826LA 2021 Annual Report by 826LA

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Annual Report

2020–2021

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2020–2021 at a Glance

3,415 T O TA L H O U R S V O L U N T E E R E D

2,593

P U B L I C AT I O N S

STUDENTS SUPPORTED

85 E D U C AT O R S

276 VOLUNTEERS

Table of Contents

2020-2021 at a Glance …………………

Letter from the Executive Director ……

4 BREAKOUT ROOMS: E V E N T S , T I M E T R A V E L M A R T,

UNMUTE YOURSELF:

F I N A N C E S , E D A I , W H A T ’ S N E X T, A N D

PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEERING

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Tutoring ……………………………………

What Does a Virtual 826LA Tutoring Session Look Like? ………………………

Events ……………………………………

Allergic: Wizard Jacob’s Giant Problem … 33 Time Travel Mart ………………………… 34

Field Trips ………………………………… 12 Out of This World: When Universes Collide ……………………………………

Summer Programs ………………………

14 15

Workshops ………………………………

World of Suspense by Kate S. …………

Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion …………………………………

38 40

How Organizations Can Empower BIPOC Artists: Featuring Teaching Artist Ebony Bailey ……………………………… 41 What’s Next? ……………………………… 42

Writers’ Rooms …………………………… 18 20

Treasurer’s Report ………………………

Students Time Travel to Mexican America …………………………………… 17 When Survival is at Stake, History and Community Help Us Find Our Way ……

Madison Girifalco ………………………

A Better Version of Myself by Jaime F. … 39

Untitled by Joseph A.S. ………………… 15 Sawyer Interviews Tiny the T. Rex

The Meaning of Feminism by Robyn W.

How You Can Help ………………………

Sweet Growth by Kellie G. ……………… 45

In-Schools and College Access ………… 22 Students Reflect on Their Talents in Mirrorball …………………………………

Letter of Gratitude by Cruz ……………

Virtual Hub ………………………………

Volunteering from Vienna ………………

C H E C K T H E C H AT: S T A F F, V O L U N T E E R S , A N D D O N O R S

Volunteers ………………………………… 48

Volunteering ……………………………… 28 Frank Zhou ………………………………

Donors ……………………………………

Staff ………………………………………

Letter from …

T HE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Midway through the pandemic school year, 826 National released a research paper titled “The Truth About Writing Education in America: Let’s Write, Make Things Right.” Interviews with 19 writing experts depicted an educational landscape that— even before schools closed due to COVID-19—was not exactly fertile ground for young minds. Three out of four twelfth graders are not writing at grade level proficiency. Nine out of ten Black and Latinx students are not writing at grade level proficiency. Although the causes are complex, and most certainly include poverty and systemic racism, the paper identified three key challenges: making the time to teach writing, updating classrooms and methodologies, and providing teachers with the support they need to effectively instruct students in writing. Although the school year, which remained entirely virtual in the Los Angeles Unified School District until mid-April, posed numerous challenges, it also brought opportunities to refresh curricula and strategies. That’s the approach we took at 826LA. It would be glib to say we made lemonade out of a global tragedy; rather, we seized the call to create new types of programming, from webinar workshops on YouTube to Virtual Field Trips to a database of writing prompts. We weren’t able to reach as many students as we have in previous years, and the scars of educational non-participation will undoubtedly linger. But the 2,500+ students we did support got help with homework and college entrance essays, and wrote beautifully about their experiences during the pandemic, as well as their imaginative escapes from it.

* We dealt with internal changes, too, bidding a fond farewell to several long-time board members and staff members, including Board President and co-founder Jodie Evans, and welcoming the fresh perspectives of new board and staff, including new Board President Susan Ko. After much reflection, I decided to step down in September of 2021 following 13 fulfilling and memorable years as Executive Director. Although it was hard to leave an organization that continues to hold so much of my heart, I’m proud of the growth that occurred during my tenure, and confident about where the new leadership will take 826LA.

* The programming may have been virtual, but students’ stories were very real. “The Truth About Writing” notes, “We need to engage with students where they are writing, both in and outside the classroom. Second, we need to...reflect students’ interests, incorporate the platforms they use, and build their choice and agency.” When teaching artist Alanna Lin Ramage led an online songwriting workshop in March, she engaged with students’ real lives and real loves, urging them to turn kernels of emotions into “popcorn songs.” A student named Gio added a beat track and a chorus that went, COVID has been okay, not bad. Alanna observed how convincing his song was. “We all want to believe him. We want to believe that COVID has been okay and not bad.” It’s because of students like Gio and teaching artists like Alanna—and the families, educators, volunteers, and donors who comprise an ecosystem of support for young writers—that we have emerged hopeful from a difficult year...with some amazing stories to tell. Here are a few of them. Sincerely,

Joel Arquillos Executive Director

Tutoring

Trevor Worthy, 826LA Tutoring volunteer

A memorable 826LA moment was a few years ago, when a student in Echo Park made paper mache flowers for Teacher Appreciation Day. It was a small gesture, but I kept the flower to remind me of the children wherever I go. T

Students Supported

Volunteers

861

Total Hours Volunteered

Students from Title I schools logged in—sometimes from crowded homes with unreliable internet—to a school year that brought them less time with educators and little social interaction. The need for supplemental support was stronger than ever. The Tutoring program faced many of the same

We said a proud, bittersweet farewell to four

challenges as schools themselves: difficulty

graduating seniors in our Tuesday and Thursday

recruiting students and helping them adjust to

Night Tutoring (TNT) program, while our younger

technology. But loyal volunteers and energetic

students wrapped up the year with a visit from Tiny

interns—not to mention our resilient students

the T. Rex, our favorite Time Travel correspondent.

themselves—made it work. We provided wrap-

And in true 826 fashion, we made Tutoring fun,

around support, connecting families to resources

thanks to online UNO, silly ice breakers, and some

and several students to an education therapist.

very cool art kits from The Broad.

A Typical Day at (Virtual) After-School Tutoring At 2:30pm, Tutoring Program Coordinator Maricruz Pool-Chan and Senior Programs and Operations Coordinator Pedro Estrada separate volunteers and students into two Zoom breakout rooms. Volunteers are briefed and prepared for the day, while students chat about topics like family and slime with Tutoring Intern Amy Côté. Soon, everyone is gathered in the main room, where Amy poses an icebreaker question: “Would you rather make a new holiday or make your own language?” The eight students and eight volunteers share their ideas, which mostly involve establishing holidays with free candy and creating languages to communicate with animals. Just before assigning everyone into

What Does a Virtual 826LA Tutoring Session Look Like?

breakout rooms, Maricruz reminds participants of the community guidelines, including proper

826LA’s After-School Tutoring program does

pronoun use, name use, and mic etiquette.

more than fill in learning gaps and provide

A trained volunteer, a supervising room

homework help. Our tutoring spaces also

leader, and two students are placed into each

nurture creativity and essential writing time.

breakout room. While students and volunteers

In their research paper “The Truth About

get to work, 826LA staff and interns check in

Writing Education In America,” 826 National

on breakout rooms and also work behind the

concluded that “Writing should be at the center

scenes to resolve tech issues and ensure safety

of instruction, reinforcing subjects like reading

standards are met.

and STEM, but instead it has been pushed to

Volunteer Brooke’s students dive headfirst

the fringes.” Obstacles to adequate writing

into their homework. Lula immediately begins

education include “unequal access to writing

writing her draft for a class report, while Joaquin

education” and “the lack of time and priority for

and Brooke start to brainstorm for his animal

writing instruction.”

report. They wonder, should Joaquin pick a

826LA’s Tutoring programs are a facet of

monkey or a crab?

the solution, providing homework help and

Volunteer Madison tutors students Ana and

furthering students’ writing education, in spite

Ava. Ava turns her camera and mic off to do

of the added hurdles of distance learning.

homework. Ana does not have homework, and gushes about the book she is reading, a story about Titanic survivor Ruth Becker. She also

shares a piece of artwork she is excited about, an anime-art-style family portrait by her cousin. “Do you think you want to be an artist some day?” Madison asks.

Writing Education Solutions in Our Tutoring Spaces

“Yeah!” Ana replies. “And when I grow up I want to go to the Atlantic and see the Titanic, the real one at the bottom of the ocean!”

As distance learning further strains under-

“Do you want to try this writing idea where

resourced Los Angeles schools, the pressure is on

you tell me the beginning of the [Ruth Becker]

to make sure the city’s youth are not left behind in

story and we’ll both write a new ending?”

STEM subjects and reading milestones. However,

Ana enthusiastically agrees.

writing education still remains largely neglected.

