YOU’RE WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING An Anthology by 826NYC Students at NYC Beacon Campuses
You’re Worth More Than Anything An Anthology by 826NYC Students at NYC Beacon Campuses
826NYC Books 372 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 You’re Worth More Than Anything: An Anthology by 826NYC Students at NYC Beacon Campuses © 2022 by 826NYC and the authors. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. First 826NYC edition March 2022 Manufactured in the United States of Brooklyn 978-1-948644-91-4 The writing in this book was produced in the 2021-2022 school year at 826NYC’s Young Writers Publish project at six Beacon Centers: M.S. 131 Dr. Sun Yat Sen School (YMCA of Greater New York - Chinatown), M.S. 328 Community Math Science Prep (ACDP), P.S. 19 Marino P. Jeantet School (HANAC, Inc.), P.S. 8 Isaac Varian (Child Development Center of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, Inc), and Parkside Preparatory Academy (Research Foundation of CUNY). The classes were run by J’miah Baird, Daniel Goulden, Daniel Jackson, and Jaydra Johnson with the support of Beacon site staff. Designed by Adi Kwiatek Edited and proofread by Christine Corbin, Jess Gagne, Alex Galka, Nicholas Martinez, Lauren Stefaniak, and Allison Singer Printed by Bookmobile This project was created in collaboration with the New York City Mayor’s Office for Community Mental Health, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and Beacon Centers of New York City. This program is supported by 826 National, the Amazon Literary Partnership, The Jane Friedman Anspach Family Foundation, Con Edison, The Find Your Light Foundation, The Hawkins Project, International Paper, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Kettering Family Foundation, The Minerva Foundation, The Resnick Family Foundation, The Yelp Foundation, and Youth, Inc. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The program is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 826NYC is grateful to the many individuals who support our work. To see our full list of supporters or make a donation, please visit https://826nyc.org/donate-us/.
826NYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages six to eighteen with their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Table of Contents 1 3 5 6 8 12 14 17 19 21 23 24 29 30 33 34 36 39 40 42 49
Angely Abreu Janira Avila Alina Bautista Kadira Dow Cyan Elise Estrella Ammelia Fraser Victor Li Jiang Fiona Lin Junior Lopez Kailyn Macias Oscary Monero Alexandra Mora Mariely Morrobel Maggie Ni Ailen Perez Zoe Rodriguez Angelina Jade Salinas Kailany Soriano Noah Vasquez Chassidy Volquez Acknowledgments
PS 19 / HANAC PS 19 / HANAC MS 131 / YMCA PS 8 / Montefiore MS 328 / ACDP Parkside / CUNY MS 131 / YMCA MS 131 / YMCA PS 19 / HANAC PS 19 / HANAC PS 19 / HANAC MS 328 / ACDP PS 8 / Montefiore MS 131 / YMCA PS 19 / HANAC PS 8 / Montefiore PS 8 / Montefiore PS 8 / Montefiore PS 8 / Montefiore MS 328 / ACDP
Angely Abreu
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I Want to Be Perfect Every single day, I tried my best to be the “happy” friend; in reality, I hated my life. I hated everything about me. But, the only person I could really trust and share everything with was myself. I would always and will forever keep everything to myself because I feel like people would judge me and say that I’m annoying. I would always say, “Why do you always overthink everything? Everything’s going to be okay, don’t worry. I got your back; you can always tell me anything, I’ll support you no matter what. You’re very beautiful too; don’t let other people you see on social media ruin your confidence. Also, just because you hate the way you are doesn’t mean that can ruin you completely. You’re beautiful, gorgeous, unique, and you’re worth more than anything. Don’t let hater’s/people’s words destroy you on the inside; you’re perfect just the way you are.”
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Janira Avila
My Best Friends Dear Sheily, Jen S, Jair, Eddie: I want to say thank you for being best friends, for saying that I am not ugly, and for saying that I am pretty. Jen S and Jair, I want to know you better; you guys make me happy and you guys are always funny. Eddie and Sheily, I’ve known you for like 5 years and I miss you. When I am sad, you guys make me so happy. When you ask, “What’s wrong, Janira?” I say that I miss my brother. Everyone knows about him so they are my best friends. I miss them. Jen S and Jair, I see you every day at IS 5 and I love you guys.
