New Monuments: Proposals from Ms. LaBurn's Third Grade Class at University Prep

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NEW MONUMENTS

826 National’s Commitment to Inclusion

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion: We will not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, immigration status, military service, or disability.

826michigan Staff

Megan Shuchman, Executive Director

Catherine Calabro Cavin, Education Director

Frances Martin, Operations Director

Megan Gilson, Program Manager

Denise Ervin, Program Manager

Caitlin Koska, Volunteer Manager

Kinyel Friday, Operations Manager

Paige Bennett, Detroit Teaching Artist

Maya Jain, Virtual Teaching Artist

The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826michigan. We believe in the power of youth voice and are thrilled that you picked up this book. No part of this book may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, except for small excerpts for the purposes of review or scholarly study.

Many thanks to University Prep Science & Math Elementary School and our volunteers for their participation in this field trip.

By purchasing this book, you are helping 826michigan continue to offer free student programs. For more information, please visit: 826michigan.org

This book contains writing from 826michigan’s New Monuments virtual field trip program. During this program, students explore what a monument is and can be, dreaming up new possibilities for local ways to honor heroes and specialties, from the playful (coney dogs and magical creatures) to the serious (activists and abolitionists). In collaboration with 826michigan volunteers, students envision and draw these new possibilities, and then write about why they think their new monuments should be built. This project is based on the work by student writers at our sister chapter 826 New Orleans and their publication Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans.

A Monument to Kobe Bryant

by Justin, Candon, Conner

Kobe Bryant deserves a monument because He was a legend. Kobe Bryant was such an amazing athlete. He was the first famous basketball player and known for his toughness. The monument should be in Los Angeles since he played for the Lakers. A colorful, yellow and purple statue of him playing basketball. Kobe was one of the greatest players and to go along with the signed shoes that I have from him , I believe he deserves this monument.

New Monuments | 1

A Monument to 826michigan

By Aubrey, Shyla, Carlee, Zion

We want to memorialize the 826 staff. We want to memorialize the 826 staff because they go around Michigan and help different schools. Some facts about 826 are that they help publish books, they do after school tutoring, and they also do lesson plans for teachers. They come to schools and teach some of those lessons. The monument will be in Michigan and will look like a statue made of metal with the name of the company boldly written. This monument is important because 826 Michigan is a really helpful business.

LaBurn’s Class

2 |

Ms.

A Monument to Ms. LaBurn

By Samiyah, Jaia, Khi

Our teacher Ms. LaBurn deserves a monument because she is so nice and thoughtful. She is the best teacher in the world that loves to help her students. The monument should be made of stone and placed in front of the school. Ms. LaBurn is the nicest teacher.

New Monuments | 3

A Monument to Hooper

By Zyion, Jaxon, Rylen, Samuel

Did you know the Pistons used to play at the Auburn Hills Palace? The Pistons are a good basketball team and play a lot of other good teams. Hooper, the mascot, should have a monument at the Little Caesars Arena. The statue will display power and be red and blue. Hooper will have his famous mohawk and will be wearing a Pistons jersey. Hooper deserves to be the monument because he is a famous mascot.

LaBurn’s Class

4 |

Ms.

A Monument to LeBron James

By Heaven, Chrishian, Dallas

Do you know LeBron James has a school? LeBron is the best and is an amazing basketball player. He also has written a book about basketball. LeBron James deserves a monument. He has three kids and some of them are good at basketball too! LeBron James is in the NBA and helps students go to college. LeBron makes me feel happy and excited especially when he’s playing the game, hoping that he always wins. The monument should be gold and have diamonds in it as a statue of Him and his family.

LeBron James is cool, gives back to students and has a cool family.

New Monuments | 5

A Monument to Ms. LaBurn, Ms. West, & Mr. Weber

By anonymous

Teachers and staff at my school deserve to be memorialized. I want to say Thank You to Mr. Weber for cleaning the classrooms everyday. He works so hard every single day. I want to say Thank You to Ms. LaBurn for teaching us new things. I also want to thank Ms. West for helping Ms. LaBurn in the classroom.