Since volunteer Daniel’s students have no

According to 826 National’s research paper,

homework, he offers two options. Melody and

“only 25% of middle schoolers and 31% of

Meggan can either choose to do a writing activity

high schoolers write about 30 minutes a day,”

or read and report on a book. Both of the fifth

or the minimum recommended amount for

graders choose to read.

kindergarteners. 826LA Tutoring gives local

In her oral report, Meggan shares, “I finished

students additional opportunities to write,

the book [Wonder], but then I read it again

observing our organization’s call for “safe and

because it was good.”

creative spaces…for students to write outside of

As the tutoring session draws to a close, the

the classroom.”

girls chat anxiously about the next school year.

826LA’s Tutoring team trains volunteers,

They worry about middle school being “hard”

many of whom are involved in writing careers

and “scary,” but Daniel reassures them that they

themselves, to incorporate writing time into

will enjoy it. Also, he notes that they will still

sessions whenever possible. The program helps

have 826LA Tutoring if they ever need academic

students keep up with homework, reinforcing

support.

critical educational milestones. Students deserve

At 4pm, the Tutoring team invites participants

the chance to exercise their writing skills, express

back to the Main Room to do one last activity

themselves, and think crucially about the world

together. Tutoring Intern Amy asks everyone to

around them, and 826LA’s Tutoring program is

draw three things: a delicious food, a fun mobile

here to help.

app, and an enjoyable activity. A few volunteers and students present their work, and people type

R E A D T H E 8 2 6 N AT I O N A L R E S E A R C H PA P E R

their approval of the colorful drawings in the chat.

“ T H E T R U T H A B O U T W R I T I N G E D U C AT I O N :

Just before the clock hits 4:30pm, the

LET’S WRITE, MAKE THINGS RIGHT”

chat explodes with thank you’s and goodbyes.

AT 8 2 6 N AT I O N A L . O R G / R E S E A R C H .

The 826LA Tutoring staff dismiss the group, encouraging students to stay behind if they have any questions, and the day is over.

Field Trips 826LA’s Field Trips program has always created writing opportunities for

more students than any other program, typically reaching more than 4,000 students a year. While the program was on hiatus, staff started a newsletter that served as a lifeline to educators at the height of the pandemic. “Reaching out like this makes such a difference, and it really makes 826LA feel like community,” noted one teacher. We also created a new database of writing prompts and a series of YouTube videos called “Barnacle & Barnacle Presents,” in which volunteers and voice actors read Field Trip stories. After surveying 300 teachers about their biggest

In the spring, teachers faced a new set of

needs, we launched Virtual Field Trips in the fall of

challenges as schools transitioned from virtual to

2020, offering online versions of four popular Field

hybrid learning, but Virtual Field Trips provided

Trips: Storytelling & Bookmaking, Small Group

a steady source of support. We also worked with

Storytelling, Memoir, and Personal Statements.

Andy Molner’s class at the Academic Leadership

Field Trips manifest a unique space where students

Community to write and publish Viva la Vida:

can unleash their imaginations. We were pleased

Stories of Life, Love, and Growth. Students

to discover that such a space doesn’t have to be

captured the complexity of this year with beauty

physical—there’s an alchemy in the connections

and brevity. In the words of Ana S., in her poem

made among students and volunteers, and those

“This New Night”:

connections were alive and well on Zoom. The new

Up in the sky

program also allowed us to connect with schools

There’s nothing but a moon,

that had previously been prevented from visiting

Lustering its moonlight

our sites due to transportation issues.

And welcoming everyone into this new night

1,015

Students Supported

Volunteers

654

Total Hours Volunteered

Out of This World: When Universes Collide by 4th grade scholars from Equitas Academy Charter School FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM

Once there was a creature named Dragicorn. She had a unicorn head with a magical horn and the body and tail of a dragon. Half of her body was black and half was the ocean. If you touched her, you could see the future. She wore pink shoes with starfish on

in there who can help me go on land.” Inside the submarine was a royal family:

them and lived in an underwater volcano. Her

King, Queen, and Princess Yora. Dragicorn

favorite piece of furniture was her bed, but she

began running across the ocean floor, chasing

couldn’t fit into it! She dreamed of going on

after the submarine. This scared the royal family,

land so that she could buy bigger furniture.

even though she just wanted their help.

One day, a research submarine came to

Dragicorn followed the submarine into a

explore her volcano. The submarine had flames

cave that was filled with kelp. Inside, a boat-

painted on the side. Dragicorn saw it out her

fixing team of crabs was working on restoring

window and said, “Ooh! Maybe there’s a person

the Titanic.

Meliza Mayo, teacher

What an incredible, educational, and inspiring opportunity for our students. M Sena A., student

Best field trip EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! S

Summer Programs

Digital murals. Comic book heroes. Maps and dreams. These are just a few

of the storytelling and story-generating modes that high school students in 826LA’s annual Summer Writers Workshop (SWW) used over the course of an intensive week-long writing seminar. Each day, a different community teaching artist led students in responding to prompts such as “What are seven impossible things you’d like to achieve?” This year’s workshop was the first Summer Writers’

virtual version of Write On! Summer Camp,

Workshop to take place online. Longtime SWW

which focuses on English language and literacy

leader Natalie Patterson invited students to

skills. With masks and ample hand sanitizer, staff

answer the question “What’s Good in the Hood?”

distributed art kits to students so they could make

and imagine their ideal city. Yásaman Madadi

watercolor backdrops for their haikus.

asked students to create a sky’s-the-limit list of

We couldn’t have done it without our Summer

goals for themselves and the world. Angel, one

Associates, a team of AmeriCorps VISTA members

of the participants, listed: “Ending Racism, Equal

who brought their full creativity and dedication to

Rights, Fair wages.”

every Zoom session.

For younger students, 826LA launched a

Students Supported

Teaching Artist Hours

Untitled

Sawyer Interviews Tiny the T. Rex

by Joseph A.S. WRITE ON! SUMMER CAMP

As part of a series called A Minute of Your George the shark lives in the Pacific Ocean.

Time, Journalism student Sawyer was fortunate

Greg the shark is George’s best friend. George

to land a rare interview with 826LA’s Time Travel

and Greg want to join the gym to get fit and

Correspondent Tiny the T. Rex, whose journeys

swim fast for the Olympics. The gym rejects them

to Bryce Canyon, Lake Tahoe, Chicago, and

because they are not as fit as other sharks. Greg

the fruit carts of Echo Park have been lovingly

and George have to use their homemade tools for

documented on the TTM Instagram account

gym equipment. They get really fit and can swim

(@timetravlemart). This is an excerpt from the

fast. Finally they are allowed to go to the gym.

exclusive interview.

Then they get even more fit by using the gym’s super pool. They get so fit they don’t need to go

SAWYER:

to the gym anymore and win the Shark Olympics!

exhausting. What keeps you inspired to do what

So, Tiny, traveling all the time must be

you do? TINY:

It’s the fans that keep me going.

SAWYER:

What’s your favorite song to listen to

on the road?

Group Poem: KCA, Deisy, Genny, Charles, from the Summer Writers’ Workshop

TINY:

Any song that mentions crossroads. I find

that poetic. Also anything in French. I don’t speak French. SAWYER:

The dream would be everything clean, with art peace love & good vibes

What’s the best movie you’ve ever

seen? TINY:

Jurassic Park. It’s really great to see yourself

represented. SAWYER:

Nothing like we see every dark night….

TINY:

You look great. What’s your diet like?

Mostly things full of air. Potato chips, fries,

breads, air. Lots of air.

Every dark night, the stars are twinkling underneath me

SAWYER:

How did you get started with time

travel? TINY:

I got the assignment and they said “Go to

the distant past” and now I’m here.

Nothing to worry about, nothing deceives me

SAWYER:

How would you describe your

personality in one word? TINY:

Mmm. “Mmm,” that sums it up.

SAWYER: TINY:

When do you come from?

Long before you were born.

