826LA's Annual Report for 2018-19 by 826LA

Annual Report 2018â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2019

Contents

Letter from the Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 My Friend Sally (student writing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04 2018-2019 at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05 The Power of One-on-One Attention: Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 Jocelyn and Christian (student and volunteer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 What We Accomplished Together: Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Tutoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Field Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Oh, Hot Cheetos (student writing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Christian and Trevor (student and volunteer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 In-Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Writers’ Rooms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 College Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Young Authors’ Book Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 John Hangry, the Flying Hot Dog (student writing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Come Together: Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Susan Hamilburg (volunteer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Risk It (student writing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Time Travel Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Stephen Reidmiller and Beth Morrell (Creative Cohort volunteers) . . . . . . . . 38 Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Fast Forward: What’s Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 How Can I Help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 How Can My Company Help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 What Other Ways Can My Company Help? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 You Helped Us Help Students: Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Staff & Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

A Letter

From the Executive Director

826LA volunteers said:

“ ‘Raise A Voice’ means to bring out the artist in someone.” “ We live in a day and age when everyone is just trying to raise their voice louder than the other person, but when I’m here at 826LA, I feel like we’re helping students find a voice.” “ We’re celebrating minority culture here at 826, and raising that voice as well.” “ When we’re able to articulate ourselves, we’re able to understand ourselves and the world better.” Raise A Voice honors the powerful voices our students develop with the help of our dedicated volunteers and celebrates the power of one-on-one attention.

The diversity and thoughtfulness in how volunteers define Raise A Voice reflects the diversity and thoughtfulness of 826LA volunteers themselves. The 1,166 volunteers who supported 826LA’s programs enabled us to provide writing support and homework assistance for 8,770 students from under-resourced communities in Los Angeles. Our volunteers are more than just a resource that narrows the achievement gap; they are a vital part of an ecosystem that is helping our students thrive. In the 2018-19 fiscal year, they donated 21,768 hours of their time. And while you can’t put a price on helping a young person grow, one estimate values our volunteers’ time at more than $550,000 last year.* Whenever we tell a volunteer that we want to honor them, the response is usually: “Thank you, but my reward is being here at 826LA, working with the students.” I believe they are speaking to one of 826LA’s core values: We work together, support, and learn from one another. Learning should never be a one-way street. Every effective volunteer sees each student as an individual who contains countless stories, ideas, and possibilities. This mutuality is reflected in the impact of our work. Not only do 83% of AfterSchool Tutoring students express pride in their writing, but 98% of parents with students in the program say their children’s writing has improved. Please read on for more highlights from the year and plans for the future. If you’re inspired, we hope you will consider volunteering or donating, and joining this amazing community.

*THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR

Sincerely,

Joel Arquillos EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2018–2019

“ Sally is an astronaut that lives on Earth in an apartment downtown. She lives with horses, dogs, and her best friend Layla — that’s me! Sally likes having ponytails because she doesn’t like her hair in her face. She likes chocolate doughnuts from Donut Space, which is one year away. She brings me back donut holes. She has an orange rocketship. When she is gone, I walk around Echo Park and I look up at the stars and think of her.” — F R O M “ M Y F R I E N D S A L LY ” B Y M E L O D Y M . , AST student in Echo Park, in The Other Dimension

HOURS VOLUNTEERED

S TUD ENTS SERVED

L AUSD TE ACHERS SUPPORTED

B O O K S & N E W S PA P E R S P U B L I S H E D

At a Glance 05

Volunteers

The Power of One-on-One Attention

“ [I volunteered at Scholarship Day] because I am a first generation student and a lowincome student, and I thought it was cool to connect with [my student] through the process, because I didn’t have anyone. I feel like I can make a difference.” — C A R A , 826LA Volunteer

If students are the heart of 826LA, volunteers are the backbone. In 2018–2019, more than 1,000 individuals signed up for Volunteering 101 training, and almost 60% returned to volunteer at least once. That’s on top of the many volunteers who help out with Field Trips, Tutoring, Workshops, and In-Schools programs year after year. Finding volunteers who are free for daytime programming was sometimes a challenge, but a new AmeriCorps VISTA member helped hugely with recruitment and retention. Volunteering at 826LA takes many forms, including service-learning partnerships with universities and internships for former students. Michelle was a senior at Manual Arts High School in South LA when she worked on the 2013 Young Authors’ Book Project. Working closely with a volunteer motivated her to pursue a career in education and help others. She said, “I realized I wanted to become more involved with my school and find a way to become a leader within my community.” As a third-year student at UC Riverside, Michelle applied to become an intern at the 826LA Writers’ Room at Manual Arts High School, where it all began. Now an intern, she helps motivate a new class of students, just like 826LA volunteers inspired her.

VOLUNTEERS

H O U R S D O N AT E D

Q&A J O C E LY N & C H R I S T I A N

Christian and Jocelyn are “Reading Buddies.” Every Saturday, for two and a half years, the duo has enjoyed reading together at 826LA’s Barnacle’s Bookworms Workshop. Christian has seen Joceyln “go from someone who may be struggling a little bit and really not having a lot of confidence, to someone who has the most confidence out of anyone.”

How did you hear about 826LA? C H R I S T I A N I heard a bunch of podcasts supporting 826LA. I was living in Seattle at the time and I remember wishing there was a place like that there. I did some research and found out there actually was [a similar organization] and got involved there. I moved to Los Angeles, and continued volunteering at 826LA.

What keeps you coming back as a volunteer? C H R I S T I A N I like having something that I do every week that feels like a positive thing that I am doing for the world. It’s a place where you can come in and not only help improve things in the city and in the world, but also you get to see that change, which is kind of special.

Do you have any favorite memories working with Jocelyn? C H R I S T I A N Yes! When we finished our first chapter book together. It was a Mercy Watson book. She wasn’t sure she was able to pull it off, and I was like, “You can do it!”

