826 National
Encyclopedia
826 National is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students, ages 6–18, with expository and creative writing at eight locations across the USA. The chapters include 826 Valencia
in San Francisco, 826NYC
in Brooklyn, New York, 826LA
in Los Angeles, CA, 826CHI in Chicago
, 826 Seattle
, 826michigan in Ann Arbor, 826 Boston
in Boston
, and 826DC in Washington, DC (formerly the Capitol Letters Writing Center). 826 National also runs a college-success program called ScholarMatch
. The 826 National 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 826 chapter provides drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs—all free of charge. 826 chapters are especially committed to supporting teachers, publishing student work, and offering services for English language learners.
, author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
," and founder of the publishing house, McSweeney's
.
826 Valencia
runs San Francisco's only independent Pirate Supply Store. Located in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, the store is the front entrance of the tutoring center. The store sells pirate clothing, eyepatch
es, compass
es, spyglasses, pirate dice
, skull flags
, and secret treasures. Unsuspecting visitors are sometimes treated to surprise "moppings." Shoppers can also find back issues of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern
, books published by McSweeney's
, and essay and story compilations written by 826 Valencia students.
A second writing center, 826NYC
in Brooklyn
, New York
, features The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, offering capes, antimatter and secret identity kits.
Another at 826michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
is home to Liberty Street Robot Supply and Repair where everything for the robot or robot enthusiast can be found, including the Is Your Little Sister A Robot? kit.
The 826 Seattle
writing center in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood is host to the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company, outfitting adventurers, commuters and rocket scientists (professional and freelance).
826CHI, in the Wicker Park
neighborhood of Chicago
, is also the location of The Boring Store, which does not sell spy supplies like trench coats or night-vision goggles.
826LA
has opened The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, featuring products such as Mammoth Chunks, Dodo Chow and Anti-Robot Fluid (bottled water).
826 Boston
opened their doors in Fall 2007 with The Bigfoot Research Institute of Greater Boston, specializing in cryptozoology
where one can pick up a Jungle Hygiene Kit or an unofficial Yeti Hairball.
826DC officially opened in October 2010, and its storefront is The Museum of Unnatural History, which stocks items such as Unicorn Tears and Primordial Soup. It's located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC
In April 2010, 826 National launched a nonprofit organization called ScholarMatch
that connects donors with students to make college more affordable.
and Vendela Vida
, along with veteran educator Nínive Clements Calegari
, founded the first center in San Francisco, 826 Valencia
in April, 2002. 826 Valencia
has attracted teachers and supporters such as Michael Chabon
, Isabel Allende
, Keith Knight, Daniel Handler
, Amy Tan
, Robin Williams
, and Erika Lopez
. Other chapters have been equally successful in harnessing support from local literary and cultural superstars, such as writers Sarah Vowell
, Sherman Alexie
, David Sedaris
, Zadie Smith
, Melissa Mathison
, and Davy Rothbart
, as well as other notable public figures including Phil Jackson
, Ira Glass
, Jon Stewart
, and Spike Jonze
. 826 National provides urban public school students with valuable apprenticeship-style opportunities from these and other local literary arts professionals through personalized interactions and mentorship.
In Show of Hands, a collection of essays by juniors and seniors at Mission High School in San Francisco, young authors reflect on the Golden Rule, which tells us that we should act toward others as we would want them to act toward ourselves. The book, released by 826 Valencia
, features a foreword by author Joe Loya.
STEW, The Magazine About Et Cetera: The Brooklyn Issue, published by 826NYC
, highlights articles written by juniors at The Secondary School for Journalism based on interviews and independent reporting. It examines changes in Brooklyn and includes a feature on New York City's public schools.
826LA
released Sheep Can't Fly, a collection of writing exploring the nature of the hero. Their largest and most ambitious publication yet, it is composd of essays and short stories about determination, triumph and redemption, as well as a talking ferret and a squirrel.
In Our Hood: 52 Short Plays You Can Perform In Any Place is 826 Seattle
's third collaboration with Hamilton International Middle School and writing workshop students.