Workshops

Offering 16 multi-session and single-session Workshops, our most

varied program combined writing with STEM and visual arts and invited students to write zines, draw comics, and interview people in their communities. Although our programs typically fill up quickly, this year recruitment was a challenge; we suspected Zoom fatigue was the culprit. However, students who registered and attended

macro levels. In Programming Unplugged, Victor

Workshops flourished with support from

Cervantes helped students instruct a “robot”

community Teaching Artists and volunteers. In

how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,

our long-running Journalism Workshop, Teaching

which required them to choose clear and careful

Artist Ebony Bailey encouraged students to think

language.

critically about social justice issues on micro and

208

Students Supported

Volunteers

291

Total Hours Volunteered

Students Time Travel to Mexican America At 3pm, students filed into the Zoom meeting. Robert Mendoza, a PhD candidate in the department of English at UCLA, served as the students’ time-travel guide, joined by Marissa López, a UCLA Professor of English and Chicana/o and Central American Studies. Robert led students through LA landmarks founded when Los Angeles was Mexico, starting with the Bella Union Hotel, near what today is Temple and Main Streets. Students learned that many streets are named after significant figures in Mexican LA’s past. Did you know Spring Street was originally Primavera Street? The downtown boulevard was named after the influential Doña Trinidad de Ortega, who reminded the mayor of springtime. Students were fascinated by the past’s impact on the city today. “This used to be Mexico,” marveled 826LA student Roxana. Sofia was also impressed. “My mom works right by the Fletcher Bowron Square,” she shared, after learning where Southern California’s first newspaper, The Los Angeles Star, was founded. Robert taught attendees about a historical event known as the Black Swan Race. During this race, the last governor of Alta California was financially ruined when his horse Sarco was defeated by underdog The Black Swan. In breakout groups, students wrote a fictional journal entry about a spectator’s experience at the exciting race. One group’s story began: I can’t believe Black Swan defeated Sarco! I am so mad! First, I thought Pio Pico’s horse was going to win because it was in the lead. I was sure Black Swan was going to lose because of how weak he looked. My parents spent so much money on this race. I can’t believe we lost it all. I feel bad because my parents and Pio Pico lost so much money. I started to get really angry and stomped on my bed. This was a waste of money. Students returned to breakout groups to brainstorm and begin writing landmark plaques based on places significant to them. One student elected their favorite restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, while others chose parks and schools. Through the power of writing and history, 826LA students learned more about the city they call home, and were inspired to rewrite their own connections to Los Angeles.

Writers’ Rooms

B.C., from “The Memories of a Lifetime” in Finding Our Way

My dog makes me be more resilient because he always wants me to have fun with people, more often now than before. B

588

Students Supported

120

Volunteers

300

Total Hours Volunteered

Like our centers in Echo Park and Mar Vista, our Writers’ Rooms—

classroom-sized 826’s on the campuses of Manual Arts and Roosevelt High Schools—were largely empty this year, as student voices filled Zoom breakout rooms instead. In addition to helping students with their personal statements in the fall, we collaborated with students and teachers on several creative projects. At Manual, Mr. Simbulan’s class read and

In the spring, our friends at the Critical Role

responded to Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451,

Foundation, the giving arm of the web-based

students conducted coming-of-age-themed

Dungeons and Dragons series Critical Role,

interviews inspired by Luis J. Rodriguez’s Always

wrapped a successful campaign to raise more

Running, and the Black Student Leadership

than $150,000 for a Writers’ Room at Venice High

Alliance helped students write essays on the topic

School, which will open in 2022. Venice is a long-

of leadership. At Roosevelt, our partnership with

time participant in 826LA’s In-Schools program.

the Ethnic Studies program continued a tradition

Having a writing center on campus—a warm and

of resistance, resilience, and reimagination (see

welcoming place where students can seek writing

“When Survival is at Stake” on the next page).

support, or just read and hang out—will deepen that relationship. 19

When Survival is at Stake, History and Community Help Us Find Our Way by Joel Arquillos EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 826LA

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase “mutual aid” became familiar to many people outside of political organizing circles for the first time. It’s a wonky word for a simple concept: taking care of each other. Communities of color and lower economic status have long relied on their own innovation and resilience to make up for what systemic racism and social injustice have denied them. For students who attend Title I schools, the past school year has exacerbated existing inequities. LAUSD reported that Black and Latinx students, along with the 85% of students whose families qualify as low-income, participate in distance learning at a 10-20% lower rate than their white and middle-income peers. A bright spot came in March, when after years of debate and many public comments, the California Board of Education approved a 900page Ethnic Studies curriculum that emphasizes the contributions of African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Latino Americans, and Native Americans, along with Jewish Americans and Arab Americans. As a former high school history teacher and current Executive Director of a writing and tutoring organization, I’m buoyed by the adoption of a statewide Ethnic Studies curriculum. An understanding of history and a sense of pride in community is key to cultivating resilience. 826LA has worked with Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights since 2007, and has collaborated with students in the school’s Ethnic Studies program to publish an annual anthology of student writing since 2014. As topics including racism, immigration, and gentrification become increasingly prominent in national

media, Roosevelt students are creating powerful reminders that no one is better equipped than them to tell their stories. The resulting books are integrated into the classroom curricula and are used in education programs at universities nationwide, including Harvard. In Roosevelt’s surrounding neighborhood of Boyle Heights, the median household income is less than $34,000 and more than half of residents were born outside the United States. Roosevelt gained recognition in 1968 as one of several Los Angeles schools where students staged walkouts to protest unequal education in the LA Unified School District, as part of the larger Chicano Rights Movement. The Ethnic Studies program and publication project in collaboration with 826LA continues to be a proud tradition of Boyle Heights students taking a hands-on role in their education. As schools pivoted to distance learning in the spring of 2020, Roosevelt students continued to study writing by Paulo Freire and Gloria Anzaldúa. 826LA’s trained volunteers helped students process and write about the historic events they were living, through the lens of their Ethnic Studies curriculum. That doesn’t mean students wrote explicitly about injustice. Often they expressed appreciation for their families, communities, and cultures, from tributes to parents and grandmothers, to an ode to “Mexican Macaroni,” the meal that “would always bring us together.” These pieces remind us that joy finds a way. Reading their poems and essays, published in a 2021 anthology called Finding Our Way, I was often moved by students’ wisdom and determination. As police killings of young people of color, anti-Asian hate crimes, and mass shootings filled our news feeds, the voices of youth living with these realities are among the most hopeful. I believe that with tools and encouragement like those offered by 826LA and Roosevelt, this year’s cohort of published authors will create a better world. I’ll leave you with a few of their words.

World of Suspense by Kate S. from Finding Our Way ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM AT R O O S E V E LT H I G H S C H O O L

Remembering is what’s taking care of me It’s like replanting ourselves, taking another chance, finding our uniqueness in this new way of life When the sun arises a new day has come People are doing their best and protecting themselves from what’s out there Trying to provide for their families and always making the best of it Skies are cleaner and the grass is getting greener Jacaranda is blooming faster and faster The generous tenderness is getting better When everything has passed it’ll be as bright as ever No rage, no fear, yet still a world of suspense because everyday is a new day

In-Schools + College Access

The college application process didn’t stop for a pandemic, and

neither did 826LA. Partnering with 23 high schools across our In-Schools Programs, we provided one-on-one writing support for students as they brainstormed and outlined their personal essays, showing their resilience and individuality in ways that grades and test scores can’t communicate. The 11th Annual Great Los Angeles Personal

In the spring, students turned their personal

Statement Weekend drew fewer students than

statements into scholarship applications at the 9th

usual, but those who attended got to work closely

Annual Scholarship Day—which also happened

with volunteers who were trained to help craft

to be the second Virtual Scholarship Day and

powerful personal stories into responses to the

a reminder of how much more streamlined our

UC, Cal State, and Common App (for private

virtual programming had become in the course of

schools) prompts.

a year.

Students also picked up writing tips that

Beyond our college access work, students at

promised to pay off beyond college application

Venice High School contributed to a book project

season. “Working with my tutor helped me learn

in collaboration with 826 Valencia and supported

to ‘show not tell’ and to use the essay prompt to

by a grant from the California State Library.

show my story in a more intriguing way,” noted

Coming soon to a Time Travel Mart near you!

Isaias, a student who participated in GLAPSW.

652

Students Supported

239

Volunteers

863

Total Hours Volunteered

Skyler Pak, volunteer at Manual Arts Writers’ Room

As juniors and seniors in high school prepare to apply for colleges, I have enjoyed providing feedback on personal statements... I’ve always had a passion for reading and writing, so it has been such a treat to volunteer with 826LA and the amazing students in Los Angeles! S

Students Reflect on Their Talents in Mirrorball

As a dancer, all you get is two and a half minutes to deliver your best performance to the crowd, to the judges, and to yourself. —Jackie P., from “Two and a Half” in Mirrorball: A Look Inside During a school year when both students and

On a cloudy Monday afternoon in early June,

teachers felt acutely aware of what was lacking—

students, volunteers, and staff from the school

namely the camaraderie and convenience of real

and 826LA gathered on the HBHS soccer field to

classrooms—a unique writing project offered

celebrate the release of Mirrorball. Each student

students from the Helen Bernstein High School

received a bound copy of the book, and read a

campus in Hollywood the chance to reflect on the

short excerpt at a podium set up in front of socially

positive.

distanced folding chairs.