6 |

Ms. LaBurn’s Class

A Monument to Kobe Bryant

By Adam, Kayden, Trayvon

Did you know Kobe Bryant was in the NBA? He was a great basketball player and deserves to be memorialized. This monument can be on a billboard so that everyone can always see it. His name will be displayed in big letters with a basketball in the middle. Kobe Bryant was the best.

New Monuments | 7

Draw or Insert a picture of your group or self-designed monument.

10 | Ms. LaBurn’s Class

Draw or Insert a picture of your group or self-designed monument.

New Monuments | 11

inspires school-aged students to write with skill and confidence in collaboration with adult volunteers in their communities.

Our writing and tutoring programs uphold a culture of creativity and imagination and support students in establishing strong habits of mind. Through publication and community engagement, we provide students with an authentic and enthusiastic audience for their writing. Our programs provide an energizing creative outlet for students and meaningful volunteer opportunities for community members.

SCHOOLWORK SUPPORT

We organize trained volunteer tutors to work with students one-on-one with their homework after school. Homework support is available for all subjects, for students ages 7–18.

WORKSHOPS

We offer a number of free workshops taught by professional artists, writers, and our talented volunteers. From comic books to screenplays, bookmaking to radio, our wide variety of workshops are perfect for writers of all ages and interests. One of the most popular workshops we offer is our weekly Wee-bots program for elementaryaged writers.

IN-SCHOOL PROJECTS

Our trained volunteers go into local public schools to support teachers with their classroom writing assignments. Based on the teacher’s curriculum, assignments range from writing tales to crafting college essays to exploring poetry.

FIELD TRIPS

Students come as a class to our writing lab to join a group of volunteers, interns, and staff in order to help solve a problem through writing—whether that is our editor Dr. Blotch’s insomnia, our looming story deadline, a mystery in need of solving, or one of the many others we encounter. Our field trips always end in a finished publication of original writing that students take home.

OUR STORES

Our Robot Supply Co. stores are one-stop shops for robots, robot owners, and enthusiasts alike. They are designed to inspire creativity and bring awareness of our programs to the community. In addition, our online store is always open; visit the Robot Supply Co. at onwardrobots.com. All proceeds from our stores directly fund our free student programming. Onward robots!

WRITING IS

A way to figure things out by ourselves

A way to help us connect to our world

A way to help us learn who we are and who we will become

A way for us to use our power to make changes and build a better world

We create a safe place to be ourselves and try new things

We support the ways that writers work (like thinking, sketching, talking)

We study the writing we want to do so we can try it

We learn how to change our writing for genre, audience, and purpose

We work with a group of writers who help and support each other www.826michigan.org

826 National was inspired to take a stand on issues of inclusion and diversity in light of the many events that spotlighted social and racial injustices throughout the country. We as educators, volunteers, and caring adults need to be aware of the wide range of issues our students face on a day-to-day basis. We need to support these young people as they navigate through and try to make sense of the world and their own identities.

We need the support and the feedback from our community to ensure 826 is living up to these standards. Through our inclusion statement, our internal diversity and inclusion group, cultural competency resources provided to staff and volunteers, and partnerships with other organizations, we are always working towards being a more inclusive and supportive organization.

We at 826 have the privilege of working with the next generation of scholars, teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, and writers. It's our job to make sure they are able to take their own stands.

As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, 826 National and its chapters recognize the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive 826 environment in which great leaps in learning happen, we commit ourselves to inclusion: we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, marital status, English fluency, parental status, military service, or disability.

The 826 National network is committed to encouraging youth to express themselves and to use the written word to effectively do so. We encourage our students to write, take chances, make decisions, and finish what they start. And 826 strives to do this in an environment free from discrimination and exclusion.