Three words to describe Barnacle’s Bookworms Workshop? J O C E LY N Books, pencils, and drawings! C H R I S T I A N Books, pencils, and drawings is spot on, but I would say growth, books, and effort.

Three words to describe Jocelyn? C H R I S T I A N Energetic. Curious. Hard-working.

What do you enjoy about working with Christian? J O C E LY N We read! But not all times…When we don’t, I work on my book! It’s called Town One. It’s about a girl called Claudine and her sister Baby. It’s a chapter book. I want to make it 200 chapters.

Programs

What We Accomplished Together

Field Trips 826LA invites classes to participate in free, writing-based field trips. Supported by volunteers, students work collaboratively while brainstorming, writing, and editing original work. At the end of a field trip, students leave with something tangible—a bound book or revised essay—and confidence in their ability to write, create, and inspire.

Workshops

Tutoring During the school year, we offer tutoring Monday through Thursday afternoons for students ages 6–11, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings for students ages 11–18. Students gather at our writing labs in Mar Vista and Echo Park to complete their homework, read, and respond to writing prompts. At each step of the way, a caring volunteer is within an arm’s reach to offer assistance. 10

Led by volunteers who have a passion for sharing their areas of expertise, 826LA Workshops give students the chance to produce stories and poems, chapbooks and ‘zines, and our student newspapers: Viva Mar Vista & Good Times.

In-Schools WRITERS’ ROOMS Classroom-sized versions of 826LA, conveniently located on the campuses of two high schools: Manual Arts in South LA, and Roosevelt in Boyle Heights. COLLEGE ACCESS We partner with schools and educational organizations to ensure that students’ personal statements show their full, resilient, brilliant selves. YO U N G AU T H O R S’ B O O K PROJ EC T Each year, 826LA works with students from one high school to write, edit, and publish a beautiful book of their work.

Summer Programs School’s out, but creative writing is in. Our week-long Summer Writers Workshop allows high school students to work with renowned local writers and artists, and Write On! Summer Camp helps younger students develop English literacy as they write stories, take field trips, and make friends.

Tutoring

STUDENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

O F P A R E N T S S AY STUDENT’S GR ADES H AV E I M P R OV E D

826LA’s After-School Tutoring program (for elementary school students) and Tuesday and Thursday Night Tutoring program (for middle and high school students) provide much more than homework help. They’re the foundation of years-long friendships and a space where students can think freely, breathe easy, and write brilliantly. It’s no wonder that retention rates are high, and we see many students graduate from AST to TNT. In 2018-2019, new Tutoring staff grew into their roles, provided activities for students during a strike by Los Angeles Unified School District teachers in early 2019, and thought through how to better support students after they completed their homework. We began allocating more structured time to reading and writing, and also created “Chill Out Zones” for students needing a break from the hubbub. 14 12

“ Nacho dude was minding his own business when a portal opened. He is from another dimension. The first thing that he said was, ‘I need you to come with me, please.’ Nacho dude was like, ‘What?’ and Mich, the other nacho, was cool and they hung out together. The end.” — F R O M “ N A C H O T I M E ” B Y D I E G O W. , AST student in Echo Park, in When I Said I Didn’t Like You, I Lied

Field Trips

“ The toilet was about to eat a hospital when he was stopped by a friendly vampire named Jessica V., who ‘works’ there, pretending to be a doctor (so she can eat blood without hurting anyone).” — FRO M “ THE TO ILE T WITH THE M OS T PRO B LEMS: THE ANTID OTE” b y M s . M a s o n a n d M s . Kw a n ’s 3 r d g r a d e r s a t Normandie Avenue Elementar y

S TUD ENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

O F T E A C H E R S S AY T H E P R O G R A M HAS GIVEN THEM NEW IDEAS FOR HOW TO APPROACH WRITING IN THEIR CL ASSROOMS 14

One of the biggest challenges faced across programs was the LAUSD teacher strike in January. For the Field Trips program, this meant numerous canceled trips, but staff used the lull as an opportunity to invite non-target schools (i.e. schools with a lower percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch) into our spaces. The non-target schools made donations totaling $1,850, which went directly to covering transportation costs for target schools later in the year. After the strike, the Field Trips calendar filled up big time—so much so that we conducted a special “March Madness” volunteer recruitment campaign. Volunteers rose to the occasion, and we threw pizza parties to thank them. In spite of the so-called madness, the Field Trips program still made time to update its curriculum. Our new STEM field trip proved especially popular in Mar Vista. And after many years as the cantankerous voices behind our Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trip, Mr. Barnacle and his wife Mrs. Barnacle were replaced by their non-gender-specific relative, Professor Barnacle. As it turns out, Professor Barnacle is just as eccentric as the rest of the family. 15

Red and hard, You taste spicy. You smell hot and sweet, Made from corn meal mash. Poured into a machine, 300 degrees fahrenheit. You feel bumpy. You make a CRUNCH! sound. You make me happy. You make happy and lucky. I promise I will not leave you hanging, Off the roof. I will never eat Takis or Doritos. I love you, Cheetos!

Oh, Hot Cheetos

— J A C O B C . F. , AST student in Echo Park, in When I Said I Didn’t Like You, I Lied

Q&A C H R I S TA N & T R E V O R

Christian is a student in 826LA’s Tutoring program in Echo Park. His tutor, Trevor, helped light a fire (almost literally, because dragons) in his approach to creative writing.

What have the two of you been working on together? T R E V O R Christian and I have been working together for almost one entire school year. I believe he was one of the first people to finish his piece, even with — how many words were required? C H R I S T I A N Three hundred. T R E V O R Three hundred! And it wasn’t a fluffy three hundred. I read it. It was a good piece. C H R I S T I A N I wrote about a burrito that was a dragon and it had jalapeño legs and hot sauce spit.