“What would you say is your greatest talent

Jennifer Lynch, Paramount’s Senior Vice

or skill?” began the prompt. “How have you

President of Corporate Social Responsibility &

developed and demonstrated that talent over

Internal Communications, said, “Programs like this

time?”

only work if the partnership itself is solid. To the

826LA staff collaborated with educators to

mentors at Paramount, it’s been a rough year. But

develop and coordinate the program. Working one

you folks [are] willing to take time out of your day

on one with employees from Paramount Pictures,

to improve the lives of young people.”

students drafted essays about dance, baseball,

That dedication will be paid forward when

karate, poetry, track and field, starting a club, and

students go on to impact others. As Gisel J. wrote

making a short film.

in her essay, “Today’s Leaders,” “I plan to pursue

With offices located directly across from

an education in communication and a career in

the school, Paramount is a natural and ongoing

local government, and to continue to use my voice

partner. This year the proximity was moot as

to change the way young people are perceived.

classes moved online. But that didn’t stop students

We are not naive. We are not tomorrow’s leaders.

and tutors from meeting over Zoom for seven

We are already leading today.”

sessions between October 2020 and April 2021.

Letter of Gratitude by Cruz from Viva la Vida: Stories of Life, Love, and Growth IN-SCHOOLS PROGRAM PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H A C A D E M I C L E A D E R S H I P C O M M U N I T Y

Dear all essential workers, I am one of the many people who you have helped every day from good days to bad times. I’m Cruz, a 16-year old kid who lives near downtown L.A. and believe that I speak for a lot of people, thank you. I understand that every day when you wake up, there are times where you think, “Am I going to be okay?” I want you to know how important you are and how much you have done for us…. Everyday, you risk your own life for a stranger and I’m not just talking about doctors or nurses, I also want to thank other workers. The people who have been working since the pandemic started, you made sure this country did not crumble down.... It’s not the same as before, but yet they continue working so their community can be a better place…. I hope you guys have the strength to continue helping us. Sincerely, Cruz

Virtual Hub

Rafael S. Jr., from “My Diary of a Pandemic” in Finding Our Way

When the pandemic has passed I still want my community of Boyle Heights to work as a team and look out after each other. R

Where can you find dozens of writing prompts, anti-racist resources, and

seven new student publications, including three full books? It’s 826LA’s Virtual Hub, and it will keep you busy for quite a while. Although there is a lot to miss in the analog

writing and educational resources available to a

world—that new-book smell, high-fiving students

much wider audience. The Hub is here to stay,

at a release party—launching our Virtual Hub in

and to connect us.

2020 presented an opportunity to make student

Volunteering from Vienna Our shift to virtual programming had at least one silver lining: We were no longer solely reliant on local volunteers. According to Russel Altamirano, volunteering from Vienna is just as challenging and rewarding as it sounds. A former 826LA employee turned volunteer, Russel continues to support Los Angeles students all the way from Austria. 826LA:

When and how did you first get

seniors feel good about their college applications,

involved with 826LA? What is your most

I do so eagerly! As a Teaching Assistant in Vienna,

memorable 826LA moment?

I’ve shared the incredible work that my former

R U S S E L A LTA M I R A N O :

826LA students wrote to help Viennese students

I started my journey

with 826LA as one of five VISTA Summer

understand the U.S., especially California, from a

Associates tasked to develop the 2018 Mar Vista

youthful perspective.

Write On! Summer Camp. I had been living on the opposite side of the country for two years

What is your favorite thing to write?

and was yearning for home and community. I

Aside from list-making and setting weekly goals

gathered countless memories from various 826LA

in my planner (which are, admittedly, not always

workshops that still drive my current work. The

met), journaling is definitely my favorite form of

most impactful, however, were the feelings of

writing. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I write.

comfort, acceptance, and support that I felt daily

Whenever I find myself at a crossroads in life, I

in our writing labs.

write. I’m not exactly waiting for groundbreaking epiphanies while I’m writing, though. Revisiting

What is the furthest place you have virtually

what and how I wrote about my life helps me

volunteered from for an 826LA program? What

strengthen my self-compassion.

abroad? An advantage?

What would you like to see for the 826LA

is the biggest challenge to volunteering from Last fall, I had the pleasure of volunteering from

students you have helped 10 years from now?

halfway across the planet to support the Great

I hope all 826LA students continue to embrace

LA Personal Statement Weekend. Of course, one

their creativity and voice for whichever path

of the biggest challenges staying involved with

they pursue. Whether they realize it or not, they

826LA has been the time difference between LA

already are strong communicators and leaders in

and Vienna. However, students need our support

their communities. Writing changes lives, and I

now more than ever, so if I have to stay up until

hope 826LA students never forget that.

11 p.m. to make sure high school juniors and

Volunteering

They wanted to help. That’s what we heard from so many volunteers as

soon as the pandemic struck; that’s why they’d started working with 826LA in the first place, and school closures only increased students’ need for academic support. The question was how. Online programming posed new technical and

We said a fond farewell to two staff members

ethical questions. Staff researched best practices

in the fall, and welcomed two more: Ashley

around student-to-volunteer ratios and Zoom

Love-Smith as Senior Manager of the Volunteer

etiquette, which led to a specialized training

Program and Grace Kim as Americorps VISTA

that provided tips and updates for our newly

Volunteer Coordinator. Although our reduced

virtual volunteer corps. By spring, The Volunteer

capacity required us to put new volunteer

Team had collaborated with the Programs Team

orientations on hold, we believe we’ll reopen our

to create a streamlined Scholarship Day Online

doors with stronger supports for volunteers in

Information Hub that functioned as a streamlined,

place.

one-stop resource for Scholarship Day volunteers.

276

Volunteers

Volunteers of color

Volunteers over 50 years old

Supplemental volunteer trainings

Frank Zhou Volunteer Frank Zhou describes himself as shy, but finds that 826LA makes the perfect ice breaker. 826LA:

When and how did you get involved

However, there is one book I remember loving

with 826LA? What program(s) have you

as a kid, Sideways Stories from Wayside School by

supported?

FRANK ZHOU:

Louis Sachar. To this day I still think about Sharie, I first got involved with 826LA in

a character who was described as having these

2017 through TNT [our tutoring program for older

luscious, large eyelashes. I think they weighed

students]. Growing up, I always thought I’d be a

over a pound. Imagine that!

teacher. After starting my job as not a teacher, When you’re not volunteering with 826LA,

I was spending more and more of my personal time reading. 826LA, and in particular TNT, really

how do you spend your time?

caught my attention because I wanted to help

Pre-pandemic, I was spending my free time

foster a love for reading and writing as well as

reading, tending to my plants, or running. Post-

tutor students.

pandemic, I’m spending my free time reading, tending to my plants, or running with a mask.

What’s a memorable 826LA moment that comes to mind?

Why is writing important?

Hearing the students read out their stories for the

Maybe most simply, writing is important because

first time. I was new to TNT and was just getting

it can act as a powerful medium for any form of

to know some of the students. I was always a

expression. On a more selfish level, writing is

nervous and shy kid around their age and wasn’t

important to me because I love to read. I may

great at self-expression, so it was very inspiring to

not produce a lot of my own writing beyond text

see the students so bravely and eloquently read

messages and emails, but I am eternally grateful

the stories they’ve been working on all semester.

for others who do because I sure as heck love to consume it.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

I must admit I didn’t read much as a kid. Now, I spend most of my time reading, and I often contemplate how I won’t be able to read everything out there during my remaining lifespan. It’s a shame I didn’t get a head start sooner!

Events I support 826 because… writing and creative writing

are what saved me and what has supported me in my life, and there’s nothing more important than that. —Judd Apatow, writer-director and 826LA supporter As an organization known for fun and innovative

Changing the Story is 826LA’s primary

events, we mourned the loss of opportunities to

fundraising event, and we were fortunate that

gather in person—but that didn’t stop us from

it landed in June, when many adults had been

hosting three engaging virtual salons and one big,

vaccinated and the county’s COVID rates were

fun, socially distanced drive-in.

low. We invited supporters, volunteers, and 826LA

In October of 2020, 826LA convened a Virtual

families to A Field Trip to 826LAND, a drive-in

Town Hall, in which experts from the educational

event at the Santa Monica Airport.

community discussed the challenges and

Joining the event via pre-recorded videos,

opportunities posed by remote learning. Equity

numerous well known authors—Kwame Alexander,

was the unifying theme of the data, anecdotes,

Leigh Bardugo, Roxane Gay, Myriam Gurba,

and ideas that panelists presented.

Cathy Park Hong, Susan Orlean, and Jason

“The public health crisis of systemic and

Reynolds—offered their takes on how writing had

institutional racism is showing in who has access

transformed their lives, and what it might offer

to technology,” said Ryan Smith, Chief External

young people.

Officer of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.

Roxane Gay advised beginning writers to

“We need to invest in the genius of our students.”

“Read a lot, to find models of what you do

In early 2021, we partnered with Second

and don’t want to do in your own work, and to

Home to bring writer-director and longtime 826LA

expose you to different ways of…seeing and

supporter Judd Apatow together with Supreme

understanding the world.”

