826LA's brochure 2011

826LA

Sun The sun is happy The sun is on a bear-cat The sun is pretty “I am one of those people who don’t like to write.

I don’t like writing by myself, but I like writing with other people. My teacher said that I had improved, which was excellent. It’s especially cool when people that hate writing turn to like it . . . If you really like writing, go to 826LA and write as much as you want.

It will be useful — and that’s where I am right now!”

Xena Ayala, Beethoven Elementary School, 5th grade

Superman He likes to rescue Superman battles bad guys He likes to eat cats

Wolf

Wolves like to AH - OOOOOH They like to eat people and Play guitar softly Haiku by Anthony Vasquez, age 6, after-school tutoring student

After-School Tutoring We understand the power of personalized instruction, and so we offer local students free individualized help with their homework. Four days a week, 826LA is packed with neighborhood students who come in after school for free one-on-one tutoring in all subject areas.

Students work with tutors to complete their daily assignments, and often to embark on ambitious writing and publishing projects: poems, stories, comic books, and self-initiated research.

“The opportunity to have positive role models that are outside the family’s sphere of inf luence has helped my children’s confidence and solidified what they’ve learned at school and at home.”

Kathleen Whitfield, parent

Field Trips Up to four times a week, we welcome into our writing labs an entire public school classroom for a morning of high-energy learning. In our most popular field trip, Storytelling & Bookmaking, students write, illustrate, and bind their own books within a two-hour period.

Our visiting classes collaborate to write stories for Mr. Barnacle, the never-seen, always-cranky publisher behind Barnacle & Barnacle Books, our in-house publishing company. With the help of a storyteller, illustrator, and typist, a class works together to create characters, a setting, and a plot for an original story.

The titles of some of Barnacle & Barnacle’s bestsellers

The Adventures of Super Carrot

by Mrs. Mendoza’s 2nd grade class, Mayberry Street Elementary School

Dinosaurs in the City by the students from the Ellen Ochoa Learning Center

Martin the Mailman Who Became a Monster “Thank you for the book that we made over there in Barnacle & Barnacle publishers. I learned how to make a book. The best part of the field trip was meeting you guys. I did like making the book but the best part was meeting you guys. I hope I’ll see you soon because you guys are so fun and cool. Now that I know how to make a book I’ll come over there again when I have ideas for a new and even better book! I hope I’ll see you soon so bye!”

Bridget De Ande, Logan Street Elementary School, 2nd grade

by Carol Benson’s 3rd grade class, Logan Street Elementary School

The Amazing Chili Boy

by Wanda Rogers’ 3rd grade class, Gratts Elementary School

Spookyville: Haunted By a Giant Baby by students from Beethoven Elementary School

Workshops During 826LA’s songwriting workshop with Kate Micucci and Friends, students wrote and performed the hit single, Boring. The song was also performed by the band The Pity Party at 826LA’s Battle of the Bands on March 1, 2009, an all-ages fundraiser at the Echo music venue.

826LA offers writing workshops that cover a wide spectrum of subjects, al l desig ned to streng then students’ sk il ls, foster their creat iv it y, and g ive them an opportunit y to execute projects that showcase their work. Work ing professionals teach al l our workshops, and we keep class sizes smal l to ensure that students get plent y of individualized attention. Our workshops focus on a variety of topics. Recent classes have covered crafting college-application essays, designing imaginary countries, preparing for the SAT, reviewing runway fashion, and writing nonsense poetry.

“I love the facility, the staff, crazy about the organization.

I feel that the workshops especially make the kids feel really great about themselves. Thank you all so much!

We’re so impressed.”

Rebecca Tidwell-Prediletto, parent

I

I’m so bored when I have to do math I’m so bored when I have to take a bath I’m so bored when I have to go to school Going to the dentist makes me drool

Chorus ‘Cause I feel like I’m sleeping without dreams on an airplane to nowhere While watching March of the Penguins And I feel like they’re never gonna get there It’s so boring here…

II

It’s so boring when I pick up poop Because my dog poops everyday It’s so boring it makes my eyes droop It’s as slow as the Rose Parade

Bridge ‘Cause my brother is boring And my sister is boring And my fish is boring And my turtle is boring And the bus is boring And my allergies are boring too And my chores are boring Dr. Phil is boring Two and a Half Men is boring And so are you

students served

3426

5121

8237

volunteers

1168

1497

2383

teachers served

71

81

239

schools served

41

41

95

field trips

56

59

196

143

170

200

53

83

93

286

270

274

2008 – 2009

2009 – 2010

2010 – 2011

in-school sessions workshops tutoring sessions

Publishing & In-School Programs 826LA’s Young Authors’ Book Project takes students through the entire process of book production and publication. Students learn to revise, writing up to ten drafts of an essay or story under the guidance of a professional editor, and make decisions about the final publication.

