| Formation | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose/focus | Education |
| Headquarters | 115 East Liberty St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 |
| Region served | Southeast Michigan, primarily Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti |
| Staff | 2 |
| Volunteers | 300 |
| Website | http://www.826michigan.org/ |
826michigan 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.
Contents |
826michigan opened its doors on June 1, 2005. Modeled after the already successful 826 Valencia, a group of local writers came together to bring the 826 mission to Ann Arbor. 826 Valencia, which was founded by writer Dave Eggers and teacher Nínive Calegari was the first of seven 826 chapters, which pioneered the organizations' dedication to student writing. Originally located on South State Street, near Briarwood Mall, 826michigan relocated to its downtown Ann Arbor location on October 1, 2007.
826michigan currently runs with only three full time employees and relies heavily on its community of over 300 volunteers. This includes board members, interns, teachers, store staff, writers, and more.
826michigan currently serves over 2000 students, aged 6–18, in Southeast Michigan. Programming includes drop-in tutoring, after school workshops, in-school residencies, and student publications. Workshops and tutoring cover all manners of writing, from poetry to college admissions essays. In accordance with the 826 mission statement, programs are dedicated to offering one-on-one attention to students and engaging them in a fun and challenging way. All programs are offered free of charge.
Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair supplies Ann Arbor with supplies for both robot enthusiasts and robots themselves, and serves as a storefront for 826michigan. In addition to selling items like positronic brains, robot arms, and a variety of mechanical toys, the store also stocks publications written by 826 students, as well as back issues of McSweeney's Quarterly Concern and other McSweeney's publications.
LSRS&R replaced 826michigan's previous operation, the Monster Union. The change largely coincided with 826michigan's move to 115 E. Liberty Street. The monsters strongly preferring the original basement location to the more high profile, downtown store, went on strike and released an album of protest songs on Halloween 2007 titled, "I am not a Philosopher, I am just a Green Monster." 826michigan's crotchety editor, Thaddeus Blotch, refused to negotiate, and the monsters thus remained at the former State Street location apart from the store. In their absence, the Monster Union's Liberty Street location was left unprotected, and in the spring of 2008 robots staged a full takeover, opening the LSRS&R in its place on May 17, 2008.
The Robot Store is part of the 826 tradition of operating a novelty store front along with the writing centers. The concept for such stores originated largely out of necessity. The flagship chapter, located at 826 Valencia Street, in San Francisco's Mission District was, and still is, housed in a commercially zoned building. Their pirate store was opened to satisfy both the zoning laws and the founders' sense of humor.[1] With the success of the pirate store, each 826 chapter has subsequently opened its own novelty store. The storefronts help to draw community attention and provide additional income for the non-profit writing centers.
During the academic school year 826michigan hosts drop-in tutoring for students aged 6–18. Volunteer tutors work one-on-one with students on homework, projects, and studying in all school subjects.
826michigan's extracurricular workshops are designed to foster creativity and strengthen writing skills in students. Workshops range from the playful to the practical (including, in 2009, Mystery Science Theater 3000-inspired film criticism and epistolary poem writing workshops),[2] and all are taught by volunteer writers, artists, educators, and publishing professionals. Workshops are offered year round and totally free of charge. 826michigan occasionally offers adult writing workshops as well.[3]
During the summer months, 826michigan works with Community Action Network and several Ann Arbor community centers (including Hikone, Green Baxter Court and Bryant) to do writing workshops with low-income communities.[4]
In 2009, 826michigan teamed up with Michigan Works! program Youth Works to develop a blogging project for Youth Works interns.[5]
Many 826michigan programs culminate in the publishing of student work. In-school residencies and partnerships with various organizations, such as Ozone House and the Neutral Zone produce books, literary journals, and zines. Some programs also allow for less traditional publishing opportunities; In both 2008 and 2009, student poetry was displayed on the walls of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus fleet.[6]
Students from 826michigan have also contributed to the Best American Nonrequired Reading series and the 826 National publication Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country, a collection of student letters to Barack Obama.
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, 826LA (in Venice, CA), 826 Seattle, and 826 Chicago opened in 2005, and 826 Boston opened in 2007. 826 National's current CEO is educator Nínive Calegari.