Court attorney Neal Katyal. They discussed the

The evening raised over $475,000 for 826LA’s

future of democracy and Trumpism in the U.S.

free writing programs, and ended with a screening

as a follow-up to a conversation that 826LA

of Back to the Future, which attendees watched

and Second Home hosted during Trump’s first

from their cars while eating Coolhaus ice cream

impeachment.

sandwiches. That night, the future seemed more

By April, we were ready for a bit more levity.

hopeful than it had in quite a while.

In another 826LA/Second Home collaboration, bestselling authors Brit Bennett and Ayelet Waldman talked reading, writing, and quarantine survival strategies. 32

Allergic: Wizard Jacob’s Giant Problem by Ms. Franco Chaidez’s 3rd grade class FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM

Once upon a time, there was a dinosaur optometrist named Wizard Jacob. He wore a wizard hat and a stethoscope, and he lived in a giant golden mansion on top of a tall mountain. Inside the mansion he had a laser security system that kept out all dinosaurs except for other T. rexes. Wizard Jacob was allergic to other kinds of dinosaurs. If a stegosaurus, for example, came near him, he would sneeze so hard that it would blow the other dinosaur off the mountain. “RAWRRRRRR-CHOOOOO!” He left his mansion wearing a chicken-wing- patterned mask and maintaining a social distance from others.

T ime Travel Mart

Once there was a happy fire dragon named Gizmo.... Gizmo’s dream was to bring his older brother, Gizmo the Second, back to life using a magic spell. Gizmo decided to ask for help from a five-year-old witch named Alice, who lived in an enchanted forest in Chicago. —from “The Cool Space Adventures of Gizmo the Dragon” by Ms. Vieira’s second grade class, Purche Avenue Elementary FIELD TRIPS PROGRAM

The Time Travel Mart started the year

introduced new products, like Miguel Valenzuela’s

stuck in a time stop, meaning that our brick-and-

Lotería Poster featuring classic TTM products,

portal stores in Echo Park and Mar Vista were

writing tools, and images inspired by student

mostly closed until the spring. Store staff used

writing.

this time to connect more deeply with programs:

Customers stayed connected with each other

Journalism student Sawyer conducted a series

and with us via the Time Scouts Book Club, which

of interviews for the TTM newsletter; Time Travel

read titles including This is How You Lose the

correspondent Tiny the T. Rex visited our After-

Time War by Max Gladstone and The First Fifteen

School Tutoring program; and a window display

Lives of Harry August by Claire North.

featured characters from 826LA Field Trips.

Two of our iconic time (travel)-tested products,

(Tiny also took an enviable cross-country road

Mammoth Chunks and Robot Milk, made a cameo

trip and appears in these pages. Can you find

in Meow Wolf’s Las Vegas exhibit, Omega Mart,

them?) We surveyed staff and began an ongoing

an immersive art installation resembling the

conversation about how to create storefronts and

world’s strangest grocery store.

products that are more inclusive of our students

On the homefront, shifting COVID regulations

and community.

sometimes made us feel like we were stuck in a

Online sales continued with help from

time loop, but we finally went back to the future

an amped-up social media presence, and we

and reopened our stores at full capacity in June.

Madison Girifalco Madison Girifalco is part of 826LA’s Creative Cohort, a group of volunteers who dispatch their artistic skills to create products and displays for the Time Travel Mart, to illustrate 826LA publications, and more. Madison is a writer and visual artist whose newest work—a collaboration of sorts with 826LA students— appeared in the window of the Echo Park Time Travel Mart. 826LA:

How did you get involved with 826LA

What was your favorite book as a child?

and the Time Travel Mart? M A D I S O N G I R I FA L C O :

Shel Silverstein’s Falling Up, The Light in the Attic,

When I first moved

and Where the Sidewalk Ends are all equally good

here in 2013, my next door neighbor, now friend,

in my book. He is one of my biggest inspirations

Kristen Torres told me about 826’s programming.

and heroes because he is a true master of art

I had moved here for screenwriting, but was

and writing but appears colloquial, comfortable,

looking to do work with kids in the community,

and unpretentious. He’s also silly, smart, and

so 826 sounded like a great fit. I was really

sentimental, which is the sweet spot to me.

enamoured with 826’s emphasis on creativity and If you could take just one Time Travel Mart

the flexibility of what defines “creative writing.”

product with you to a desert island, what

How would you describe the installation that

would you choose and why?

you’re working on for the Echo Park Time

I think I would choose the Mammoth Chunks

Travel Mart window?

because I could eat the food inside and use half

The front of the installation is a hitchhiking

the tin from the can as a cup/bowl and the other

space man on an anti-gravity space highway. He’s

half to shape into tools. I could even use the

encouraging the passersby to off-ramp into the

paper label to draw or burn!

Time Travel Mart to peek behind the Mystery Curtain! This was inspired by the Roadside Attractions that pepper the interstates all across North America. Once you travel inside, you discover student stories brought to life in a variety of ways. Then, beneath the projector is the “Hall of Lost Heroes.” Lost Heroes are characters who didn’t quite make the cut to the student’s published work, but they are characters worth remembering!

Equity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Inclusion

In the space of one week during the spring of 2021, America experienced

two mass shootings. The murder of Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Feng at three Atlanta-area spas shed light on widespread anti-Asian hate crimes and attacks. In Boulder, Colorado, a gunman shot and killed ten people days later. Locally, the Los Angeles Police Department evicted unhoused residents of Echo Park, just a few blocks from 826LA’s Echo Park center. 826LA stands against racism and violence. But

learning is a lifelong endeavor. In 2020-2021,

those are not hard stands to take. Or rather, they

we recommitted to becoming a more inclusive,

shouldn’t be. The thornier and more challenging

accessible, and anti-racist organization; this is a

question—especially during a year when so

practice, not a project with an endpoint. But we

many of us struggled to maintain our own health

have taken several concrete steps worth noting

and functionality, and to meet our students’

and sharing, including:

basic needs—is: As an educational and writing

• Welcoming more BIPOC board members

organization, how do we combat pervasive,

• Implementing anti-bias training for staff,

systemic inequality?

board members, and volunteers

Though each horror brings distinct

• Creating an EDAI (equity, diversity,

differences, they all stem from a belief that some

accessibility, and inclusion) committee to

lives are more valuable than others.

focus on identifying and implementing EDAI

Writing is an assertion of presence, identity,

across departments

and value. When we encourage students to voice

• Curating a list of resources for the Movement

their ideas and emotions, we are reminding them

for Black Lives

that they have value and deserve to take up space

• Paying QTBIPOC teaching artists

in the world.

• Amplifying and partnering with BIPOC-

By definition, racism and violence sever

centered non-profits on our social media and

connections among human beings. As Journalism

beyond

student Robyn W. notes, “we need to take care

The collective legacy of systemic inequity,

of each other.” Literature invites readers into

hatred, and isolation is everywhere. It is ours to

the minds of writers—yet readers form their own

carry and to address with humility, openness, and

images and interpretations. This dance of writing

determination. One step at a time. One word at

and reading is a bridge between two people.

a time.

Writing is creation. Writing is a form of care. As an education organization, we believe that 38

A Better Version of Myself by Jaime F. from Finding Our Way ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM AT R O O S E V E LT H I G H S C H O O L

When Jaime pictures a better life for herself she envisions all her family gathered together for a barbeque; she sees her father and mother being financially stable, living in a better house, and not having to worry about money or anything. Jaime plans to provide for them by having her dream job. When Jaime stresses out over homework or tests, all she does is think about the struggle her dad and mom have gone through and how it is nothing compared to what she’s having to deal with. What she wants for herself is to be financially stable. During this pandemic her family is staying strong and getting through it like they always have. They know they’ve faced worse challenges and this is just another one.

Isai M., from “The First Step of My Plan” in Memory Lane

I know in order to achieve this goal I need to map out a plan. I

Treasurer’s Report Total revenue Foundation and corporate grants

Total expenses

$1,995,002.00

Programming

$1,344,990.00 (67.42%)

Development

$448,798.00 (22.50%)

Admin

$201,214.00 (10.09%)

$1,140,090.00 (47.70%)

Corporate and individual donations

$652,983.89 (27.32%)

Events and contracts

$464,123.79 (19.42%)

Government

$97,790.00 (4.09%)

Store sales

$35,290.98 (1.48%)

Please note that these numbers are preliminary and may change slightly once our annual audit is completed.