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Alina Bautista Love & Boyfriend? AN ANTHOLOGY BY 826NYC STUDENTS AT NYC BEACON CAMPUSES \\ 5
keep ya secrets;) A little talk on boyfriend and love with my tía before she left to Mexico. She cool, she swaggy. We were watching a show on boys and teenage girls and then...
TÍA: If boy likes you, and you like them back, you guys should date. ME: Jajaja, ok, Tía. (Hahaha, ok Auntie.) TÍA: Pero no lo decir a tu mamá y abuelita, ay. (But don’t tell your mom and grandma.) ME: Jajaja. (Hahaha.) TÍA: Nos van a pegar todos, jajaja. (They are going to hit me and you, hahaha.) ME: Jajaja. No voy a decir. (Hahaha. I won’t tell.) After that conversation, I kinda remember tearing up because of how much I will miss her when she leaves off to Mexico. I will always follow her advice until I am 16 cuz yeah. My mom said I can’t date until 16, but why not break the rule a bit.; )
Kadira Dow
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A Moment
You Conn with Some ected one
In fourth grade, I m et a girl became h name er friend. S h e loves a d Amberlina. She of things was new nimals I love so I BFFs. To . We got to know just like me and lo each othe this day, ves a lot we are st r ill BFFs a more and became n d she is ann just like oying me!
“I love cats!” Kadira said. “Well, cats are lazy!” Angie said. “Have you ever seen cats though?” Kadira said. “Of course!” Angie said. “Well you probably saw a fake one. Sorry to burst your bubble,” Kadira said. “I-I-I-Uh...” Angie said.
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lina,
Dear Amber
r being my Thank you fo e. Even favorite besti e not though you’r ll miss you! near me, I sti stie. I love you be Love, Kadira
Cyan Elise Estrella
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In my house it's antique. It has a lot of old stuff because my grandma likes old stuff. My bathroom is small but my shower is so cool, it has LED lights. The food that my mom and grandma cook is so delicious. They cook a lot of Dominican food like white rice, brown beans and chicken and soup. It's called sancocho. They make my home because they make me feel like I'm in my country. My neighborhood knows me because I’ve lived there for 9 years and I go out alot and people know me because of my great-grandma, my grandma and my mom. Everybody says hello to me and good morning and have a good day at school. One precious item to me is my friends, family, and food, and myself because I'm cute. I would be sad if I lost money or my necklace or my phone because those are the most valuable things to me. I would be glad for my necklace if it was safe from the fire. I love my family and my friends. In my family I love my aunts and uncles, my niece, my brothers and sisters, my mom and my dad, my step mom and my cousins, my grandmas, my grandpas, and my godmother. And my friends, I have a lot like Chassid, Lewis, Jay, Justin Alexander, Johnny,
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Marliany, Maxlee, Hendrik, Selina, Jackie, Alexandra, John, Ms. Barbara, Mike, Bladi, Uribe, etc. I don't know if love is cringe? I love sneakers. I want a lot of them. I want the Mocha 1, Nike Air Force 1, University Blue Jordan 1, Red Jordans, Dior Jordans, light blue Jordans, Comme de Garcons Converse, Legend Blue, University Red and Black, Balenciaga, etc. I'm a sneakerhead.
Letter
to myse
lf
Life can fe sometim el like an uphill b es but I know I a attle to make m it strong e nough can mak to the finish lin e. Some e me fe pe el unworth y but I k unloved, small a ople n nd o and joy w I am w today. I o r t h y of love cho start an d feel w ose to finish w h orthy. L ove, me at I
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Truths:
Lie:
• • •
• • • • •
• •
My name is Cyan My middle name is a song My last name means “star” in Spanish I am an auntie I have 40 step-siblings, maybe or less or more
I wear glasses I live in a mansion I have no friends I talk to a genie I play baseball
y I like h w s n o s a Re C: living in NY • • • • • • •
(Graffiti) t r a e h t e I lik are Times Squ ickname I like the n ood I like the f ent Entertainm The view The music
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Ammelia Fraser My Name
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Yes I do have a nickname, yes I like it. My nickname is Mini Meia and it doesn’t make me feel any way because I am used to it and my friends don’t call me by my nickname. My name is Ammelia Fraser. I love my name because it has half of my mom’s name in it and also because there are a lot of people that have the same name as me that are very successful, like Amelia Earhart and Princess Amelia. Also Princess Amelia from Princess and the Frog and if she can make it into a movie then she achieved a lot in life and maybe I will be able to achieve a lot in life too.