The 826michigan Omnibus contains work from seventy 826michigan students between the ages of six and eighteen. Included is a lengthy appendix which highlights volunteers, past workshops and in-schools, the top ten acronyms of OMNIBUS, and a word from Dr. Blotch.
The first publication of 826 Boston
, I Wish They Would Have Asked Me collects essays, poems, short stories and letters written by 11th and 12th grade students from The English High School in Jamaica Plain. The anthology covers themes of education, immigration, violence, family and perseverance with a foreword by Steve Almond
.
After the election of Barack Obama
as President of the United States, 826 students across the country were asked: "What should President Obama do now?" The results were collected in Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country: Kids' Letters to President Obama, published in conjunction with McSweeney's
. The follow-up, I Live Real Close To Where You Used To Live: Kids' Letters to Michelle Obama (and to Sasha, Malia, & Bo), was published in 2010 .
Maps and Legends is Michael Chabon
's first book of non-fiction. Proceeds from Maps and Legends will benefit 826 National.
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.-Overview:...
in San Francisco, 826NYC
826nyc
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write...
in Brooklyn, New York, 826LA
826LA
826LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Programs are structured around the beliefs that great leaps in learning can happen with...
in Los Angeles, CA, 826CHI in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, 826 Seattle
826 Seattle
826 Seattle is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. It is a regional chapter of the 826 National organization, founded by authors Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida...
, 826michigan in Ann Arbor, 826 Boston
826 Boston
826 Boston is a nonprofit writing and tutoring center located in Egleston Square, a community situated between the Jamaica Plain and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and 826DC in Washington, DC (formerly the Capitol Letters Writing Center). 826 National also runs a college-success program called ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that connects donors with prospective college students in order for them to help fund students' education.-History:ScholarMatch was launched in April 2010 by writer and philanthropist Dave Eggers...
. The 826 National 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 826 chapter provides drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs—all free of charge. 826 chapters are especially committed to supporting teachers, publishing student work, and offering services for English language learners.
History
The original chapter opened in 2002 at 826 Valencia St. in San Francisco's Mission District. The original address inspired the name "826 National". It was co-founded by educator Nínive Calegari and Dave EggersDave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is known for the best-selling memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and for his more recent work as a screenwriter. He is also the co-founder of the literacy project 826 Valencia.-Life:Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts,...
, author of "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is a memoir by Dave Eggers released in 2000. It chronicles his stewardship of younger brother Christopher "Toph" Eggers following the cancer-related deaths of his parents....
," and founder of the publishing house, McSweeney's
McSweeney's
McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
.
826 National chapters
The eight chapters that make up 826 National include unique retail stores. All proceeds from the storefronts go directly to 826 writing programs.826 Valencia
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.-Overview:...
runs San Francisco's only independent Pirate Supply Store. Located in the heart of San Francisco's Mission District, the store is the front entrance of the tutoring center. The store sells pirate clothing, eyepatch
Eyepatch
An eyepatch or eye pad is a small patch that is worn in front of one eye. It may be a cloth patch attached around the head by an elastic band or by a string, or an adhesive bandage. It is often worn by people to cover a lost or injured eye, but it also has a therapeutic use in children for the...
es, compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
es, spyglasses, pirate dice
Dice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
, skull flags
Jolly Roger
The Jolly Roger is any of various flags flown to identify a ship's crew as pirates. The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly Roger today is the skull and crossbones, a flag consisting of a human skull above two long bones set in an x-mark arrangement on a black field. This design was used by...
, and secret treasures. Unsuspecting visitors are sometimes treated to surprise "moppings." Shoppers can also find back issues of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern
Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern
Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern is a literary journal, first published in 1998, edited by Dave Eggers. The first issue featured only works rejected by other magazines, but thereafter the journal began to include pieces written with McSweeney's in mind. McSweeney’s has since published works by...