Christian, how have you grown with Trevor’s help? C H R I S T I A N You’re the best tutor I ever had. You think I can do better, and you push me to do better. That’s what I like about you. Even though I think I can’t do it, you help me to realize I can do it.

Workshops

“ Stop wondering if you are good enough. You are good enough. You are good enough for everyone in your life. You are good enough for yourself. Take all your insecurities and doubts and silence them with some Britney Spears and endless hours of dancing in your bedroom.” — F R O M “ H O W T O B E Y O U R B E S T Y O U ! ” B Y M A D E L I N E T. , Summer Writers Workshop student in Mar Vista, in Trust Me, I Am Not Weak

STUDENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

“ Putting words on paper without second guessing myself has never come easy,” said volunteer Taylor Saldana, who led 826LA’s popular Dungeons & Dragons Storytelling Workshop in the spring. “That obstacle is the very reason why [DnD] enthralls me. You aren’t trying to ‘create’ in the normal sense; rather you get to take part in a grand adventure. The pressure to create dissipates, and you’re left with all the good bits: the fun and the story.” The Workshops program offered many grand adventures this year, from Journalism to Writing for Plants. (Pro tip: Never write free verse for a rhododendron. They are such traditionalists.) We continued to offer workshops at the Hammer and Broad Museums. Our partnership with the latter allowed us to bring a large group of Tutoring students to the Broad where they got to view and respond to visual art. The program continues to be a great gateway into all things 826, and an opportunity for

students to work with LA-based artists of all stripes. And, of course, it’s a space where students and volunteers come together. Brandon, a student who has participated in Barnacle’s Bookworms for five years, described his reading buddy, Bob, this way: “He makes it easy, and he doesn’t put any pressure on me. He makes reading fun because sometimes he makes jokes while we’re reading, and, well, the hats. We have a whole system. Basically we buy imaginary hats with how many points we earn. I have ‘Bob Points’ and he has ‘Brandon Points.’ If I buy a Smart Hat, Bob has to act smart that day. If someone does something good, we get points. We have Disgusted Hat, Fancy Hat, and others.” Hats off to that!

In-Schools

“ She wrapped her arms around me and started to cry again. ‘I love you, baby, no matter what. I love you just the way you are. You’re always going to be my little girl, and whether you’re gay, straight, or bi, that isn’t going to change the fact that you came out of me… I love you mama, never forget that. I accept you.’ I could hear the trembling in her voice. Being in her arms made me feel safe.” — F R O M “ F I N D I N G M Y S E L F,” B Y A N O N Y M O U S , University High School Student, in Snapshots

When students can’t come to 826LA, we go to them. As we focus on expanding our Writers’ Rooms, we are gradually sunsetting other In-Schools programming. Nevertheless, in 2018-2019, volunteers helped high school seniors—and more juniors than ever—get started on their personal statements for college. For the third year, we also partnered with Ms. Liaw’s class at University High School to help 9th graders write personal essays. Topics ranged from coming out to starting high school, with a common thread of self-expression and self-acceptance. 22

S TUD ENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

O F T E A C H E R S S AY T H E PROGR AM MET THEIR CURRICUL AR NEEDS

O F T E A C H E R S S AY 8 2 6 L A V O L U N T E E R S W E R E W E L LTR AINED IN SUPPORTING THEIR STUDENTS

Writers’ Rooms

Building on the success of our Writers’ Room at Manual Arts High School, this year 826LA opened its second Writers’ Room, at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights. The school has collaborated with 826LA on its Ethnic Studies books and other projects for many years. Now, as Executive Director Joel Arquillos said at the grand opening in March, “the Writers’ Room is an awesome place to hang out. High school is a stressful time. Just knowing there is a place with a comfortable couch, great books to read, and adults who value what you have to say makes a difference. Already students are coming here to relax during breaks, and to say things like, ‘I have to write a poem for my next class. Help!’”

Over at Manual Arts, the Writers’ Room hosted a Writers in the Writers’ Room panel featuring alumni who authored previous editions of the Young Authors’ Book Project (see page 28). Recruiting volunteers to work in our Writers’ Rooms is a challenge, given that much of our base is closer to Mar Vista or Echo Park. Service learners from USC were instrumental in supporting the Writers’ Room at Manual Arts, and we are strategizing about similar partnerships with Cal State LA and East LA College to support the Writers’ Room at Roosevelt High School.

“ You meet thousands of people and none of them really get you. Then you meet one person and your life changes forever.” — F R O M “ T H E S H E L L T H A T F I N A L LY B R O K E O P E N ” B Y A L E X A V. , Manual Arts High School student, in Sounds of Freedom: Beats on Concrete

S TUD ENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

College Access

“ I worked with two different students. Both of them kind of reminded me of myself…One of the girls had my undergrad alma mater on her list, and so I thought was really cool. The other student had a circumstance of growing up similar to mine. I could relate to both of them. It made it even more impactful.” — S I D N E Y, Scholarship Day Volunteer

S TUD ENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED P E R S O N A L S TAT E M E N T W E E K E N D

By helping students show their full selves and their unseen strengths in their personal statements, 826LA plays a vital role in supporting college access for under-resourced communities. A record 244 students participated in our 9th Annual Great Los Angeles Personal Statement Weekend, where they worked one-on-one with a tutor for five intensive hours, and emerged with full drafts of their college essays. In the spring, we followed up with Scholarship Day to help many of the same students write scholarship application essays. Fall was also college application season in our Writers’ Rooms: At Roosevelt, we supported 93% of students headed to four-year colleges in writing their personal statements. At Manual Arts, we supported 89%. 826LA staff and volunteers also worked with many students headed to community colleges. A Personal Statement Weekend participant explained what having individualized support during the stressful process of applying to college meant to her: “My tutor helped me realize that I actually have done a lot in my four years of high school. She made me realize that I am a hardworking person.... It’s difficult to talk about yourself, but she made me feel really outstanding.” 27

Young Authors’ Book Project

Beginning in February 2019, 826LA partnered with two teachers at Manual Arts High School and their classes to write personal essays guided by the question, “What makes you feel free?”