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Letter to San ta
12-9-21 laus To: Santa C From: Me ,
Dear Santa
days ich is in 18 h w r a e y d for as this and an iPa e m r For Christm fo e n ciate e an iPho ally appre e r I e s u I would lik a c e d all in school b eople spen p n e h w e me to use lov esents, also really buy me pr to e gifts but I k o r b o to my y and g n show off a c I g their mone in th r thing I if it’s some le. Anothe especially p o e p to t s iPad is a d boa iPhone and e friends an th n a th e never t more ause I hav c e b would wan ld r o nd eyland/W ant to go. A w y ll a e trip to Disn r I before and ta. been there say to San to e v a h I that is all ly, Yours dear a Ammeli
Victor Li Jiang
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Getting to Know Victor Hey, my name is Victor. I’m twelve years old. I’m living in NYC and I came to New York in 2019. Before I moved to New York I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. When I moved to New York I was ten years old. It was fun living in Venezuela because they have lots of beaches and beautiful places. In the future I hope that I have a big mansion for my family (it’s going to happen, trust me). My family was from China and some of my family is from Caracas, Venezuela.
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Dear Luis: You might think our friendship is not strong and important, but to me it’s important and strong. When I first stepped foot in an NYC school, the teacher said, “Hey, this person’s going to help you and he speaks Spanish just like you.” It’s very interesting how we met and became best friends. I always look up to you. You were the person who taught me how to be a good person and express my feelings. You made me a person who is kind, nice, and a good person. We always laugh together and have fun together. I don’t want our friendship to end because I would not know what to do if you weren’t alive. I would always look up to you and care for you. Love you, bro. Sincerely, Victor Li Jiang
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Fiona Lin
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Angela’s Place I feel at home when I’m at Angela’s place! I feel at home there because I feel welcome there. Across from Angela’s house, there is a park! In that park there are 12 swings. The swings are high up. There are also 5 slides in the park. Once I stole my friend’s shoe there. Her grandma makes me very welcome and her dad. The only thing I don’t like is that there are roaches in the kitchen. She also has lots of games there! The wifi there is so good too. Angela’s place is kinda small.. but it’s still fun there.
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Junior Lopez
The way I think of my friend, I think that he is hardworking and also teamworks, like when we play soccer he always passes the ball to me so that I could score a goal. I want you to know that you should never listen to others when they say that you are not good at nothing. That just means that they are jealous that you know how to play soccer and they don’t. And they feel good and confident ‘cause he does not care about what other people say. Because as long as he does not care about what people say he is good. The way he thinks of himself is he is good at soccer and not giving up. And the way they think of him is scared to do stuff they might be too tough, so rough but my friend’s not a type of person who gives up or listens to haters.
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Kailyn Macias
Leah’s life isn’t hard nor is it easy. She always felt underweight until a pandemic hit; then, she gained some weight and that’s when she started to feel insecure. She felt as if she wanted to lose weight. People started telling her that she looked skinnier but she never believed it. She hates things having to do with weight. Ever since she gained weight, she started wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts. But at times, when she felt good about herself, something always brought her down. She started losing some weight because of school and stress. School was sometimes hard for her; but when she went home, she had responsibilities which stressed her out because she would also sometimes need to finish homework. At home, she had some problems which would stress her out. But at the end of the day, she just had to live life and go through her ups and downs. At times, when she was at her best, she would be so happy. But, when she was at her lowest, she wouldn’t tell anything to most people. Instead, she would wait until nighttime, listen to music and cry. If she wanted to, she would write it in her notes but she wouldn’t because she was afraid someone might read it.
e to hear is that I’m able to The one thing I wanna be abl ong and just express myself. do it and just have to be str
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Oscary Monero
What makes you think that? You’re such an amazing person, you’re smart, you’re gorgeous, and you’re so talented. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Instead of criticizing yourself so much, be positive and know you did your best.
