In celebration of the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, authors Nadia and Arrington Conyers support the mantra that this national observance is a “day on, not a day off.” With that sentiment at the forefront, the dynamic duo is collecting gently used books for the Representation Matters Book Drive on Sunday, January 16, 2023, from 10 am-4 pm. The Representation Matters Book Drive is at 2614 18th Street, South Arlington, VA. Books can also be donated online on Amazon.com. 

Authors of the acclaimed book from “Lee Highway to Langston Boulevard” these educators. are dedicated to bringing a diverse range of reading material to the public schools. The mother and daughter team is donating Mirror and Reflection Corners to each of the (8) Title 1 schools in the Arlington, VA, region. The purpose is to bring a refreshing wholeness to the African American story in libraries throughout Old Dominion. Experts agree Black and brown children need positive representation to reach their aspirations; however, a recent study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center of the University of Wisconsin shows only 10 percent of published books highlight Black characters. “Reading about people who look like them and live where they live will engage their imaginations, the joy of history, and love of self,” adds Nadia.

The Conyers are on a mission to right this societal wrong by showing the wholeness of the Black experience in America. The book drive accepts children’s books that highlight the issues faced by everyday kids. So whether it’s a picture book on flying a kite, poems on being a princess, delicious kid-friendly baking recipes, or modern-day civil rights, the Conyers want the next generation to be empowered by the triumphs of those who went before them. This one-of-a-kind book drive will bring cultural consciousness and awaken curiosity in the country’s young people.

For more information, contact Nadia Conyers Email: nadiagreen@hotmail.com or

Phone:703-728-3756.