This year, 826LA worked closely with the students of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles to complete Sheep Can’t Fly, an anthology of essays, poems, and stories guest-edited by Father Greg Boyle. It is 826LA’s largest publication to date.

“Now that I’ve held the book in my two hands, a new sense of pride has grown inside of me. It feels so unreal to be actually holding the book. To think we’ve accomplished something so grand. Being able to show the book to my family and my friends, just to see that sparkle in their eye, having them ask for a book and an autograph, has made me realize that I am capable of great things.

This experience has expanded my creative and writing skills in so many different ways.”

Gloria Rosales, Garfield High School, 12th grade

Goals of Our In- School Programs Contribute to education reform by alleviating overcrowding in classrooms, breaking down barriers to student learning, and improving the quality of classroom education We dispatch teams of volunteers into local high-need public schools to support teachers and provide one-on-one assistance to students on wr it ing projects. Students and volunteers work together to generate ideas, revise essays or create elaborate stor y lines and characters.

Their collective effort truly pays off: 94% of students participating in our in-school programs say that the 826 tutors helped them improve their writing assignments.

Help teachers meet state and national education standards and improve students’ test scores

Work closely with LA-area schools and community leaders to inspire, support, and engage students in the writing process

Promote project-based learning through the publication of professional-quality books that feature student writing

Contribute to students’ future success by providing opportunities for them to explore publishing-related careers such as writing, editing, and book design

The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store catering to time travelers (complete with a currency machine that will convert your quarters into salt or wampum, and security monitors that show what happened in aisle five during the Stone Age) is designed to inspire creativity and advertise our programs to the local community.

Come visit us at 1714 W. Sunset BLVD. All proceeds from our store directly fund our programs.

vo

lun

teer

Are you interested in helping students with storytelling, homework, restaurant reviews, or sonnets about monsters?

826LA is looking for adult volunteers in every shape, form, and skilled capacity, and for all hours and days of the week. We’re also looking for interns!

Write us: IWanttohelp @826la.org

“As an 826LA volunteer, with whatever age group I’m working with, I like to think, ‘what would I want to learn at that age, and how would I want to learn it?’ 826LA is my own second chance at the learning experience I was hungry for.”

J. Ryan Stradal, volunteer

826 Echo Park 1714 W Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90026 213-413-3388

826 Venice 685 Venice Blvd.

Venice, CA 90291 310-305-8418

Staff Joel Arquillos Julius Diaz Panoriñgan Carolyn Gan Marisa Urrutia Gedney Danny Hom Kristin Lorey Luis Antonio Pichardo Jonah Bautista Corey Chan Birte Klug

Advisory Board Judd Apatow Fiona Apple Miguel Arteta Steve Barr Father Greg Boyle, SJ Stefan G. Bucher Mark Flanagan Naomi Foner Mitchell Frank Karen Fried Ben Goldhirsh Ellen Goldsmith-Vein Nicole Holofcener Spike Jonze Miranda July Catherine Keener Al Madrigal Melissa Mathison Tara Roth McConaghy Jane Patterson Will Reiser Sarah Vowell

Board of Directors Mac Barnett Joshuah Bearman Grant DeVaul Dave Eggers Terena Thyne Eisner Jodie Evans John T. Gilbertson Keith Knight Krystyn Lakas Brad Simpson Sally Wilcox

ABOUT 826LA 826LA is a nonprofit organization with locations in Venice and Echo Park. We are dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to students’ future success. With this in mind, we provide in-school tutoring, assistance with student publications, after-school tutoring, evening and weekend workshops, and help for English language learners. All our free programs are challenging and enjoyable and ultimately strengthen each student’s power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in his or her individual voice.

Website www.826la.org Design by 344 design.com First the Time Travel Mart, now this.