Using their own music selections to create a “freedom mixtape” (aka Spotify playlist), this year’s authors wrote about how freedom, or the journey to find freedom, impacts their lives.

At the end of the project, student Jenny D. thanked 826LA for “encouraging me to write an amazing story [and] letting me know how it feels to be an author.”

Students studied the Mississippi Freedom Schools of the 1960s, which integrated music into the curriculum as a way of sparking critical and creative thinking. Listening to artists ranging from Nina Simone to Kendrick Lamar, students compiled a professionally published book designed by verynice, an LA-based design studio.

Cristina Henríquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans, made a guest appearance at the Writers’ Room, where she worked with student author Tania S., who was later invited by Dave Eggers to represent 826LA at the International Congress of Youth Voices in Puerto Rico.

“ Letting you in on our playlist is like letting you into our deepest emotions. Sharing what music flows through us is like opening up and showing you our hearts and what makes them beat, what’s broken them, and what has healed them.” —S T U D ENT ED ITO R IA L B OA R D, excerpt from introduction of Sounds of Freedom: Beats on Concrete

S TUD ENTS SERVED

VOLUNTEERS

Once upon a time there was a very muscular flying hot dog named John Hangry, with wings made of buns. His giant orange wingbuns flew behind him like a cape, with bird legs. John lived in the clouds and loved going to the gym. He had big muscular arms, and carried a pink, red, and gold umbrella. John always wore sunglasses, only revealing his big bushy black eyebrows. He had a mohawk on half his head. John always wore his signature gold chain, with a dollar sign.

Japan, Africa, Paris, and Hot Dog Land. He really wanted to go see his friends and family in Hot Dog Land, which included candy hot dogs, burnt hot dogs, waffle hot dogs, and all the other delicious hot dogs.

John Hangry, the Flying Hot Dog

the world. He desperately wanted to see

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; M S . T AY L O R â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S S T U D E N T S F R O M R O S E M O N T A V E N U E E L E M E N T A R Y

More than anything, John wanted to travel

Tell Me A Story

Events

Come Together

Themed “Raise A Voice,” our fifth annual Tell Me A Story event showcased the powerful voices that 826LA students develop with support from dedicated volunteers. On June 5, 2019, supporters gathered at the Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles, to hear 826 co-founder Dave Eggers, actor Kelly McCreary, and comic Danielle Perez tell stories of the mentors who changed their lives. As always, student voices rang the loudest. After-School Tutoring student Tito demonstrated natural comic timing while co-hosting with volunteer Monica Lawson. High school students Ashla and Tania read powerful personal essays about community and resilience. The event brought in more than $580,000 to support free writing and tutoring programs. “I believe deeply that the written word is vital to nurturing a democracy and fostering civic life,” Eggers said. Musician Jackson Browne closed the show with an intimate set that provided a soulful echo to the evening’s stories.

Half Half Half Half Half Marathon

If brevity is the soul of wit, is the same true of fundraising runs? Based on what transpired at 826LA’s second annual Half Half Half Half Marathon (that’s .826 miles, roughly), the answer is YES. Raising $50,000 for 826LA’s youth writing programs, the event drew “athletes” in all senses of the word, from teams of volunteers with names like The Running Jokes and The Mispellings, to students and their families. The course was short but packed with obstacles that played to everyone’s strengths (and weaknesses): a dinosaur egg hunt, a three-legged race, and a poetry slam. Writer and Dinner Party Download co-host Rico Gagliano emceed the event and presented prizes for First Place, Top Fundraising Team, and Best Costume. Of course, the real winners were 826LA students.

Susan Hamilburg VOLUNTEER

I began volunteering at 826LA after reading an article in the New York Times. I had been teaching for 22 years in an LAUSD elementary school and wanted to broaden my experience. I continue volunteering because I believe in the mission, the students, and their families. I love the challenges and the rewards. I see the effect that a one-toone connection with a student can have. Here’s what I also love: walking into the Mar Vista Writing Lab and hearing laughter, seeing knitted brows and two heads bent over an assignment, hearing the question “What do you think?” and the greetings of the committed and caring staff and volunteers. Of course, I love the wacky fundraising marathon, the Time Travel Mart, and the buzz of creativity. The good news is that you don’t have to be a teacher to volunteer. You just have to be a human. It’s important and fun work. And there’s a great coffee shop right next door!

Risk It E XCERP T

Miguel C. answers questions written by visitors of the Time Travel Mart in Mar Vista in search of guidance. Here are Miguel’s suggestions.

How can I make a friend? Things that can help when you’re making a friend would be having a charismatic personality and not being awkward. Talk about things that both of you are interested in. Don’t be disturbing or rude to the person. To the people who are shy and awkward when it comes to making a friend, I’ve been there and I know it’s tough. Sometimes you have to risk it for the biscuit and get yourself out there.

What should I do if I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up? Be a plumber. There’s not enough plumbers. It’s a high-paying job. Or an electrician. My uncle is an electrician and he makes a lot of money and owns buildings. It’s crazy.

Your friend tells you that their parents are getting a divorce and they have to choose who to live with. What do you say to them? It depends on the parents. I have a friend who sometimes lives with his dad and sometimes lives with his mom. Go with who you’re more comfortable with. That’s what I would do. If you feel comfortable with both, I think it would be a good idea to trade back and forth one month at a time. It happens a lot honestly. And it’s not bad, it’s just life.

What should I do if I get lost in the forest? Call an Uber.