$2,390,278.66

How Organizations Can Empower BIPOC Artists Featuring Teaching Artist Ebony Bailey According to a study led by Americans for the Arts, “Artists/creatives are among the most severely affected workers by the COVID-19 crisis. 62% have become fully unemployed and the average financial loss per artist/creative worker is $24,000.” The finances of BIPOC artists in particular are not widely studied, but in “Why COVID-19 Is an Unprecedented Opportunity to Radically Rethink Arts Funding,” artist Carolyn Romo writes, “For artists, and BIPOC artists in particular, the results have been predictably disastrous.” The Black Lives Matter protests in the summer

love all forms of writing.” Bailey uses writing to

of 2020 led 826LA to consider how we could

investigate and share her perspective as a Black,

become more anti-racist as an organization.

Mexican woman.

Although we have always relied on volunteers to

“I feel that unpaid work can be very

work one-on-one with students, the sobering facts

exploitative so I’ve tried my best to avoid it,”

above inspired 826LA to dedicate a portion of our

she said. “I think we need to think about how

budget to providing stipends for the artists who

institutions are structured in a way that typically

lead our workshops.

excludes BIPOC artists.”

We spoke with Ebony Bailey, who teaches

The cancellation of gigs due to COVID-19-

826LA’s Journalism Workshops, about her

related compelled Ebony to switch her creative

experience as a BIPOC artist during the COVID-19

focus back to writing. “Before COVID, I had been

pandemic. Ebony is a multimedia artist, journalist,

focusing on film almost exclusively. But during

and graduate student.

COVID, and being ‘encerrada,’ I’ve found my way

“I love photography,” she said. “I love how

back to writing. I’m just excited to help [826LA

it can reflect your personal interpretation of the

students] learn more about their own interests and

‘real world.’ I love the colors it can bring out. I also

to write about something they care about.”

What’s Next

How do you plan for a future that isn’t guaranteed? When in fact, the

only guarantee is that things won’t go as planned? These are existential questions that have plagued humans throughout time, but we felt them more acutely this year than ever. With our time machine still sputtering and missing

nonprofit work has also taught us to stay true to

a capacitor or two, we are not clairvoyant. But we

our values, knowing that the rest will flow from

have our resilient, infinitely creative students as

there. Reaffirming our belief that every student

models, and we have the power of imagination.

has a right to writing opportunities and support,

As we embarked on a strategic planning

we set the following priorities:

process in the summer of 2021, we didn’t know

• Reopen our centers safely and thoughtfully,

when younger children would be able to access

including a new Writers’ Room at

the vaccine, or what impact COVID variants would

Venice High School in 2022

have. These uncertainties compounded the usual

• Continue to grow our programs with intention,

financial uncertainties of non-profit work. But

basing decisions on data and evaluation • Continue to recruit and support diverse volunteers and provide them with proper training to fully support students • Enact progressive, community-centric fundraising practices • Retain staff by developing a culture of innovation and sustainability • Make equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion an intrinsic part of all our work If you are reading this, you are part of determining what’s next for 826LA, whether you are a student or family member of an 826LA student, a volunteer, an educator, a donor, or a staff member. Thank you for keeping the portals of possibility open.

The Meaning of Feminism by Robyn W. from VivaTimes JOURNALISM WORKSHOP

Some of you may wonder, Aren’t men and women

Angel H., from “Talking to a Security Guard About Anything” in Heroes of Our Own

already equal? While we have progressed towards complete

PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H 8 2 6 VA L E N C I A A N D

gender equality, we aren’t quite there yet. One

T H E C A L I F O R N I A S TAT E L I B R A R Y

prime example of the inequality we still face lies in the gender pay gap between men and women…. On June 10th of 1963, President John F. Kennedy passed the Equal Pay Act which made it illegal to pay men and women working the same job

Anyone can be a community hero.

in the same place different salaries. Despite this, enforcing a wage difference between men and women is still a widespread practice and problem. As of 2021, the average gender wage gap between men and women is 18 cents for the uncontrolled gender pay gap and 2 cents for the controlled gender pay gap. The UN has outlined gender equality as the fifth goal in the Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals. The hope is to achieve these goals by the year of 2030 and we should all

strive to eliminate the inequality in our lives.

How You Can Help Individuals

Companies & Organizations

When you donate to 826LA, you are helping

Corporate sponsorship is win-win: Students from

students from under-resourced communities write

under-resourced communities get the tools and

their own futures. We are grateful for the many

support they need, and your company makes a

ways people show their generosity: by donating

positive and visible impact. We thank our highest-

time, materials, expertise, and, of course, money.

level sponsors with a special spot at Changing

Your financial support goes directly to four focus

the Story, our biggest event of the year. We are

areas.

excited to talk with you about other forms of

•

THE PRESENT

— Reopening our centers

recognition, which we can tailor to your company’s

and providing core programs for the 2021-

goals: blog posts about our partnership, mentions

2022 school year

in our newsletter (which reaches more than 7,000

THE FUTURE

subscribers), social media posts, and more.

— The longevity of 826LA and

the expansion of Writers’ Rooms: classroom-

Corporate Volunteering

sized versions of our writing centers on the • •

campuses of high-needs high schools

826LA loves corporate volunteer groups!

T R AV E L C O M PA N I O N S

Did you know that 92% of human resource

— Volunteer

recruitment and training

executives agree that contributing to a non-profit

NEW DIMENSIONS

organization can build an employee’s leadership

— Student publications

and performances

skills? Volunteering is also a great team-building activity.

Five Ways to Support 826LA 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. Join Future Bestsellers Book Club! Make a recurring donation and receive student writing in your inbox each month. 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

Sweet Growth by Kellie G. from Mirrorball: A Look Inside PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H PA R A M O U N T P I C T U R E S AND HELEN BERNSTEIN HIGH SCHOOL

Baking went from being a onetime boredom thing to a full-time passion. I’ve grown up around it for as long as I can remember. When I was younger my grandmother would bake the most delicious treats, such as chocolate chip cookies and flan. Thanks to quarantine, I finally had all this free time to dedicate to baking. I baked banana bread, cupcakes, cookies, and I even made my first cake. I may have gotten a little over my head with my first cake, which was a layered chocolate cake. I was so in the moment that I missed one simple-butimportant step, which was to ice the layers of the cake separately. In the end it all worked out and it was a lesson to be learned. Baking has made me feel calm yet joyful. It has become my passion and comfort zone as I sometimes tend to bake when I feel stressed. Due to quarantine, I have been able to use my free time to learn more of the basics of baking by watching Youtube videos, reading detailed recipe instructions, and watching a live baking tutorial, all of which have really benefited me. Each time I bake, I develop more and more by challenging myself to try a new recipe or add more to existing recipes. At this point I feel I have grown to be 75% better than when I first started. I now have detailed comprehension on specific techniques like making a crumb coat and cake stacking. This skill has become meaningful to me because it’s an area where I have grown individually. It makes me feel happy and relieved. Baking has also given me the opportunity of being able to profit from it. For example, I was able to sell my cake pops for a dollar each at school. The first day I made eight and they sold out within hours. Due to high demand and great word of mouth, the following day I doubled that quantity and again sold out within hours. In the future I plan to save the profit I make from my baking sales in order to start my own bakery.

Volunteers Collin Abe Carmen Abuzid Dominick Adunagow Russell Agustin Edward Albright Stefania Ascoli Kathy Ballsun Ellie Barancik Brianna Barton Natalie Baseman Michael Batchelder Elizabeth Baxa Mary Becker Ravi Bhatia Lily Blau Josie Bloomfield Erica Blumfield Cynthia Boorujy Anna Boudinot Gwendolyn Burke Nayeli Camacho Christi Carras Pia Carretta Anne Carroll Karime Castillo Cardenas Israel Ceja Rhea Chadha Kate Chao Ashla Chavez Razzano Anne Cheng Carly Chevalier Jenae Cipolla Jack Cline Matt Conway Mallory Corben Jasmine Heart Cruz Mai Dabbas Nicole Denney

Laramie Dennis Peter Donald Loretta Donelan Brianna Dupper Audrey Egekeze Lindsay Emi Erica Estève Sarah Evangelista Sheldon Feinerman Alyssa Felix-Arreola Joe Ferencz David Ferino Anna Ferrarie Jake Fiedler Emily Forscher Jaime Fox Anne Freiermuth Annie Galang Matthew Gallaugher Nima Ghomeshi Lily Gibson Madison Girifalco Kaitlin Gladd Meredith Goldberg-Morse Joan Goldfeder Josh Gordon Larry Gordon Kristine Goy Gabriel Griswold Mackenzie Gross Alexandra Grossi Ross Groves Kristina Gsell Yue Guan Anne Guo George Gutierrez Liz Gyori Beth Hagenlocker

