Volunteers

Volunteers help us with everything, from running field trips to helping an entire classroom of local students learn how to write a story, to assisting student writers during one of our Young Authors’ Book Projects. They even help with administrative work such as graphic design and website maintenance.

Who can volunteer, you ask? In a word: you! 826 volunteers are local community residents from a wide range of professions—writers, teachers, artists, college students, parents, bankers, lawyers, and retirees.

Whatever your skills, as an 826 volunteer, you’ll positively impact youth from your community. If you'd like to volunteer at your local 826 writing center, please click the following links for information on volunteering in Ann Arbor, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

After you sign up to volunteer, you’ll be trained by our experienced staff as a mentor in one (or however many you wish!) of the following:

After School Tutoring Training
Volunteers learn best practices for tutoring students, including keeping students inspired, tackling tough assignments, getting homework finished, and forging a positive bond.

Young Authors' Book Project
Volunteers learn the ins and outs of 826 book projects. From tips for working with students one-on-one to helping students edit their writing, to what to do with questionable material that students write.

Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trip Training
Volunteers learn best practices for working with a full class, fielding difficult questions or suggestions, drawing out quiet students, and keeping the fun and productive.

Reading Strategies & ELL
Volunteers interested in serving as English Language Learners mentors, learn how to meet the more complex needs of those students who are learning English as a second language.

College Essay Training
Volunteers benefit from the experience and expertise of college admissions directors who read and select essays, and leave with the tools they need to help high school students face the most intimidating essay they’ve ever written.

Workshop Teacher Training
Volunteers develop new workshops, refine class schedules and goals, rework rough drafts of lesson plans, and receive general tips for teaching.

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