— M I G U E L A N G E L C . , T N T student in Mar Vista, in Viva Mar Vista 35

Time Travel Mart

Step into the Time Travel Mart in Mar Vista or Echo Park, and you will be transported to a world of tiny mysterious staircases, glowing wormholes, and great weird gifts for the hard-to-shopfor person in your life. It’s no wonder that our Time Travel Marts not only raise funds for 826LA programs, but also recruit curious and creative volunteers. As we always say: Come for the Robot Milk, stay for the youth writing programs. In 2019, the Time Travel Mart leapt into the fourth dimension (the internet) and raised $51,047 via Kickstarter for a new project called Time Scouts (read more about it and its creators on page 38). It’s a book, it’s a writing prompt, it’s a badge you can wear with pride! Supported by 1,227 backers from around the world, Time Scouts carries 826LA’s ideas about imagination and education far and wide. Special thanks to Marc Evan Jackson! 36

Some of 826LA’s most excellent ambassadors are our friends at Critical Role, a wildly popular web series in which voice actors play Dungeons & Dragons live. Fans of the show tend to be fans of storytelling in all forms, and they’re a goodhearted bunch who’ve supported 826LA financially and as volunteers. To say thank you, we designed a Deck of Many Things: Time Traveler’s Edition, which sold like time-traveling hotcakes. We also launched new collaborations with the brands Mokuyobi and These Are Things, resulting in custom slushee machine and dino egg patches, and pins based on popular products. All that, and we’re still the #1 supplier of Mammoth Chunks in the entirety of spacetime.

Q&A STEPHEN REIDMILLER & BETH MORRELL

We rely on volunteers behind the scenes as well as in our writing spaces! 826LA’s Creative Cohort is a group of designers, illustrators, writers, filmmakers, and more who pour their creative juices (literally, in the case of Banging Bob’s Stone Smashed Juice in flavors like Mostly Twigs) into Time Travel Mart products and other campaigns. In 2019, two Cohort members, the husband-wife team of Stephen Reidmiller and Beth Morrell, created the Time Scouts Handbook, a retro-futuristic guide to time travel through writing. Thanks in part to a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, the handbook includes Time Badges that ambitious scouts can earn. Time Scouts also became the theme of 826LA’s summer programming. 38

How did you first get involved with 826LA? S T E P H E N I originally found out about 826LA when a coworker of mine at M&C Saatchi LA organized an after-school program where we came in and helped students create advertisements for the Time Travel Mart. B E T H I had heard of 826LA from The Dead Authors Podcast way-back-when, so when Stephen told me about this project he was working on (I remember it as being on our first date, although he doesn’t agree...), I was super excited. 826 gives artists a chance to use their skills while truly making an impact on others, which is a rare non-profit to find.

When and how was the idea for Time Scouts born? S T E P H E N It was inspired by a lot of different things, but the first crumb of Time Scouts was when I met the very talented Claire Hummel at ComicCon four years ago. She had created a series of Boy Scout-style patches themed around the convention, and that got me thinking about what something like that would look like for the Time Travel Mart. It really exploded from there into a fully realized program.

What role did each of you play in the process of creating the Time Scouts Handbook? What does teamwork look like for you? S T E P H E N As the “Senior Time Intern,” I wrote a lot of the book on behalf of the enigmatic founder of Time Scouts: Terry J. Wittingham. I laid out the pages and designed some of the products. Along with many of my co-workers at M&C Saatchi, I also helped create the Kickstarter and video. B E T H I illustrated the book! Stephen’s direction to me for the book was based off classic Boy Scout manuals, so that ink and single tone color was fun to play with. As for the cover, he said, “You know, like Norman Rockwell.” So then I spent the better part of a year trying to paint like one of our nation’s greatest painters. But on a serious note, designing the look of a Time Scout and really digging into my painting background was a super fun challenge. Seeing the cover that I made transformed into different versions for the poster and other uses was awesome. And discovering that my husband and I have a good working relationship was a bonus, too! S T E P H E N Teamwork was such a big part of Time Scouts. So many people worked on this project. Many members of the 826LA staff [and] over twenty people from M&C Saatchi donated time to promote and create the launch. Marc Evan Jackson generously starred in our Kickstarter video, which Dan Roman directed and shot on a Saturday. Without all of them, I doubt I would have ever finished the book.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering with 826LA? S T E P H E N There are so many things. 826LA is an incredible opportunity to change a child’s life and tell a few stories of my own. It’s been a wonderful experience. B E T H I love that I can use what I’m passionate about to affect someone’s life. There are many opportunities to serve, but I think 826LA does a great job of getting kids to find themselves through artistic expression, and that really matters to me.

If you were to earn a Time Scout badge (existing or yet-to-be-created), what would it be for? S T E P H E N Hoping to get Second Aid one of these days, or at least Joke Recycling. I’m very environmentally conscious. B E T H Jackalope Husbandry.

What is your favorite Time Fashion look or era? S T E P H E N You can never go wrong with Pirate Prom. Classy AND adventurous. B E T H I’d probably have to say Fantasy Fashionable. I’d like to live my life constantly ready to go to a Ren Faire.

Treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report STORE SALES GOVERNMENT

T O TA L R E V E N U E

F O U N D AT I O N & C O R P O R AT E GR ANTS

D O N AT I O N S

EVENTS & CONTR ACTS

Please note that data is preliminary and may change upon completion of our annual audit.