Susan Hamilburg Hannah Han Abby Harris Isabel Havens Manami Hayashi Justin Hayata Mark Timothy Hayward Mikki Hernandez John Hicks Eric Hiss Fritz Hoffine Rachel Holzer Zoe Hosley Phil Hughes Ryan Hynes Kirsten Jacobson Anita Jaskol Brooke Jenkins Michael Jorgensen Jasmin Joseph Jessie Kahnweiler Brad Kaiserman John Kendall Nancy Keystone Grace Kim Janna King Cheryl Klein Thorin Klosowski William Koenen Maya Konstantino Kiera Kosciolek Pooja Kowshik Michaela Kuelbs Jonathan Kuhn Joshua Kung Janson Lalich Monica Lawson Heather Lee

Jay Lee Jessica Lee Stephanie Lee Yennie Lee James Liddell Alexis Lopez Breda Lund Lauren Ma Matthew Maceda Danny Madden Carly Mallenbaum Andrew Malmuth Marcela Mantilla Lisa Marfisi Evelyn Marquez Muffy Marracco Reno Marsh Brenda Martinez Kate Maruyama Amy Matthews Carter Mccarroll Zoe Mccracken Mac McDonough Tara McNeely Michelle Meyers Seyoum Meza Schuyler Mitchell Julia Monahan Avery Monsen Isabella Morcote Jordan Morris Jean Namgung Kusumitha Nekkanti Kenny Ng Dang Nguyen Cristina Nunez Louise Nutt Ashley Okonma Yukiko Osawa Skyler Pak Adam Pamanian Abhijay Paturi Ashley Paul Julie Pearson Bridget Persson

Travis Peters Justin Pfahler Joyce Pham Hayley Phelan Sydney Phillips Shelby Pine Ari Polgar Brittany Poole Mari Provencher Piper Pugh Golbarg Rahimi Edward Ramirez Mickey Rapkin Erica Rawles Jordan Rawlins Margaret Reeve Anika Ricks Micah Rishe Nicole Robbins Dylan Roberts Scarlett Robertson Gerardo Rochin Gary Rowe Britta Rowings Ryan Rozar Eli Safaie-kia Kira Sano Ari Saperstein Eric Schoenbaum Charlotte Scully Ellen Seiden Rosemary Sellers Brian Semel Mia Serafino Paula Sherrin Laurie Shiers Debra Shrout Melissa Silva Rajitmeet Singh Tiff Smith Maya Smukler David Snow Judy Song Kathleen Spears Joel Stein

Megan Stephan Kyle Stephenson Jessica Stern Sarah Stockman Ellen Stolar Eric Stolze Kecheng Su D Wilson Swain Daniel Sweren-Becker Casey Swing Angela Tapia Margie Templeton Charlie Tercek Anna Thompson Gabriela Tuna Catherine Tung Susan Turner Jones Alec Vandenberg Maria (Silvia) Vasquez Sophia Venables Gregory Verini Debra Vilinsky Alison Vingiano Tam Vo Wyatt Walker Isaac Weingart Garrett Werner Jeffrey White Marilyn Wilker Michelle Wong Claire Woolson Trevor Worthy Emily Yang Allison Yen Sang Un Yoo Emi Yoshino Daniela Zaccheo Dominique Zamora Charles Zehner Patrick Zhang Frank Zhou Kerstin Zilm Dara Zukoski

Donors Emily Acevedo

Fred Beshid

Christy & Matt Cherniss

Helen Adams

Michael Birbiglia

Ryan Chesterton

Sarah Airriess

Michael Blake

Carly Chevalier

Jessica Alan

Cesar Blanco

William Choy

Ruthie Alan

Joshua Bligh

Megan Christopher

All Ways Up Foundation

Maria Bolanos

Carrie Clifford & Paule Boese

Garrison Allen

Scott Boxenbaum

Andrew Cohn

Alliance Data Systems, Inc.

Eric Boyer

Edward Coker

Liz Anderson

Antonia Boyette

College Track

Stacey Anderson

Connor Boyle

Communities Foundation of

Raphael Anderson-Ayers

Doreen Braverman

Hilary & Jack Angelo

Laura Brief

Adam Conway

Barbi Appelquist

Brookfield Property Partners

Kelly Cooper

Aramont Charitable Foundation

Nicole Brown

Almitra Corey

Eric Arellano

Dante Bruno

Costco Wholesale

Isa & Bill Aron

Evan Bryers

Karen Bedrosian Coyne & Ted

Benjamin Au

Sharon Bugante

Lexi Backstrom

Brandon Burke

Croul Family Foundation

Meredith Bagby & Yvonne

Maya Burkenroad

Kathleen Cullinan

Cheng

Robert Bursick

Monique Curnen

Kathy Ballsun

Gail Buschman

Heidi Currie

Becky Banks

Jack Byerly

Christopher Curtis

Dianele & Philip Barach

Amy Ann & Blake Cadwell

Rebecca Dameron

Neil Barbieri

Sarah Calixto

Daniel and Mary Reeves

Matthew Bargery

Gabriel Canter

Baskin Family Foundation

Capital Group Charitable Giving

Cheryl Daniels

Karl-Éric Battista

Jennifer Cappelletty

Emily Davidson

Jon Beckhardt

Carol and James Collins

Kira Davis

Courtney Behrenhausen

Texas

Coyne

Foundation

Marisa Davis

Ahmed Ben-Marzouk

Anne Carroll

Carly & Steve De Castro

Aimee Bender

Sam Carter

Kristania De Leon

Rebecca Berger

Monique Caulfield

Kaylin Dee

Adam Bernstein

Adriana Centeno

Kate DeFronzo

Amanda & Jeremy Berkus

Matthew Cesario

Katrina Dela Cruz

Bill Berndtson

Diane Cherniss

Wendy Dembo

Mary Densmore

Whittemore

Stephanie Horak

Chad DePue

Rebecca Godfrey

Amy Hornick

Rajan Desai

Beth Gold

Daniel Houbrick

Lynne & Jimmy DeWitt

Debbie Goldberg

Winston Howes

Jihae Dick

Lisa & Evan Goldberg

Caryn Hsu

Disney VoluntEARS Community

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein & Jon Vein

Danny Huang

Daniel Gonzalez

Devyani Hunt

Peter Donald

Dana Goodyear

Lindsay Huss

Frances Dow

Margaret Gordon

IA Local 871

Eric Drachman

Grancell Foundation

Bernadette Irizarry

DreamWorks Studios

DeAnna Gravillis

Ashaki Jackson

Carmen Dukes

James Greensweight

Sasson Jamshidi

Durie Tangri LLP

William Grewe

Jewish Community Foundation

Edison International

Barry Gribble

Audra Edmonson

Griffin Capital

Sydney Johnson

Terena Thyne Eisner & Anders

Dean Grinsfelder

David Johnson-McGoldrick

Anna Gross

Robert Johnston

Naomi Ellison

Chris Grove

Lirona Kadosh Goldstine & Ethan

Dolores Estrada

Nancy & William Gubin

Jodie Evans

Geraldine Guercio

Allison Kantor

Patrick F. Spears

Derek Haas

Anita Kantrowitz

Camille Feinberg

Beth Hagenlocker

Karisma Foundation

Taylor Feuer

Susan Hamilburg

Amaha Kassa

Anne Finestone

Alyssa Harris

Andrew Kasson

Owen Fitzgerald

Ariel Hayat

Alexandra Kelly

Flanders Cook Charitable Trust

Jocelyn Hayes-Simpson & Brad

Brigid Kelly

Fund

Eisner

of Los Angeles

Goldstine

Mark Folkman

Simpson

Valerie Frahm

Jon Healey

Lisa Kettle

Martin Fransham

Timothy Hedrick

Nancy Keystone

Peter Friel

Kristen Hellwig

Janet Kim

Holly & Ryan Gaglio

Madeline Hendricks

Keith Kirk

Marcia Gale

Laura Hertzfeld & Richard

Jeff Kleeman

Elizabeth Garner

Jennifer Kennedy

Greenhill

Catherine Klein

Carmen Gentry

Maria Hewitt

Birte Klug

Peter Georgianni

Hannah Higgins

Susan Ko

Melissa Gerber

Mary Higgins

Liz Koe

Erin Gienger

Meredith Hightower

Cathy Kornblith

Gil Schwartz Foundation

John Hom

Kimberly & Mark Koro

Jamie & Scott Ginsburg

Home Depot Charity Custodial

Julie Kraut

Alexandra Glickman and Gayle

Account

Ilya Kreymerman

Donors (cont’d.)