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Alexandra Mora Lies:
Truths:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
My hair color is natural I have nice feet I have black eyes My feet almost never stink I like eggs I like watching tv I love math I’m an extrovert I love school :) I can draw anything I love fish I like skirts I hate food I love peanut butter I know how to cook I hate John <3
• • • •
I’m a decent artist I have 6 siblings My bangs are really burnt I love cheese I love chocolate I’m pretty I like anime I use “</3” or “<3” a lot I love sleeping #definitely not a iced coffee with caramel and half and half lover I like writing because of my handwriting style I’m mean sometimes Ms. Saldana 4lyfers <3333 I sprained my ankle back in March
My nickname is really weird to be honest but it is what it is I guess. Most people call me “Kiki” or “Kinky” with a Spanish kind of accent. The reasoning behind this name is still unknown (for me) but all I know was that my mom first started calling me this unusual nickname and it spread
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to everyone and that’s that. I guess it’s also because of my hair because obviously it’s kinky. And now, even some of my friends call me that. I honestly have no idea where it comes from but I’m guessing it comes from my curly hair. It means that sometimes, I can be a little weird and crazy because I do a lot of dumb stuff. I guess I like it but at the same time, it’s weird to say. Lastly, it definitely represents my weird and goofy dumb self. ^^
ha ds I
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’ yo sea. ckin i r the een but f e e k h i l t gr h . e Foo caus y mouth too muc he color cold e b S t at it e EGG enters m it tastes tes like u f yo • as it ecause se it tas ense… wrong i b s Fish y becau makes it’s just ross. r nd g fish t e e a a • s l h u e t y a C like nutt er if i bec • too exactly light broccol d. s ’ t i e e nd it e Cold ot cook becaus it tast en a e r g e n r • olor and t butte becaus is he c l. r u t e n t a e t riend e k f u e i P l b v t e s s l d e n • y be tast rent Almo ow. aste e it a diffe ecause m h s e u he t • t m a e so s bec ass to ted b n agi e r . Oliv s like g kin rela ly im to burn get e t a p i e o d m t • e s e u v s a p o m t rt t g im the st a n i t n h s . a t t c ose Any ic to i use I s it on a g my n • . :) aller lant bec dma put ecause erior b n p p a g u e r s g c E my g t sau it is • when spicy ho ly. :// because s Very obviou r cheese y n • d n ed a ru e ch v o l I •
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Crimson would be my supervillain name because I like that color. The story behind Crimson is that they have always liked the color and so they wish to see everything in that color. They also have the power to fly across the dark night sky and paint things a crimson color. Malice would be my superhero name because it’s related to the word angel in a way and I guess this superhero is an angel with a badass personality and can magically appear from anywhere. :)
ink nd if you th a e g in r c t emo , love is no and you’re D First of all E L E C N A you’re C hout love, otherwise, essed. Wit r p e d t s ju n and ou're rted perso a e or maybe y -h ld o c e love. me a really how to tak w you’d beco o n k r o e ow to lov LOL.) not learn h te is cringe o r w t s ju I (Whatever
Blind Love There were two people, at the park, sitting on a bench. That was their favorite park. One day, they started to talk with each other. S l o w l y, they became friends. After a while, they grew love for each other, despite not being able to see each other’s faces. One of them then confessed to the other person and became something more than friends. They loved each other for who they are and their personality.
People I love:
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• • • • • • • • • •
Myself My dad: A.M. My mom: A.R. My grandmas: Rosa, Flor My older sister: Y.M. My younger sisters: J.M., A.A.M., A.M. My brothers: A.M., J.M. Mike Ms. Saldana John
• • • • • • • • • • •
Bladi Ms. Barbara <3 Cyan Chassidy Merlina Ariana Aja Eileen Stephany Ronny (S.O.) My music teacher (R.I.P.)
What makes my home stand out is my bathroom. I actually have two bathrooms. One is clean, and the other isn’t so clean. That is because my sisters don’t know how to be clean, unlike me and my dad, and my dad keeps his bathroom super clean. ^_^ I only have one thing to say about my neighborhood: it is really loud at times because sometimes they just like to blast music and blast it until 4 AM. Sometimes, I hear my friend David and his friends screaming and playing in the water when it wasn’t so cold and sometimes I see the same people sitting outside just talking and listening to music. What makes my neighborhood nice is the people. The people I see are always sitting outside and I don’t know most of them, but I know one person. Another thing that makes my neighborhood nice is the corner deli. I love the corner deli because I’ve been going there for 2 years and the store people are really nice and funny.
