826 National is a family of eight nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing.
Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Each chapter offers drop-in tutoring, field trips, workshops, and in-schools programs — all free of charge — for children, classes, and schools with particular interests or particular needs.
826 is especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English language learners, and publishing student work. All locations offer unique retail experiences as well.
826 National
826 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-642-5905 x 204
415-642-5914 fax Email us
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Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to develop a literacy nonprofit? Are you dying to get a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and successful business model?
We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for our full-day nonprofit business and programming seminar. Teachers, tutors, nonprofit visionaries, and supporters of 826 National gather from around the globe to take part in this workshop to learn about what we do and bring fresh ideas back home.
This all day seminar will provide an in-depth look into the nuts and bolts of 826. Attendees will gain insight into organization operations, fundraising and development, volunteer recruitment and retention, 826 programming, our storefront business model, and much more. Come join us on Friday, September 10, 2010 from 9am-5pm at our founding location, 826 Valencia in San Francisco. $300 will get you breakfast, lunch, and informational take-home materials. Visit here to sign up today!
Take a look at the feedback we’ve received from workshop attendees in the past:
“It was tremendously empowering and eye-opening. I appreciated the great energy and candor of the presenters. The information shared was excellent… and often surprising.” — Amy Rogers, Charlotte, NC
“I can’t wait to go back to my school and community and talk to people, do research, [and] plant seeds to get something like this started.” — Jennifer Hekkers, Denver, CO
“Thank you! This will be extremely helpful to our young writing and tutoring center as we begin to offer more regular service. I probably got twenty good answers to small problems that I’ve faced over the past few months. It is invaluable to learn from the people who have made this model work from scratch.” — Mike Agresta, Austin, TX
Curious about what life is like when you’re as small as a pencil? Read no further than Don’t Stay Up So Late, 826michigan's newest publication of bedtime tales, mysteries, fables, and other fantastic products of the imagination. This shiny new hardcover is the much-anticipated work of first through fifth grade classes at Erickson Elementary in Ypsilanti, MI. These wild stories are accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Ian Huebert and cover everything from a monster figuring out how to get its scare back, how Michigan was actually created by a giant baby, and what happens when aliens set up camp in your attic.
In early June the book was unveiled at its site of creation with a celebratory pajama party. Many of 826michigan’s brand new authors read their stories to the cheers of their peers, teachers, families, and adoring fans. Needless to say, these young writers were standing ten feet tall as they munched on milk and cookies. In the words of 826michigan, “Students respond to our publishing program because they know we are taking their voices and what they have to say very seriously.”
826's newest chapter, 826DC, is on the hunt for an Executive Director. They are looking for a hard-working individual to join our national family and steer our capital city students to success. The Executive Director will shape the growth of the newest center from the ground up and oversee the management and operations of this rapidly-growing chapter.
Click here for a full job description including responsibilities, recommended experience and skills, and application instructions. The position will remain open until filled and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.
Earlier this year, The San Francisco Chronicle premiered an exciting new monthly column, starring our cast of San Francisco natives. The students (and self-described “jaded, cynical teenagers”) of 826 Valencia have been writing monthly reviews of current movie or DVD releases for the Bay Area paper.
Our Windy City students were center stage on Sunday, June 13th, as 826CHI celebrated the release of The 826CHI Compendium, Vol. 2 at the Printers Row Lit Fest. 826 volunteer and Hemingway Foundation/PEN award winner Brigid Pasulka presided over the ceremony, and the student authors themselves gave dramatic readings of their masterpieces. After the performance, they could be found backstage, signing copies of the anthology for their adoring fans.
The latest Compendium showcases the work of 42 student writers and the group work of 11 classes, and includes a delightful forward by local author/instructor Joe Meno. The publication features such selections as a classic tale of a terrible day involving too much ham, a gripping account of two aging friends engaged in the art of squirrel hunting, and an instructive lesson to Rod Blagojevich on how to eat chocolate – highly recommended reading for any lazy summer day!
Check out what else is blowing around at www.826chi.org, and stop by The Boring Store in-person or online to snag yourself a copy of this (and other) masterful student work.
If you haven't noticed recently, our online store is exploding with fabulous products and sweet deals for your perusal!
Recently featured in The New York Times, our brand new poster asks the question that you’ve been pondering—Are You Absolutely, Positively, and Wholeheartedly Ready to Publish Your Novel?—and helps you answer it within a 15" x 30" margin.
Also just in, acclaimed author Vendela Vida is signing and personalizing copies of her brand new novel, The Lovers, for customers who purchase it from the 826 National store; Rickshaw Bagworks is printing custom 826 National messenger bags; and Daniel Alarcon is making authors share their secret writing habits and rituals in The Secret Miracle.
And if all this wasn’t marvelous enough, we’re giving away a free copy of 826’s 2-disc benefit cd, Give.Listen.Help. Vol. 6 (featuring special recordings from over two dozen artists, including MGMT, Sonic Youth, Passion Pit, and Cold War Kids) with every order over $10. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
If you’re in or around Los Angeles this Wednesday, June 23, be sure to peek into Skylight Books at 7:30 PM for the official release of 826LA’s newest publication, You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike: Lessons Learned by the Students of John Marshall High School.
