826DC

826DC is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC 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 was founded in 2010 as a chapter of 826 National. Their services are structured around an understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. Their store front is Tivoli's Astounding Magic Supply Company. In November 2013, 826DC received the Literacy Award from the Library of Congress.^[1]

Overview

826DC’s programs are modeled after 826 Valencia, the inspiration for the founding of 826 National, which now includes seven chapters throughout the United States, including the Washington, DC chapter. 826 National was co-founded by author Dave Eggers and by veteran educator Ninive Calegari, whose experience as a teacher shaped the 826 model.

Their staff and trained volunteers collaborate with teachers to create project-based learning opportunities that are appropriate for their specific classroom needs and educational goals. 826DC has a storehouse of creative and expository writing workshops and projects that they have tailored for a wide range of classrooms throughout the District.

826DC works closely with teachers to design new writing workshops and long-term projects to suit specific content-areas, special curriculum units, interdisciplinary projects, and after-school programs.

To lend students the one-on-one attention they need to help them thrive as learners, 826DC provides trained tutors for every workshop and project they bring to public schools and community-based organizations in the District.

History

The flagship chapter of 826, 826 Valencia, opened in 2002 at 826 Valencia Street in the Mission District of San Francisco. The original address inspired the name 826 National. It was co-founded by educator Nínive Clements Calegari and author Dave Eggers, who also founded the independent publishing house McSweeney's.

826DC is the most recent affiliate to join the larger 826 National organization.

826DC's store front was formerly known as the Museum of Unnatural History until November 2015.

826DC's Logo

Tivioli's Astounding Magic Supply Company

Tivioli's Astounding Magic Supply Company is the only magic store between Raleigh and Maryland. Wizards, witches, and magic enthusiests alike satisfy all their shopping needs here.

The Magic 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. 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.

826DC's Programming

Inside 826DC

826DC's programming includes:

After School Tutoring

• During afternoon sessions, students receive free one-on-one homework help in all subject areas. The program is designed to provide a safe, creative place for learning, and to help students 6-18 understand and complete their homework each day. 826DC makes its best efforts to work in tandem with families and teachers to best support each individual student in their academic endeavors. In addition to homework support and completion, students read and write while in the Writing and Tutoring Center. All tutoring is done by volunteer tutors and 826DC staff.

Field Trips

• 826DC’s Field Trips program provides teachers with a creative and project-based field trip for students throughout all grade levels. Field Trips incorporate group and individual writing activities made to strengthen students’ creative confidence and their composition skills.

Workshops

• 826DC's free workshops foster creativity, strengthen writing skills, and provide students ages 6–18 with a forum to execute projects they otherwise might not have the support to undertake. 826DC Workshops are led by volunteers (including published authors, educators, playwrights, and other artists) during evenings, on weekends, and throughout the summer. Workshops cover a wide range of literary topics including music writing (“Music to My Ears”) ode writing (“Ode to My Underpants”), writing personal essays (“My Boring Life”), and tons more.

In-School Writing, Editing and Publishing Programs

• 826DC offers support to teachers in the K-12 classroom though this program. Teachers can choose the curriculum delivery model or for 826DC small group/one-on-one support. In-Schools work can range from one class period to multi-week sessions

Literacy All-Stars

• 826DC's newest program which runs every two weeks through June. Students develop a range of skills from basic phonetics to reading comprehension, as well as a deeper love for the ways writing goes hand-in-hand with reading. Literacy All-Stars is organized and led by a team of volunteers who work closely with the teachers and administration of the school to provide comprehensive reading instruction. 826DC is currently recruiting volunteer co-leads for the program. Volunteers arrive early to help set up and be available to facilitate the writing and reading mentorship between the students and their partnered volunteers (similar to a Saturday writing workshop), and then check in throughout the time to make sure that everything's going well.
  

  826 National logo

Affiliates

826NYC, 826michigan, 826CHI, 826 Boston, 826LA, 826 Valencia, 826 National

References