826LA 2016-17 Annual Report

826L A

A N N UA L REP O RT 2 016 –2 017

826LA

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CO NTENTS

05 DEAR FRIENDS 06

WHY

826LA?

07 AT A GLANCE 09 VOLUNTEERS 15 TUTORING 21 WORKSHOPS 24 FIELD TRIPS 29 IN-SCHOOLS PROJECTS 32 826LA WRITERS’ ROOM

AT MANUAL ARTS 37 COLLEGE ACCESS 39 YOUNG AUTHORS’ BOOK PROJECT

826LA

OUR MISSION

41 STRATEGIC PLAN 42 TELL ME

A STORY/ PEER-TO PEER

826LA is a non-profit organization 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 our understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with oneon-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

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45 TIME TRAVEL MART

With this in mind, we provide after-school tutoring, evening and weekend workshops, in-school tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications. All of our programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each student’s power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in their individual voice.

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48 SUPPORTERS 49 IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS 50

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LET TER FROM OUR E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R

HE REACHED DOWN INTO THE WATER AND GOT THE LIGHT. HE HELD IT IN THE AIR. THE LIGHT GLOWED LIKE THE SUN. HE LET GO OF THE LIGHT SUDDENLY. SWOOSH! THE LIGHT FLEW UP TO THE ROOF. WHILE LIGHT

HE WAS GETTING THE DOWN HE SAID, “OH,

A FEW DAYS PASSED AND FLYING TO THE ROOF.

LADDER TO BRING THE DON’T BE SCARED.”

EVERY

DAY,

THE

LIGHT

Dear Friends,

KEPT

At 826L A, we don’t teach students to be creative.

We develop a space where creativit y can happen, and then we get out of their way. Whether applying to college, running for president, or writing a stor y about sentient french fries, the imaginations of the nearly 10,000 students who participate in 826L A’s programs are never limited.

ONE DAY, HE GAVE THE LIGHT A NAME. “I’M GOING TO CALL YOU STAR.” HE NOTICED THAT ALL STAR WANTED WAS TO BE FREE BECAUSE HE KEPT FLYING TO THE ROOF. SO THE NEXT DAY, HE LET STAR GO WHEN HE WAS OUTSIDE. STAR FLEW UP TO THE SKY. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “STAR IN THE SKY”

BY AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING STUDENT LISA 826LA

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However, students face considerable obstacles.

Most attend LAUSD Title I schools, where a majority of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, and many are classified as English language learners. Our job is to help them harness their strengths, find their voices, and amplify their words.

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Thanks to our volunteers and generous donors, 826L A accomplishes these things ever y day at our writing centers in Echo Park and Mar Vista, the Writers’ Room at Manual Arts High School in South L A, and the many schools we work with throughout L AUSD. More than a decade into this work, our organization continues to grow, as our students’ imaginations take flight.

With gratitude,

Joel Arquillos, Executive Director

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Eight y percent of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (L AUSD) live at or below the povert y line. The district is also home to the largest number of English language learners in the countr y. The families and schools with whom we partner have high needs, which they face with creativit y and resiliency.

According to a national study by Arbor Consulting Partners on the impact of 826’s After-School Tutoring (AST) program, participants:

Joan Didion famously said, “I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” 826L A’s free writing and tutoring programs help students think critically about the world they inhabit, while equipping them with the self-esteem and academic abilit y to imagine a better one.

2 016 –2 017 AT A G L A N C E

are more persistent and more confident in completing their homework;

are more likely to complete homework when at 826, which allows them to spend more qualit y time with their families at home;

report feeling comfortable asking others for help;

22,035

believe they are better writers and use writing as a means for self-expression.

HOURS VOLUNTEERED

1,960+

Furthermore, 100% of teachers who participated in our In-Schools programming reported that 826L A is a good resource for educators.

Ms. Lonée Lona, an English teacher at Humanitas Academy of Art & Technology at Torres High School, brings her students to 826L A’s Personal Statement Field Trips ever y year. She says, “When [my students] talk about the future in general, they’re excited and they’re hopeful.

They have a lot of ideas…. They leave 826L A psyched!”

PIZZA SLICES EATEN AT CHAPBOOK RELEASE PARTIES

244 LAUSD TEACHERS SUPPORTED

9,263 STUDENTS SERVED

W H Y 8 2 6 L A?

307 BOOKS PUBLISHED TH . .A .N .K ..Y .O .U ..F .O .R ..T .H .E ..G .R .E .A .T ..J .O .B .................................... .O Y .U ..A .R .E ..D .O .I .N .G ..F .O .R ..O .U .R .......................................... .O C .M .M .U .N .I .T .Y ..A .N .D ..T .E .E .N .S ...I .’ .M ..S .O .................................... .L G .A .D ..T .O ..F .I .N .D ..T .H .E ..R .I .G .H .T ..W .A .Y ..................................... .O T ..H .E .L .P ..M .Y ..C .H .I .L .D .R .E .N ..T .O ......................................... .E B ..G .R .E .A .T ..C .I .T .I .Z .E .N .S .............................................. .............................................................. .J — .U .V .E .N .T .I .N .A ., ..8 .2 .6 .L .A ..P .A .R .E .N .T .......................................

