We All Get Involved?

In the room were people shaping policy and practice every day—foundation leaders, district equity and engagement directors, and folks leading family and faith-based partnerships. These are the people who fund programs, listen to families, and sit in the rooms where “yes” or “not this year” gets decided.

It wasn’t flashy. It was honest.

And what stood out to me most was this:
They’re not just looking for one-time volunteers or special guests.
They’re looking for real partners—people willing to show up consistently, to commit to schools, to build relationships that grow over time.

Not just a drop-in. A thread.

And I thought of all of you.

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Here’s the thing: real partnership isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what feels meaningful, sustainable, and connected.

It might look different for everyone.

• One author I know still does school visits—but she’s also built a writing program at her local library, giving kids a space to keep creating long after her books are read.

• A district leader I heard from reads with students every week—not in a classroom, but inside apartment complexes across the district, meeting families where they are.

• And one of the most impactful programs I’ve seen? A partnership between the district and a local faith-based organization. Volunteers commit to just one hour a week with a student—reading together, building trust, and strengthening literacy through relationship. One student. One hour. Real change.

None of this is about doing everything.
It’s about choosing to show up in ways that last.

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So I want to ask you—especially if you’re an author, educator, parent, or literacy advocate:

• Have you found a way to contribute beyond a one-time visit?

• What’s something you’ve learned about building longer-term relationships with schools, even in small ways?

• Or… where do you feel stuck? What do you wish you knew how to do?

You don’t need to have the perfect model.
But your insight—your lived experience—might be the missing piece for someone else reading this.

Drop a comment, hit reply, or just speak what’s on your heart.
Let’s start collecting the kind of wisdom that doesn’t always make it into a panel or pitch deck.

The real stuff.

My best,
Quinn 📚💕

P.S. I’ll be sharing more examples soon, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve seen something that worked—or wondered what might work—drop it in the comments. This is how we build something real: by listening to each other.

Because schools don’t just need books—they need people who stay.