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Mariely Morrobel
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A Moment You Connected with Another Person In second grade I had to switch classes because they said I was too “advanced” so my friend from the class I was previously in was extremely disappointed that I had left her. So my new class was very awkward and I felt like I didn’t belong. But the teacher asked if I wanted a girl at my table, because I sat at an all-boys table, and she let me choose who I wanted. And I chose her, the girl who is always there for me, and who treats me with respect, as well as kindness. We are currently best friends and hopefully we grow as friends and continue to care for each other and cherish each other.
Maggie Ni
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Artist Bio She was born August 5, 2009. She is a Leo and her Chinese sign is the ox. Her favorite color is pink and she loves kittens. Her best friend is named Yang. She likes to draw because it is fun. Her dream for the future is a secret. She used to hate purple and go to the park a lot. She hates math and homework. She loves to watch TV and eat cupcakes.
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Ailen Perez
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Maria the Imaginary Friend! I felt insecure about myself. I looked in the mirror. I looked fat and I had pimples on my face. Every time I went to school I always felt like people didn’t like me or my outfits. I always got home and cried about it. But one day I looked in the mirror. I saw myself and I heard a nice, sweet voice. The voice said you are not ugly, you are beautiful as an angel. I was confused. I wonder who said that. Then I saw someone in my mirror. She told me that I was so pretty. She said different things about herself. Like she said her name was Maria. She was 12 years old and she said that she was my imaginary friend. She kept complimenting me every day. I was filled with emotions, my whole life changed. I felt butterflies in my belly. I felt like jelly. I was mixed as sad, happy, and even more emotions. She said that I was the most prettiest girl. And one day she said not to call myself any names.
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Zoe Rodriguez
Dear Great Grandmother, I hope you’re seeing this. My mom has been very good. She is nice and the best mom in the whole wide world. Your daughter is always grateful and funny when I’m sad. When I cry, she’s always there to make me laugh and feel better. You look a lot like my mom; she showed me a picture of you. You’re the same as her. Take care of yourself in heaven. Love, Granddaughter
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Angelina Jade Salinas
One moment where I connected with a pet was with my adorable dog. I knew we were going to get along and we did. Our connection was so strong because we had a lot in common: we love pink and we both love each other.
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“Hi, Mom,” I said. “Hi, hon,” M om said. “H ow was sc “It was ok hool?” ay, I guess ,” I said. “Tell me th e truth,” M om said. “Fine. It w asn’t okay but I don't about it,” want to ta I said. lk “Okay. Bu t do you w ant to talk Mom said. about it la ter?” “No, not re ally,” I said . “Okay, tha t’s fine,” m om said. “Okay,” I s aid.
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Kailany Soriano
Gina - “I love you.” Max - “I love you too.” Gina - “I think your hair is pretty.” Max - “And I think you’re pretty... ugly.” Gina’s best friend - “Boy we are about to fight.” 100 more girls come and kill Max.
iends r f t s e b y m o t I’m connected e have in W . a s s ly A d n a Edelyn food. g in v lo n o m m o c
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Noah Vasquez
I like someone in this room. I love baseball; hitting home runs makes me feel proud.
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Chassidy Volquez True
False
1. I have 3 sisters 2. I want to be a vet when I am older 3. I like to sing 4. I did acting for a year 5. I love to eat
6. I hate animals 7. I am a bad friend 8. I don’t live in a house of 7 to 8 people 9. I have two pets 10. I like to be mean to people
List of my classes
List of people in my house
1. 2. 3. 4.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Math ELA Gym Spanish
Mom Dad Sisters Cousin Aunt
Animals I love/like
Things I like to do
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. I like to eat 2. I like to sing 3. I like to play with my sisters 4. I like to act 5. I like to do art 6. Etc…
Wolf Dogs Cats Birds Fox And etc…
Things I hate/don’t like 1. When people are rude when I didn’t do nothing 2. When people act like they are kids
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I don’t really have a nickname because everyone calls me Chassidy and no one else. My name comes from my mom. But my name originates from an Irish surname and ultimately from the Goidelic given name Caiside, meaning “clever” or “curly-haired.” The name Caiside comes from the Irish word element cas. I don’t really like my name. No, it does not represent me.