A D M I N I S T R AT I O N & G E N E R A L

DE VELOPMENT

PROGR AMS

T O TA L E X P E N S E S

Fast Forward

What’s Next for 826LA

“ Once upon a time, there was an 8-year-old runaway llama named Petunia. She was a different llama, she was so small she could fit into a briefcase.” — F R O M “ T H E R U N A W AY L L A M A S ” B Y M S . M E U R E T ’ S 4TH GR ADERS FROM SANDR A CISNEROS LE ARNING ACADEMY

At 826LA, we believe that incremental change can have a profound impact over time: Serve a few more students here, refine a lesson plan there, build relationships with partners and brainstorm our future together. In 2020, we will celebrate 15 years of programming in Los Angeles, during which time we’ve served more than 93,000 students and grown from one location to four. Mark your calendar for a year-long party that includes special publications and events! W E A R E O N E Y E A R I N T O A T H R E E -Y E A R S T R A T E G I C P L A N T H AT P R I O R I T I Z E S: - deepening

the impact of our programming

-strengthening our volunteer base -growing fundraising -building a thriving team 42

I N 2 0 1 9 –2 0 2 0 , T H AT M E A N S W E ’ L L B E :

-continuing research into the location of our next Writers’ Room -launching new partnerships with schools, supporters, museums, and other educational non-profits -recruiting 1,000 new volunteers, with a focus on older adults and volunteers of color -communicating closely with donors to ensure they see their support in action -having the aforementioned year-long party, of course.

F O R M O R E O N 8 2 6 L A’ S F U T U R E , V I S I T 8 2 6 L A . O R G /A B O U T/ S T R A T E G I C- P L A N 45

How Can I Help?

“ Not everyone is born perfect, but you get chances to make yourself perfect, chances to change your life…If you don’t believe you can do it, just know that you are built for it, and you can do it.” — F R O M “ B E F O R E I E V E N K N E W I W A S N ’ T F R E E ” B Y R E A N N A P. , Manual Arts High School Student, in Sounds of Freedom: Beats on Concrete

When you donate to 826LA, you are helping students from underresourced communities write their own futures. Your support goes directly to four focus areas.

The Present

The Future

Core programs for approximately 10,000 students

The longevity of 826LA and the expansion of Writers’ Rooms

Travel Companions

New Dimensions

Volunteer recruitment and training

Student publications and performances

F I V E W AY S T O S U P P O R T 8 2 6 L A

1. Volunteer as a tutor, workshop leader, designer, or event helper. If you have a skill, we can put you to work! Visit 826LA.org/volunteer 2. Make a tax-deductible donation at 826LA.org/donate 3. Become a Partner in Time 4. Connect 826LA with your network: friends, family, family foundations 5. Introduce 826LA to the person in charge of corporate responsibility at your place of employment

How Can My Company Help?

“ It was made out of vanilla ice cream. When I sat down, my cousins, my dad, and my sister all told me to take a bite out of my cake. I did and once I did, BAM! My face got pushed into my cake. I was so surprised it was scary. Now, I will never trust my cousin again.” — F R O M “ M Y C A K E A C C I D E N T ” B Y J O S E P H A . , AST student in Mar Vista, in I Died With the Taste of Deliciousness 46

Corporate sponsorship is a win-win: Students from under-resourced communities get the tools and support they need, and your company makes a positive and visible impact. We thank our highest-level sponsors with a table at TELL ME A STORY, our biggest event of the year, and—the ultimate honor— featuring them as Employees of the Month at the Time Travel Mart. We are excited to talk with you about other forms of recognition, which we can tailor to your company’s goals: blog posts about our partnership, mentions in our newsletter (which reaches more than 7,000 subscribers), social media posts, and more.

$50,000

A L LO W S 370 S T U D E N T S TO R EC E I V E O N E- O NO NE VO LU NTEER SU PP O RT IN THE 826L A WRITERS’ ROOMS

$25,000

F U N D S M O R E T H A N 5,0 0 0 H O U R S O F VO LU N T E E R SUPPORT FOR L AUSD STUDENTS

$10,000

ALLOWS 200 STUDENTS TO RECEIVE ONE YE AR O F S U P P O R T F R O M VO LU N T E E R S I N T H E A F T E RSCHOOL TUTORING PROGR AM

$5,000

PROVID E S VO LU NTEER SU PP O RT FO R 826L A FIELD TRIPS FOR ONE YEAR

$2,500

PROVIDES TR AINING FOR MORE THAN 150 NE W VOLUNTEERS 47

What Other Ways Can My Company Help?

“ Volunteer hours certainly are a plus, but the smiles and thank yous that you receive from the people you help is much more rewarding.” —FROM “MESS AROUND AND ASCEND INTO ETHEREAL H O L I N E S S ” B Y I V A N N A M . , TNT student in Mar Vista, in Can’t and Will Not Be Ignored

826LA loves corporate volunteer groups! Did you know that 92% of human resource executives agree that contributing to a nonprofit organization can build an employee’s leadership skills?* Volunteering is also a great team-building activity.

What does the process look like? You determine roughly how many volunteers will be participating, and how often. 826LA staff will help you with the next steps, including: · a one-hour volunteer training at 826LA or your organization · a fingerprint-based background check and the completion of an online application. We’ll track hours and sign-ups, and reserve specific days or projects for your group.

How many people can you accommodate? That depends on the project! Regular programs need no more than 5-10 volunteers at one time. Most annual events can use dozens (and sometimes dozens and dozens) of people.

What if a big group of us wants to come for just one day? Most of our programs require small groups of volunteers to work one-on-one with students. Check our monthly newsletter for larger, one-day volunteer opportunities. We’ll always do our best to find a fit based on your criteria and goals.

Do we need to have experience? Do we need to be writers? Nope! We will train you and give you all the information you’ll need. The only requirement is a desire to help students. To get started or for more information, contact Volunteer Manager Mariesa Arrañaga Kubasek (MariesaKubasek@826LA.org or 213-413-3388) or Volunteer Coordinator Jennie Najarro (Jennie@826LA.org or 310-915-0200).

* S O U R C E : D E L O I T T E , “ 2 0 1 6 D E L O I T T E I M P A C T S U R V E Y: B U I L D I N G L E A D E R S H I P S K I L L S T H R O U G H V O L U N T E E R I S M .”