, books published by McSweeney's
McSweeney's
McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
, and essay and story compilations written by 826 Valencia students.
A second writing center, 826NYC
826nyc
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write...
in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, features The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, offering capes, antimatter and secret identity kits.
Another at 826michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
is home to Liberty Street Robot Supply and Repair where everything for the robot or robot enthusiast can be found, including the Is Your Little Sister A Robot? kit.
The 826 Seattle
826 Seattle
826 Seattle is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. It is a regional chapter of the 826 National organization, founded by authors Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida...
writing center in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood is host to the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company, outfitting adventurers, commuters and rocket scientists (professional and freelance).
826CHI, in the Wicker Park
Wicker Park, Chicago
Wicker Park is a Chicago neighborhood northwest of the Loop, south of Bucktown and west of Pulaski Park within West Town. Charles and Joel Wicker purchased of land along Milwaukee Avenue in 1870 and laid out a subdivision with a mix of lot sizes surrounding a park...
neighborhood of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, is also the location of The Boring Store, which does not sell spy supplies like trench coats or night-vision goggles.
826LA
826LA
826LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Programs are structured around the beliefs that great leaps in learning can happen with...
has opened The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, featuring products such as Mammoth Chunks, Dodo Chow and Anti-Robot Fluid (bottled water).
826 Boston
826 Boston
826 Boston is a nonprofit writing and tutoring center located in Egleston Square, a community situated between the Jamaica Plain and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston...
opened their doors in Fall 2007 with The Bigfoot Research Institute of Greater Boston, specializing in cryptozoology
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
where one can pick up a Jungle Hygiene Kit or an unofficial Yeti Hairball.
826DC officially opened in October 2010, and its storefront is The Museum of Unnatural History, which stocks items such as Unicorn Tears and Primordial Soup. It's located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC
In April 2010, 826 National launched a nonprofit organization called ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch
ScholarMatch is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that connects donors with prospective college students in order for them to help fund students' education.-History:ScholarMatch was launched in April 2010 by writer and philanthropist Dave Eggers...
that connects donors with students to make college more affordable.
Volunteer network
826 National is supported by a network of 5,000 volunteers, which includes authors, journalists, poets, teachers, and documentary filmmakers. Authors Dave EggersDave Eggers
Dave Eggers is an American writer, editor, and publisher. He is known for the best-selling memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and for his more recent work as a screenwriter. He is also the co-founder of the literacy project 826 Valencia.-Life:Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts,...
and Vendela Vida
Vendela Vida
Vendela Vida is an American novelist, journalist, and editor who lives in the Bay Area.-Books:Vida has written four books....
, along with veteran educator Nínive Clements Calegari
Nínive Clements Calegari
Nínive Clements Calegari is an educator in the United States. Following ten years of classroom experience in public schools, she became an author and founded a national literacy program.-Biography:...
, founded the first center in San Francisco, 826 Valencia
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.-Overview:...
in April, 2002. 826 Valencia
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.-Overview:...
has attracted teachers and supporters such as Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
, Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean writer with American citizenship. Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is famous for novels such as The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts , which have been commercially successful...
, Keith Knight, Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler is an American author, screenwriter and accordionist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket.-Personal life:...
, Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Amy Tan is an American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. Her most well-known work is The Joy Luck Club, which has been translated into 35 languages...
, Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
, and Erika Lopez
Erika Lopez
Erika Lopez is an American cartoonist, novelist, and performance artist of Puerto Rican descent who has published six books and speaks openly of her bisexuality...
. Other chapters have been equally successful in harnessing support from local literary and cultural superstars, such as writers Sarah Vowell
Sarah Vowell
Sarah Jane Vowell is an American author, journalist, essayist and social commentator. Often referred to as a "social observer," Vowell has written five nonfiction books on American history and culture, and was a contributing editor for the radio program This American Life on Public Radio...
, Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie
Sherman Joseph Alexie, Jr. is a writer, poet, filmmaker, and occasional comedian. Much of his writing draws on his experiences as a Native American. Two of Alexie's best known works are The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven , a book of short stories and Smoke Signals, a film...