This captivating compilation of student work is the result of 826LA's annual Young Authors’ Book Project, where one local high school took on the challenge of publishing their own anthology of works on a designated theme by the end of the year. This year’s result: a book of moments that have shaped these authors lives—including encounters with Def Leppard albums, wormy peaches, and campus police—and the lessons that they’ve learned along the way.
Want to get a VIP glimpse at the process behind the book's creation? Check out this short documentary made by 826LA’s Darrell Gabonia for an in-depth look at the students and volunteers that made it all happen:
And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the book’s universe-wide release at 826LA's online store!
The last few weeks have been a busy and exciting time for 826DC. On May 19th, 826DC students, parents, teachers, staff and volunteers gathered to celebrate the release of Get Used to the Seats: A Complete Survival Guide for Freshman. For 826DC's newest publication, sixty-four seniors from Cardozo and Wilson High Schools honed in on their intimate wisdom of high school to offer practical, warm, often hilarious, and always-honest advice from their journey.
Among the sage counsel included: “Teachers and homework will not hurt you. Turn off your cell phone. Let your mind be reckless. And get used to the seats!”
The book also includes a special introduction by film director and screenwriter Spike Jonze. It is currently available for purchase on 826DC’s website and in bookstores nationwide.
And on June 5th, 826 National’s newest chapter was featured in the Washington Post in an article highlighting everything from publishing student work in the District to moustache growth and unnatural history. You can read the article and browse the accompanying photo gallery in the online archives.
On June 2nd at the historic Women's Building in San Francisco, 826 Valencia celebrated the release of their latest Young Authors' Book Project publication, We The Dreamers: Young Authors Explore the American Dream. Proud juniors and seniors from Mr. Rose's and Ms. Leathers' English classes at John O'Connell High School came together with their families, friends, teachers, and 826 Valencia volunteers and staff members to celebrate their hard work, read their essays, and sign copies of the gorgeous new book.
Beginning in January 2010, fifty students worked for over four months to write, edit, and design the publication of essays. The topics covered range widely from personal dreams and family histories to fulfilling destinies and honoring heroes of the past. Each student spent hours crafting their pieces with 826 Valencia tutors, writing between ten and twelve drafts each.
In their introduction to the book the student editorial board wrote:
"As time passed, the project became more personal, more than just writing. Many of us hadn't thought before about what our dream was. Now we had the chance to take something of ourselves, words that we may have never said to anyone, and put them on paper. We got the chance to reflect on our own experiences, to see how hard some of them have been, and to see how strong we have been. The essays became our life stories."
High school junior, Ares Alemendares said of the project, " I get it now. I thought this was just for a grade. But tonight, I realized this (book) was a big deal."
Congratulations to these newly published authors on their fabulous work! We the Dreamers is available for purchase at 826 Valencia's Pirate Store in San Francisco, through their online store, and in bookstores nationwide.
All spring the students of 826 Boston have been pouring out their thoughts and filling their notebooks with pages of work to show their tutors. Why so busy? Because 826 Boston just celebrated the release of not one, but two brand new books!
Along with having two new and amazing books to read, you can also get a behind-the-scenes look at both projects. Check out this video profile of Ellie Nguyen, one of the students who wrote and edited Small Things Can Grow Tall: Words From the Underestimated. We also have an in-depth look at the creation of We Turned Back To See Where We Came From, featured below.
Keep track of these projects and all things 826 Boston on www.826boston.org
What have our little 826NYC-ers been up to lately? Take a gander at these stories crafted during last month's "H. Mildew's Story Factory" workshop in which students were challenged to write tales stellar enough to dry out editor Mr. Mildew's grumpy moods. Featured in the 826NYC Writing Gallery are Super Grandpa Vs. Frankenstein II by Pratham, age 7, and Just a Typical Day in Banana City by Noemi, age 8. These and many other masterpieces were published together in the brand new chapbook, The Most Amazing Short Stories 2010, at the end of the workshop.
Sad that your favorite young author missed out? No worries, 826NYC's gearing up for "Puppet Mania," "Stop, Collaborate and Listen," and many other fabulous workshops this summer. Visit their calendar to sign your students up today!
826 National is thrilled to announce the newest member of our Board of Directors, Reece Hirsch. Reece has been a longtime friend of 826, serving as a legal consultant to both 826 National and 826 Valencia since 2002. He has always been there for us, offering unbelievable amounts of his time and many talents. Reece is a partner in the San Francisco office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, specializing in privacy, security and healthcare law. He's also an author and his first novel, a legal thriller entitled The Insider, was just published by Berkeley Books. We are so excited and lucky to have him join our board.
826 National proudly announces a brand-new project called ScholarMatch, a
nonprofit website that connects donors with students who need money to
fund their college education. Students from San Francisco Bay Area high
schools were hard at work over the last few weeks creating web profiles
for the launch of the project. These profiles include information about
their career goals, the amount of money needed for college, and their
educational hopes. Donors then visit the profiles of these outstanding
students and pledge their donations.