You Helped Us Help Students *Asteriks denote 826LA volunteers

$50,000+ Annenberg Foundation The Broad Henry* & Inell Chase The Eisner Foundation Karisma Foundation Los Angeles Unified School District Louis* & Carolyn Lucido Peninsula Pacific The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Vera R. Campbell Foundation Youth Policy Institute

$25,000 All Ways Up Foundation City of Los Angeles, Dept. of Cultural Affairs Goldhirsh Foundation The Green Foundation l.a. Eyeworks Rose Hills Foundation Skylight Foundation Weingart Foundation

$10,000+ Anonymous Donor Arthur J. Gallagher Bad Robot Boulevard Wealth-Insurance Boulevard Partners California Arts Council Carol and James Collins Foundation Curse, LLC Stacy & Chad DePue Eastdil Secured Terena* & Anders Eisner ETINA Alexandra Glickman & Gayle Whittemore International Paper The Joan Leidy Foundation The Knowledge Society Susan Ko* Los Angeles County Dept. of Arts and Culture Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation

Mindel Family Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Newmark Knight Frank PwC Lekha Singh Kira Snyder* & Allen Blue Sony Pictures Entertainment USC Good Neighbors Campaign Vasant and Prabha Rathi Foundation The William C. Bannerman Foundation

$5,000+ Leti Acosta Alta Magazine Angelo Family Charitable Foundation Anthony & Jean Pritzker Family Foundation ASpecialThing Records Benjamin Au* & Maya Gurantz Philip & Daniele Barach Isaac Barinholtz & Erica Hanson Brookfield Property Partners AmyAnn & Blake Cadwell Pete Chatmon & Kelly McCreary Matthew* & Christy Cherniss Carrie Clifford & Paul Boese College Track Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund DreamWorks Animation SKG Flourish Foundation The Gotham Group HBO Winston Howes Kathleen & Jason Katims Kerstin & Ron Kripalani Christine Ko Curtis Lelash Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Shalini Malhotra Middle Road Foundation Bruce Munster Nancy E. Barton Foundation (U.S. Trust) NBC Universal Media, LLC Newmark Knight Frank Nickelodeon Louise Nutt* Paramount Pictures Rim of Heaven Foundation

Georgina & Thomas Russo Eileen* & Kevin Shields Stephen Silk Katie & Brian* Sumers Mike Van Konynenburg WHH Foundation

$2,500+ Adriana Centeno Matthew Conway* Alison* & Sean Cotter Emily & Peter Davidson Jodie Evans* Lesley* & Vince Fiorillo Holly & Ryan Gaglio Evan & Lisa* Goldberg Rebecca Goldman Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation John. F. Welch, Jr. Foundation Lark Ellen Lions Club Maurice Amado Foundation Kate Micucci Kerith & Marvin Putnam Andrew Sachs Sheila, Dave and Sherry Gold Foundation Sarah L. & Patrick F. Spears Gary Sumers Patrick & Jamie Townzen UCLA Armand Hammer Museum of Art Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre US Bank Global Fund Services Nora & Peter* Wendel Liesl Wilke

$1,000+ Gina Adler Jane Anderson* & Tess Ayers James Arakelian Sylvia Aroth Arrow Benefits Group Steven Babst Meredith Bagby Matthew Barbabella & Steph Cha Anne Carroll* Kenneth Chiate Sharon Cohen* Karen Bedrosian & Ted Coyne Emily Davis

List of Supporters

Allison Deegan Anand Devarajan Ever Glade Fund Linda Figel Flanders Cook Charitable Trust Jamie & Scott* Ginsburg Mark Goldberg Green Dot Public Schools Barry Gribble Dean Grinsfelder Geoff & Emma Hackett Jocelyn Hayes-Simpson & Brad Simpson Timothy Hedrick Eric Huang The Jorgensen Foundation Eric Kaplan Karga Seven Pictures, LLC: Tripping on Cakes Carolyn Kellogg Brigid Kelly* Kendrick Donor Advised Fund James Kimmel & Molly McNearney Amy King Monica Lawson* Andrew Lee Maren Levinson & Jaime Marquart Mary K. and Daniel M. Kelly Family Foundation Ruth McKee & Brian Vaughan Rebecca McTavish* & Jason Woliner Mary Mendelsohn* Mohawk Bend Morgan Stanley Gift Fund Tomoko Nagashima Stacy Nagata Nick Kroll Charitable Fund Shane Nickerson Naomi & Robert Odenkirk Chris Perkins Laura Podolsky Red Ampersand Inc. Ann Reinhart* Daniel Ricker Riot Games, Inc. Robin Chandler Duke Foundation Ellen & Mike Rosenberg Marc Rozman Meredith Westgate Russo* Kieran Shamash Shapiro Family Foundation

Abby Sher The Siewood Charitable Fund Silva/Weiss Family Foundation Teri Snell Michael Sopher & Debra Vilinsky* Mollymauk Tealeaf Ten Fourteen Music Catalog Deborah Thomsen Union Bank Michael Williams Eric Winston John Zanetos

$500+ 2010 Office Furniture Kathryn Ballsun* Dylan Baquet Aimee Bender Ariana Berkowitz* Cesar Blanco Maya Burkenroad Daniel and Mary Reeves Foundation Jenika Davis Mary Jo Deschanel Carly Dierkhising* & Steve De Castro DonateWell Paul Dooley & Winnie Holzman Eat Club Margaret Fetter Anne Finestone Barbara Ginsberg & Ira Schreck Goethe International Charter School Marc Greenwald Susan Hamilburg* Erik Hendrickson Valerie Ho Caryn & Matthew Hsu Heather Hudoba IBM Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign Tracee Jones Keith Kirk Kraut-Steinberg Family Fund Linda Lichter & Norman Marck Deborah Loss & Bo Roff-Marsh Denise Mann Kate Maruyama* Lou Mathews & Alison Turner Barbara Meyer