, David Sedaris
David Sedaris
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist, writer, comedian, bestselling author, and radio contributor....
, Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is a British novelist. To date she has written three novels. In 2003, she was included on Granta's list of 20 best young authors...
, Melissa Mathison
Melissa Mathison
Melissa Mathison , sometimes credited as Josh Rogan, is an American film and television screenwriter.-Career:She is perhaps most notable for writing the screenplays for the films E.T...
, and Davy Rothbart
Davy Rothbart
Davy Rothbart is an author, filmmaker, contributor to This American Life, and the editor/publisher of Found Magazine.-Background:...
, as well as other notable public figures including Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
, Ira Glass
Ira Glass
Ira Glass is an American public radio personality, and host and producer of the radio and television show This American Life.- Early life :...
, Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
, and Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
. 826 National provides urban public school students with valuable apprenticeship-style opportunities from these and other local literary arts professionals through personalized interactions and mentorship.
826 publications
826 publishes a vast amount of student writing, in genres ranging from journalism to cartooning. Students can take pride in creating a professionally finished product and experience, appreciate, practice, and recognize great writing. Because of the well known sponsors and the professional quality of the publications, students work diligently and learn everything about the process of publishing. Thousands of student publications are released each year, from chapbooks and newspapers to quarterly journals and collaborations with acclaimed authors. The most recent publications from chapters include:In Show of Hands, a collection of essays by juniors and seniors at Mission High School in San Francisco, young authors reflect on the Golden Rule, which tells us that we should act toward others as we would want them to act toward ourselves. The book, released by 826 Valencia
826 Valencia
826 Valencia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping children and young adults develop writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.-Overview:...
, features a foreword by author Joe Loya.
STEW, The Magazine About Et Cetera: The Brooklyn Issue, published by 826NYC
826nyc
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write...
, highlights articles written by juniors at The Secondary School for Journalism based on interviews and independent reporting. It examines changes in Brooklyn and includes a feature on New York City's public schools.
826LA
826LA
826LA is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write. Programs are structured around the beliefs that great leaps in learning can happen with...
released Sheep Can't Fly, a collection of writing exploring the nature of the hero. Their largest and most ambitious publication yet, it is composd of essays and short stories about determination, triumph and redemption, as well as a talking ferret and a squirrel.
In Our Hood: 52 Short Plays You Can Perform In Any Place is 826 Seattle
826 Seattle
826 Seattle is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. It is a regional chapter of the 826 National organization, founded by authors Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida...
's third collaboration with Hamilton International Middle School and writing workshop students.
The 826michigan Omnibus contains work from seventy 826michigan students between the ages of six and eighteen. Included is a lengthy appendix which highlights volunteers, past workshops and in-schools, the top ten acronyms of OMNIBUS, and a word from Dr. Blotch.
The first publication of 826 Boston
826 Boston
826 Boston is a nonprofit writing and tutoring center located in Egleston Square, a community situated between the Jamaica Plain and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston...
, I Wish They Would Have Asked Me collects essays, poems, short stories and letters written by 11th and 12th grade students from The English High School in Jamaica Plain. The anthology covers themes of education, immigration, violence, family and perseverance with a foreword by Steve Almond
Steve Almond
Steve Almond is an American short story writer and essayist. He is the author of eight books.-Life:He was raised in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from Henry M. Gunn High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University. He spent seven years as a newspaper reporter,...
.
After the election of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
as President of the United States, 826 students across the country were asked: "What should President Obama do now?" The results were collected in Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country: Kids' Letters to President Obama, published in conjunction with McSweeney's
McSweeney's
McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers.Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: the quarterly literary journal,...
. The follow-up, I Live Real Close To Where You Used To Live: Kids' Letters to Michelle Obama (and to Sasha, Malia, & Bo), was published in 2010 .
Maps and Legends is Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
's first book of non-fiction. Proceeds from Maps and Legends will benefit 826 National.