Victor Li Jiang, MS 131 / YMCA
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Acknowledgments This book is the result of Writing It Out with 826NYC, a pilot program undertaken in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office for Community Mental Health, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and Beacon Centers of New York City. We are immensely grateful to the staff from these institutions who made this project possible, including Arianna Aleman, Crisnelly Camilo-Goris, Josephine Crisostomo, Madelline Delgado-Abadia, Jawara Hudson, Sophie Pauze, Jeff Solomon, Robyn Stovall, Warner Uribe, Michelle Wang, and many wonderful youth workers at the six campuses where this program was held: the Eagle Academy for Young Men II (CAMBA), M.S. 131 Dr. Sun Yat Sen School (YMCA of Greater New York - Chinatown), M.S. 328 Community Math Science Prep (ACDP), P.S. 19 Marino P. Jeantet School (HANAC, Inc.), P.S. 8 Isaac Varian (Child Development Center of the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center, Inc), and Parkside Preparatory Academy (Research Foundation of CUNY). Students participating in after school Beacon programs on these campuses came together for 10 weeks in the fall of 2021 to explore those themes both big and small that made up daily life in 2021: best friends and loud siblings, favorite foods and game-winning goals, places and people we love (or like, or like-like), and those that we miss. They wrote journal entries, lists, poems, letters, and comics, and gave each other -- and the lucky readers of this book -- some excellent advice. You’re Worth More Than Anything is a compilation of these students’ work, and the contents of this book just scratch the surface of all the conversations and writing these students undertook in this program. A huge thank you to the 826NYC teaching artists J’miah Baird, Daniel Goulden, Daniel Jackson, and Jaydra Johnson, for creating classrooms
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where students were able to share their experiences and ideas and create these works. Your support, encouragement, and consistency helped our young writers tap into their imaginations and memories to produce such engaging work, and your care in helping them brainstorm, write, and revise throughout this project was invaluable. We are particularly grateful to our on-site collaborators at these Beacon Centers for their support of this project. Thank you for inviting us into your space and supporting our connections with these amazing students. Your hard work and steadfast dedication to your students allows them to flourish as young writers and thinkers. At 826NYC we depend on the dedicated volunteer editing and design cohort that make our publications a reality. Thank you to Vanessa Friedman for overseeing the editing, proofreading, and design of this book. Thank you to Adi Kwiatek for designing such a beautiful book for our students. To copy editors and proofreaders Christine Corbin, Jess Gagne, Alex Galka, Nicholas Martinez, Lauren Stefaniak, and Allison Singer, for their careful attention to each of the student’s pieces, thank you. This program is supported by 826 National, the Amazon Literary Partnership, The Jane Friedman Anspach Family Foundation, Con Edison, The Find Your Light Foundation, The Hawkins Project, International Paper, The Rona Jaffe Foundation, The Kettering Family Foundation, The Minerva Foundation, The Resnick Family Foundation, The Yelp Foundation, and Youth, Inc. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The program is also made possible by the New York State Council on the
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Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov. 826NYC is grateful to the many individuals who support our work. To see our full list of supporters or make a donation, please visit https://826nyc.org/ donate-us/. Thank you especially to the 826NYC staff for their behind-the-scenes support of this project, from curriculum development and the book-making process to volunteer recruitment. Finally, thank you to the students at the Beacon Centers at Eagle Academy, M.S. 131, M.S. 328, Parkside, P.S. 8, and P.S. 19 for trying new things, taking risks with your writing, and sharing your words with us. Writing can be a challenging and hopefully fun process, and your dedication to your craft and your vision shines through in these pieces. We are all excited to see what stories you’ll tell in the future!