Kroger Company

Leonard Marchese

Rod Moore

Brian Kuelbs

Julie Marcus

Kristy & Sean Morris

Sandra Kulli

Maren Levinson Marquart &

David Morse

L.A. Unified School District

Jaime Marquart

Rafi Musher

LA Arts Recovery Fund

Jennifer Marsh

Abby Land

Liz Marsham

Eileen LaRusso

Irene Mason

NBC Universal Media, LLC

Lani Lee

Kim Matus

Sarah Nerboso

Peter Lee

Roy Maule

Steve Neuberger

Amanda Leftridge

Maurice Amado Foundation

North Hills East Neighborhood

Alexander Lehmann

Amy McCubbin

Brenda Leighty

Stacy McDonald

Graham O’Kelly

Curtis Lelash

Mary Elizabeth McGlynn

Naomi & Robert Odenkirk

Maya Levine

Ruth McKee & Brian Vaughan

James Okumura

Natalie Levine

Jimmy McNamara

Omaha Community Foundation

Ben Lewis

Molly McNearney & James

Tola Omilana

James Liddell

Nancy E. Barton Foundation (U.S. Trust)

Kimmel

Council

Jerri Ontiveros

Aimee Lim

Mary Mendelsohn

OtterCares Foundation

Theresa Liu

Rachel Mendelsohn

Iva-Marie Palmer

Andrew Logan

Monica Menez

Michael Palmer

Lonee Lona

Sarah Meraz

Paramount Pictures

Kelley Lonergan

Barbara Meyer

Hannah Parikh

Marissa Lopez

Kayla Meyer

Natalie Patterson

Tai Lopez

Elias Meyer-Grimberg

Pamela Patton

Los Angeles Department of

Amy Meyerson

William Peacock

Donna Middlehurst & Jeffrey

Jessica Penzner

Cultural Affairs Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

Schwartz

Scott Peyatt

Jose Miguel Arteta

Jesse Peyronel

Carl Louton

Amada Miller

Alexia Pineda

Rebecca Lovano

Greg Mills

Kathryn Pinto

Amy Luftig Viste

Craig Minami

Kyle Price

Allison Lynch

Mindel Family Foundation

Provost Family Giving Fund

Katie Lynch

Nell Minow & David Apatoff

Kerith & Marvin Putnam

H.W. MacDonald

Sam Miron

Sylvie, Josh, & Steve Rabineau

Charles Machado

Charlotte Modly

Avalon Radell

Gabriel Magee

Paula Mohan

Mindy Rae

Shalini & Kamini Malhotra

Lani Monos

William Raillon

Mary Rasbach

Lekha Singh

U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Ashley Ratcliff

Skylight Foundation

United Way, Inc.

Paula & Jeol Rawlins

Carl Sliva

University of California Los

Margaret Reeve & Cameron

Sony Pictures Entertainment

McNall

Angeles (UCLA)

Mark Soto

Van Grunsven Family Foundation

Carly Renquist

Danielle Spratt

Karen Van Kirk & Andrew &

Richard Dunn Family Foundation

Laura Sreebny

Nicholas Anagnos

Daniel Ricker

Donald Steele

Wendy VanLandingham

Renee Ridgeley & Matt Selman

Kait Steele

Sarah Varet & Jesse Coleman

Riot Games, Inc.

Adam Steinfield

Mira Velimirovic

Howard Rodman

Audrey Stern

Vera R. Campbell Foundation

Timothy Rohlfing

Brian Stern

Susan Villar

Teri Rolley

Lisa Stewart

Luke von Schreiber

Isaac Rooks

Dale Stieber

Adam Wagner

Rose Hills Foundation

Thomas Stock-Hendel

Walt Disney Studios

Rosenstein Family Foundation

Ellen Stolar

Andrew Walther

Laura Rosof

Gregory Sudbury

Bonnie Watts

Gary Rowe

Katie & Brian Sumers

Christine Weil

LaDona & James Rowings

Pedro Svidler

Samuel Weiller

Meredith Russo

Rennie Svirnovskiy

Christine Weir

Thomas & Georgina Russo

Nancy Swaim

Shana Weiss & John Silva

Heather Rutkowski

Natalie Swanson

Caleigh Wells

Irandi Salazar

Dana Swithenbank

Wells Fargo

Cassandra Sanders

Kat Talley-Jones

Nora & Peter Wendel

Salesforce.com

Belinda Tan

Suzanne Wesselhoeft

Jessie Scanga

Kerry Tani

Sally Willcox

Christine Schnell

Angela Taylor

Kip Wilkins

Ellen Seiden

The Broad

Anna Williams

Selman/Ridgeley Family Trust

The Gotham Group, Inc.

Amanda Wilson

Lousine Shamamian

The Green Foundation

Julie Wong

Kieran Shamash

The Joan Leidy Foundation

Kyle Wurtz

Sheila, Dave and Sherry Gold

Holly Thomas

Spencer Yanaga

Steve Tsuchiyama

Jonathan Yeager

Feby Shen

Catherine Tung

Nasim, Ines, & Sam Zarenejad

Eileen & Kevin Shields

Alison Turner

Joanna Zimmer

Sidhu-Singh Family Foundation

Carole Jo Unter

Suzanne Zumbrunnen

Miranda Silvious

Griffith Urang-Schuberth

Foundation

Staff

In-Schools and Virtual Programs

Shawn Silver

Joel Arquillos EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In-Center and Virtual Programs Beatriz Garcia

LaTesha Knighten

D I R E C T O R O F A D VA N C E M E N T

IN-SCHOOLS PROGRAM

AND EVENTS

MANAGER

Lauren Humphrey Angelica Butiu-Coronado

DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL

P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R

G I V I N G A N D E VA L U AT I O N S

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS A N D O P E R AT I O N S

Mike Dunbar P R O G R A M S A N D O P E R AT I O N S MANAGER, FIELD TRIPS

Pedro Estrada SENIOR PROGRAMS AND O P E R AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R , TUTORING AND WORKSHOPS

Cecilia Gamiño P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R , TUTORING AND WORKSHOPS

Maricruz Pool-Chan P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R , TUTORING

Monica Arellano P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R , TUTORING

Maddie Silva P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R , FIELD TRIPS

Development

Volunteer Program Ashley Love-Smith SENIOR MANAGER OF THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Mariesa Kubasek VOLUNTEER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Cheryl Klein S E N I O R C O M M U N I C AT I O N S MANAGER

Aldo Puicon DESIGN MANAGER

Nadia S D E V E L O P M E N T C O O R D I N AT O R

Marina Aguayo

Jennie Najarro SENIOR VOLUNTEER C O O R D I N AT O R

MARKETING AND C O M M U N I C AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R

Wendy Alvarado IN-SCHOOLS V O L U N T E E R C O O R D I N AT O R

Grace Kim A M E R I C O R P S V I S TA V O L U N T E E R C O O R D I N AT O R

Ariana Ponce

Gladys Garcia-Olivo A M E R I C O R P S V I S TA D E V E L O P M E N T C O O R D I N AT O R

Time Travel Mart Carinne Mangold STORE MANAGER

A M E R I C O R P S V I S TA V O L U N T E E R C O O R D I N AT O R

Marco Beltran T I M E T R AV E L M A R T S TA F F

Cathy Mayer

Larry Hansen

P R O G R A M C O O R D I N AT O R ,

T I M E T R AV E L M A R T S TA F F

FIELD TRIPS

Wilson Swain T I M E T R AV E L M A R T S TA F F

Julian Stern T I M E T R AV E L M A R T S TA F F

Board of Directors Susan Ko

Andy Alcaraz

Eileen Shields

Ben Au

Belinda Tan

Adriana Centeno

Holly A. Thomas

Matthew Cherniss

Henry V. Chase

Chad DePue

Terena Thyne Eisner

Dave Eggers, emeritus

Jodie Evans

TREASURER

Scott A. Ginsburg

Claire Hoffman

Advisory Board

Rebecca Goldman

B.J. Novak

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein

Miwa Okumura

DeAnna Gravillis

Jane Patterson

Spike Jonze

Keri Putnam

Miranda July

Sylvie Rabineau

Catherine Keener

Sonja Rasula

Keith Knight

Luis J. Rodriguez

Al Madrigal

Terri Hernandez Rosales

Krystyn Madrigal

Brad Simpson

Tara Roth

J. Ryan Stradal

Katie McGrath

Natalie Tran

R. Scott Mitchell

Sarah Vowell

Lani Monos

Sally Willcox

PRESIDENT

Sarah Rosenwald Varet VICE PRESIDENT

Frankie Quintero S E C R E TA R Y

Nancy Yang

J.J. Abrams Judd Apatow Miguel Arteta Mac Barnett Steve Barr Joshuah Bearman Amy Brooks Father Greg Boyle, SJ Stefan G. Bucher Mark Flanagan Ben Goldhirsh

This annual report was set in Avenir Book & Black, League Spartan Bold, and Duos Brush Pro. Illustrations by Kyrstin Rodriguez (krodri.com)

826LA’s mission is to support students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills and to help teachers inspire their students to write. All of 826LA’s programs are free of charge, and are held at centers in Mar Vista and Echo Park and at Writers’ Rooms at Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles and Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights. L E A R N M O R E AT 8 2 6 L A . O R G