Right now, ScholarMatch is open only to SF Bay Area students. In time, we
have plans to expand the site to accommodate students across the country.
We're hoping that ScholarMatch will send thousands of students to college
while enlightening the public about the extraordinary students we know so
well at 826. It's only been a short time since ScholarMatch launched and
we've already raised enough money, thanks to some very special donors, for
two college-bound scholars. This is just the beginning of the greatness we
envision from ScholarMatch. Register as a potential donor today and invest
yourself in the success of a new generation.
ScholarMatch was launched with generous support of the Gerbode Foundation
and Walnut Fund. We invite you to visit http://www.scholarmatch.org to
keep an eye on this exciting project and help us spread the word!
Kudos to the other winning organizations, including: Cellpoems, Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and United Through Reading. What an honor to be listed alongside such other inspiring projects!
If you’ve been spying around Wicker Park recently, you’ve certainly noticed exciting things going on at 826CHI. Last month, students took part in a two-day program called the Chicago Zine Fest. Aided by local independent publishers and artists, Chicago students were shown the skills and secrets to sharing their work with the masses. Also, as April is National Poetry Month, students in 826CHI’s afterschool tutoring program have been practicing their prose. You can find examples of their hard work on A Wig If You Want It, the 826CHI student blog. Last but not least, eighth grader Sheila McIntosh, a long-standing figure in 826CHI’s workshop scene, recently won the National Golden Key award for her incredible story, “Wind and Rain.”
So that’s what the kids have been doing, but what about the grown-ups? They've been dancing their corsages off at 826CHI’s annual prom, of course! This year’s theme was Prom Hanks, inspired by the two-time Oscar winner himself. Attending Prom Hanks entailed dressing as any person, place, or thing found in a Tom Hanks movie. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Mr. Hanks found out about the big night and sent 826CHI a treasure trove of goods, including a signed Wilson volleyball for the evening! Check out the pictures at www.826chi.org and stay tuned for next year’s sure-to-be awesome 826CHI Prom.
TUTORING
826 sites are packed five days a week with students who come in for free one-on-one tutoring after school. More »
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STUDENT PUBLISHING
Each year we partner with an acclaimed author to work closely with a teacher and students from a low-income school to create an unique and professionally-made book.
More »
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FIELD TRIPS
Up to four times a week at many of our sites, 826 welcomes an entire class for a morning of high-energy learning.
More »
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IN-SCHOOLS
It is not feasible for all classes to come to us, so we dispatch teams of volunteers into local schools.
More »
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WORKSHOPS
826 offers free workshops that provide in-depth writing instruction in a variety of areas that schools often don’t include in their curriculum. More »
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SCHOLARSHIPS
We award three $10,000 scholarships each spring for students entering college the upcoming fall. More »
Have you ever wanted to know what it takes to develop a literacy nonprofit? Are you dying to get a behind-the-scenes look at a unique and successful business model?
826's newest chapter, 
Our Windy City students were center stage on Sunday, June 13th, as 826CHI celebrated the release of The 826CHI Compendium, Vol. 2 at the Printers Row Lit Fest. 826 volunteer and Hemingway Foundation/PEN award winner Brigid Pasulka presided over the ceremony, and the student authors themselves gave dramatic readings of their masterpieces. After the performance, they could be found backstage, signing copies of the anthology for their adoring fans.
Recently featured in 
Rickshaw Bagworks is printing 
If you’re in or around Los Angeles this Wednesday, June 23, be sure to peek into Skylight Books at 7:30 PM for the official release of 826LA’s newest publication, You Never Forget How to Ride a Bike: Lessons Learned by the Students of John Marshall High School.
The last few weeks have been a busy and exciting time for 
On June 2nd at the historic Women's Building in San Francisco, 
All spring the students of 826 Boston have been pouring out their thoughts and filling their notebooks with pages of work to show their tutors. Why so busy? Because 826 Boston just celebrated the release of not one, but two brand new books!
Hitting the shelves this month are 
What have our little 826NYC-ers been up to lately? Take a gander at these stories crafted during last month's "H. Mildew's Story Factory" workshop in which students were challenged to write tales stellar enough to dry out editor Mr. Mildew's grumpy moods. Featured in the 826NYC Writing Gallery are 
826 National is thrilled to announce the newest member of our Board of Directors, Reece Hirsch. Reece has been a longtime friend of 826, serving as a legal consultant to both 826 National and 826 Valencia since 2002. He has always been there for us, offering unbelievable amounts of his time and many talents. Reece is a partner in the San Francisco office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, specializing in privacy, security and healthcare law. He's also an author and his first novel, a legal thriller entitled 
826 National proudly announces a brand-new project called 
Aided by local independent publishers and artists, Chicago students were shown the skills and secrets to sharing their work with the masses. Also, as April is National Poetry Month, students in 826CHI’s afterschool tutoring program have been practicing their prose. You can find examples of their hard work on 