826NYC Location and Leadership
826NYC and The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. 372 Fifth Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215 718.499.9884 www.826nyc.org Staff Joshua Mandelbaum, Executive Director Jesusdaniel Barba, Programs Coordinator Janna Cisterino, Development & Communications Manager Rico Denard, Store Associate Chris Eckert, Store & Operations Manager Vanessa Friedman, Publications Associate Julianna Lee Merino, Programs Coordinator Summer Medina,Volunteer & Programs Coordinator Stella Raffle-Wax, Store Associate Mandy Seiner,Volunteer & Programs Manager Naomi Solomon, Director of Education Teaching Artists J’miah Baird David Ewalt Willie Filkowski Daniel Goulden Varud Gupta Daniel Jackson Jaydra Johnson Board of Directors Michelle McGovern, President Ted Wolff,Vice President Ray Carpenter, Treasurer Kathryn Yontef, Secretary Michael Colagiovanni Jen D’Ambroise Liza Demby Jamal Edwards Amir Mokari Sheila Peluso Katie Schwab Danielle Sinay Andrew Sparkler Alyson Stone Maura Tierney Thom Unterburger Sam Valenti
826NYC Programs Write After School Reading and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly. Write After School students work alongside 826NYC staff and volunteers to build their reading, writing, social-emotional skills and unleash their imagination as they play and learn about the power of language. Three times a year, students revise their creative writing for publications that are printed in English and Spanish and shared with families, volunteers, and community members at celebratory readings. Write Away Workshops Young writers come together in Write Away Workshops to explore a multitude of genres and subjects and to develop their voices. Groups write freely and participate in imaginative writing activities and lessons. Whether it’s a song, a piece of climate justice sci-fi, or a nature guide, young writers leave the workshop with a piece to be proud of, as well as a newfound understanding of the topic, and new friends. Write All About It In Write All About It, reporters from grades 5-8 learn how to conduct a great interview, how to write a classic news story, and more importantly, how to sniff out where the great untold stories of Brooklyn are hiding. We focus on hyper-local news to see how it connects to what’s going on across the country and around the world. Student work is published regularly in The 826NYC Post on 826NYC’s Medium page. Young Writers Publish Turn your classroom into a creative writing lab. During Young Writers Publish residencies, 826NYC teaching artists collaborate with educators on creative, impactful, curriculum-aligned projects that transform students into published authors. Residencies run from six weeks to a full year, depending on the project. Each Young Writers Publish culminates in a book, newspaper, zine, podcast, film, or performance featuring your students. Write Together 826NYC hosts classes across New York City for Write Together: an interactive writing experience that encourages creative expression, explores the elements of storytelling, and strengthens writing skills. Elementary-aged classes collaborate on illustrated children’s books, middle schoolers choose their own adventure, and high schoolers learn the art of memoir writing during a fast- paced and whimsical 90 minute narrative program.
Teen Writers Collective Teens are the next generation of literary leaders. That’s why we launched the Teen Writers’ Collective. The collective brings together young writers from around the city to explore the art of writing and literary citizenship. They are a community of passionate and creative peers, serve as 826NYC youth leaders, and inspire younger students and peers across the network. Dungeons & Dragons & Writers Dungeons & Dragons, the epic fantasy role-playing game where players craft characters to take on magical quests that can change with the roll of the dice, has a home at 826NYC. A band of adventurous authors in grades 5-8 play out an entirely original tale and chronicle their fantastical deeds in character point-of-view journals, histories, and scene writing. Sometimes the greatest gift is the friends we make — and make up — along the way. Student Publications Through our programs, our volunteers work with students to help them create stories, poems, and ’zines. Because we believe that the quality of students’ work is greatly enhanced when they are given the chance to share it with an authentic audience, we are committed to publishing student works. By encouraging their work and by guiding them through the process of publication, we make abundantly clear that their ideas are valued.
It’s the fall of 2021. In Beacon Centers in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, in a cafeteria, in a classroom, in a schoolyard, in a computer lab, students are writing. They’re making lists of their favorite people and places, defining their nicknames, and explaining the real problem with celery. They’re writing letters to the friends and family they love, and those they’ve lost. They’re writing poems and stories, advice and encouragement, and reminding us: You’re Worth More Than Anything. This project was produced by 826NYC in collaboration with the New York City Mayor’s Office for Community Mental Health, the Department of Youth and Community Development, and Beacon Centers of New York City, and was written by the next generation of educators, athletes, performers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and authors, who are, indeed, worth everything and more.
ISBN 978-1-948644-91-4
9 781948 644914
