826 Michigan

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826 Michigan is a nonprofit organization (located in Ann Arbor, Michigan) dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

826michigan opened its doors in June of 2005.

826michigan's mission states that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. To make that a reality, they provide drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-schools tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

826michigan also believes that the more fun a student has, and the more directly a student’s interests are spoken to, the more students can find the fun in learning. That’s why their programs are more than just extra homework. Students can come to 826 for help and inspiration for all kinds of things, from poetry to storytelling, writing songs to writing college entrance essays, finishing novels to starting haikus. And of course, homework of all kinds too.

All of their programs are designed to challenge young writers and to offer enjoyable practices that ultimately strengthen each student’s power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in his or her individual voice.

[edit] The Particulars

Drop-in Tutoring: They offer one-on-one tutoring Monday through Thursday, 3:00 to 5:30PM. Tutors are available at the lab and ready to help students with writing assignments, homework, English language learning, creative writing, and publishing projects. No need to make a reservations for tutors—-students just drop in and a trained volunteer tutor will help the student with anything he or she needs!

Workshops: 826michigan offers all kinds of free after-school and weekend workshops designed to foster creativity, strengthen writing skills, and provide students with a forum for executing projects they might not otherwise have the support to undertake. Workshops range from the playful to the practical, and all are taught by volunteer writers, artists, educators, and publishing professionals.

Publishing: 826michiganhelp students publish and distribute their work, be it in their own zine, in a specially produced book, or in the literary journal they put out every year with the Neutral Zone, Ann Arbor's teen center. In 2006, 826michigan released two books of student work: Suddenly My Heart Stopped for Just a Small Portion of Time, a book of personal narratives written by fifth graders and high school seniors, and Vacansopapurosophobia: The Fear of a Blank Page, their literary journal. All publications are available on their website.

Other Programs: As an additional way of fundraising, 826michigan also offers nighttime workshops and seminars for adults. All proceeds from the fees assessed by these programs goes directly to student programming at 826michigan. Check the website, www.826michigan.org, for upcoming events.

The Monster Store: All 826 chapters have a retail store attached to their writing centers. These stores help support funding of the free programming and act as a 'doorway' to the fun activities they offer. Here's a sample of how they advertise their store to potential students: Monster Union Local 826 is a meeting place and supply store for all the monsters, beasts, spooky creatures, undead individuals, bogeymen, things that go bump in the night, formerly-frightening-turned-Hollywood-monster-ambassadors, and unusually tall people represented worldwide by the International Monster Union. Members haunt with pride. To help them in their glorious destiny, 826michigan caters in all the frightener’s needs—-fur growth serum, “closet to cave” organizers, and condiments for bland children. All proceeds go directly toward supporting the mission and programs of 826michigan.

[edit] 826 National

826 National is an umbrella organization that works toward duplicating the successful 826 Valencia program in youth writing centers across the country. 826NYC (in Park Slope, Brooklyn) opened in September 2004, and 826LA (in Venice, CA), 826 Seattle, and 826 Chicago opened in 2005. Each 826 will provide the same caliber of volunteer-based, free services for students that 826 Valencia in San Francisco has successfully developed. We couldn’t be more excited.

For more information about 826 National’s progress, please visit the following website: www.826national.org.

826 National chapters in San Francisco (826 Valencia), NYC (826NYC), Seattle (826 Seattle), Chicago (826CHI), (826LA).