Amanda Miller Reverie Moon Tom Moore* Kristy & Sean Morris Michelle Murray B.J. Novak* John OBrien Hannah Parikh Phillippe Perebinossoff* Poets & Writers Frankie Quintero* Howard Rodman Renee Sarria Valerie Schmid Ellen Seiden* Emily Shanklin J. Ryan Stradal* Gregory Sudbury Phillip Tate Julie Treinen Van Grunsven Family Foundation Luanne Wells Bridget Wiley

$250+ Erik Baiers John Baker Best Buy Employee Giving Program Lisbeth Bitar Barbara Boland Chloe Borenstein-Lawee* Julia Clarke Greg Cohn Jill Coons Sean Cunningham Jennifer Davis Pina De Rosa Brian Donahue Eric Drachman* Tommy Dyer Ryan Fischer-Harbage Anne Freiermuth* Alex Gansa & Lauren White Ethan Goldstine & Lirona Kadosh Margaret Gordon & John Peterson Catheryn Gross Nancy & William Gubin Randall Hansen Jon Healey

Steve Heinzer Laura Hertzfeld Wendy Kaplan Susan Katims Lisa Katz Bethany Kristovich Joe Kuenzle Jordan Kurland Michelle Lee Hilary Liftin Kimberly Ling Aaron Marsh Monica Menez* Maury Miller Narbeh Minasians Alex Moratorio David Morse & Merete Rasmussen Jeni Mulein Liz Newman Jonathan Oliver Lisa Orman Lorna Osunsanmi Beth Preminger Roger Recupero Margaret Reeve* Jhoanne Reyes Jackie Rosenberg Joan Scott Selman/Ridgeley Family Trust Jordan Shappell Feby Shen Lori Sherman Carson Smith Shannon Snell Hollie & Paul Stenson Thomas Stock-Hendel The Unmarked Door/Rolfe Kent Mark Tobin Mira Velimirovic* Kenneth Viste Sara Votaw Gretchen Warner Christine Weir Betsy & Michael Weisman Quentin Wheeler Grace Wu Victoria Yarnish YourCause.com

In-Kind Aesop ANIMI/Art Mafia Bedrock LA Clif Bar Evans Family Barrels KansasEXP LA Kitchen Mouse International Paper M&C Saatchi LA OneBar Saved by a Story Starbucks Crenshaw/Coliseum Store Studio Number One Three Weavers Brewery Trader Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Staff & Board Joel Arquillos

Isabella Andreoni

Executive Director

Development Coordinator

Marisa Urrutia Gedney

Angelica Butiu-Coronado

Director of In-Schools Programs & College Access

Program Coordinator, Writers’ Room

Shawn Silver

Rebecca Escoto

Director of Advancement & Events

Program Coordinator, Tutoring in Echo Park

Beatriz Garcia

Pedro Estrada

Director of Programs & Operations, Mar Vista

Program Coordinator, Tutoring & Workshops in Echo Park

Nadia Bamdad-Delgado

Cecilia Gamiño

Senior Programs & Writing Manager, Echo Park

Program Coordinator,

Miranda Tsang

Cathy Mayer

Programs & Writing Manager, Echo Park 2017-18

Mariesa Arrañaga Kubasek Volunteer Manager

Lauren Humphrey Institutional Giving Manager

Cheryl Klein Development & Communications Manager

Carinne Mangold

Roosevelt High School

Workshops in Mar Vista

Program Coordinator, Field Trips in Echo Park

Jennie Najarro Volunteer Coordinator, Mar Vista

Edrick Sarkissian Development Assistant 2018-19

AmeriCorps VISTA & Public Allies Members Andrea Mendez

Store Manager

Marketing & Communications Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA 2018-19

Rachel Mendelsohn

Paula Quiroz

Design Manager

T Sarmina

Marketing & Communications Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA

Program Manager, Writers’ Room at Manual Arts

Maricruz Pool-Chan

Mike Dunbar

Coordinator in Echo Park, AmeriCorps VISTA

Senior Programs & Operations Coordinator, Field Trips in Mar Vista

LaTesha Adolphus Program Coordinator, In-Schools

Volunteer Engagement and Retention

Wendy Alvarado In-Schools Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, AmeriCorps VISTA

Cynthia Aguilar Program Coordinator, Tutoring in Echo Park

Russel Altamirano Program Coordinator, Workshops in Mar Vista 2018-19

Thank You 826LA EIN: 38-3722092

Board of Directors Jodie Evans, President Henry V. Chase, Treasurer Susan Ko, Secretary Benjamin Au Matthew Cherniss Dave Eggers, Emeritus

Terena Thyne Eisner Scott A. Ginsburg Claire Hoffman Susan Ko Louis Lucido Frankie Quintero Eileen Shields Sarah Rosenwald Varet

Advisory Board J.J. Abrams Judd Apatow Miguel Arteta Mac Barnett Steve Barr Joshuah Bearman Amy Brooks Father Greg Boyle Stefan G. Bucher Mark Flanagan Ben Goldhirsh Rebecca Goldman Ellen Goldsmith-Vein DeAnna Gravillis Spike Jonze Miranda July Catherine Keener Keith Knight Al Madrigal

Krystyn Madrigal Tara Roth Katie McGrath R. Scott Mitchell Lani Monos B.J. Novak Miwa Okumura Jane Patterson Keri Putnam Sylvie Rabineau Sonja Rasula Luis J. Rodriguez Terri Hernandez Rosales Brad Simpson J. Ryan Stradal Natalie Tran Sarah Vowell Sally Willcox

Youth Advisory Board EC H O PA R K Gabriela M. Natalie S. Jose R. Genessi L. Vincent H. Gabriela R. Josue R. Dayanara M.L. Ana M.L. Yamilka M.L. Samantha J.

M A R V I S TA Nadia V. Nasim Z. Michael R. Mirna R. Vanessa A. Katherine G. Montserrat L.

826LA & the Time Travel Mart Echo Park 1714 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 213.413.3388

Mar Vista 12515 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066 310.915.0200 826L A .O RG | W Eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;R E S O C I A L! @826L A