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TH . .E ..M .O .S .T ..M .E .M .O .R .A .B .L .E ..M .O .M .E .N .T .S ..................................... .E W .R .E ..T .H .E ..I .M .P .A .C .T ..A .N .D ..T .H .E ........................................ .O C .N .S .T .R .U .C .T .I .V .E ..C .R .I .T .I .C .I .S .M ..T .H .E ..................................... .2 8 .6 .L .A ..T .U .T .O .R .S ..P .R .O .V .I .D .E .D ., ..A .N .D ..................................... .H T .E ..L .A .U .G .H .T .E .R ..A .L .O .N .G ..W .I .T .H ..I .T ..................................... .............................................................. .A — .L .I .C .I .A ., ..V .E .N .I .C .E ..H .I .G .H ..S .C .H .O .O .L .................................... .T S .U .D .E .N .T ., ..G .R .A .D .E ..1 .0 .............................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. ..............................................................

VO LU N TEERS

Stellar volunteers make 826L A’s work throughout Los Angeles possible.

This year, 826L A recruited and trained 1,342 new volunteers, thanks to targeted outreach. 826L A also provided interactive trainings and webinars based on real-life scenarios. In 826L A’s writing centers and in schools across Los Angeles, volunteers reminded students that the world needs to hear their voices, because their stories deser ve to be told.

To learn more or become a volunteer, please visit 826L A.org/volunteer.

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Training: Implemented new interactive volunteer trainings, including “Volunteering in Today’s Political Climate.”

Diversit y: Focused on recruiting more seniors and volunteers of color in surrounding communities.

Ser vice Learners: Provided hands-on learning opportunities for students from Cal State L A, Cal State Northridge, Occidental College, USC, UCL A, Antioch Universit y, Loyola Mar ymount Universit y, and Santa Monica College.

Communit y Partnerships: Partnered with volunteers from Bad Robot, B-Reel, Creative Artists Agency, Google, Junior League of Los Angeles, Sony Pictures, Team One, and Union Bank.

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Q& A W I T H M A R G I E T E M P L E TO N , M A R V I S TA V O L U N T E E R

What brought you to 826L A?

What’s your favorite part of volunteering?

I retired about 13 years ago after a computer programmer. I wanted something completely different, like ing with kids, and I think education is

being to do workkey.

I started working with After-School Tutoring and did that for several years. Two years ago, I worked with students at Ánimo Venice Charter High School on Each Little Leaf [the 2016 Young Authors’ Book Project].

Then I started doing a mix of Field Trips and After-School Tutoring.

Last year, I worked one-on-one with [AST student] Oscar. He needed one-on-one support because he was having trouble focusing when he was in a group. He was a ver y, ver y bright kid, but sort of flitted about if he didn’t have someone focusing on him. I felt like he made tremendous progress when I was with him. As soon as he sat down and concentrated, he was able to do the work.

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Working with the kids. And the other volunteers—the kind of people who volunteer at 826L A are interesting people. At this point I’ve done all the Field Trips several times.

I’m often the illustrator for publishing Field Trips. Almost all the characters the students invent are prett y hard to draw. They’re all ver y imaginative and doing unique things.

Sometimes they’re human burritos. Sometimes they’re a ghost wearing purple pants and riding a motorcycle.

What have you learned from your experience as a volunteer?

One thing that has impressed me is how bright the kids are and how good their teachers are…. It gives me a good feeling about the education students are getting.

The students really have fun, and hopefully they’re realizing writing can be fun.

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HE DECIDES TO WALK. BEING A SMALL PLANET BOY IS QUICKLY ON THE OTHER SIDE. THERE HE MEETS GIRL. BOY, BEING BOY, FALLS IN LOVE. GIRL LOVES SPACE, BUT BOY DOES NOT MIND. GIRL IS COOL WITH THAT. SHE TELLS BOY ABOUT A ROCKET SHE HAS. GIRL WANTS BOY TO GO WITH HER. BEING BOY HE SAYS YES. GIRL, BEING GIRL,LEARNS TO LOVE BOY. BOY AND GIRL SAIL ACROSS THE INKY BLACKNESS. AS THEY TRAVEL ACROSS THE VOID THEY PASS PLANETS. THESE PLANETS LOOK FAMILIAR AND ON THEIR PLANET IS THEM. VERSIONS OF THEM. VERSIONS OF THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.

BOY WALKING. BOY THINKS. AS THEY GET CLOSER TO THE PLANETS, THEY REALIZE. “OH,” SAYS GIRL. “OH,” SAYS BOY. IT IS THEIR PLANET. GIRL ALONE. BOY FALLING IN LOVE. IN SOME CASES,GIRL FALLING IN LOVE. “OH,” THINKS BOY. “OH,” THINKS GIRL. THEY ARE NO LONGER IN LOVE. THEY KNOW. THEIR LOVE IS NOT UNIQUE. THEY ARE NOT DIFFERENT FROM PAST SELVES. FROM FUTURE SELVES. “I NEED TO GO.” “I KNOW.” GIRL FINDS A DESOLATE PLANET. IT IS LUSH AND GREEN. GIRL KNOWS BOY WILL BE HAPPY HERE. PROBABLY. BOY GETS OFF AND TURNS BACK TO LOOK AT GIRL. GOODBYE. GIRL LEAVES. BOY STAYS. THEIR LOVE IS INFINITE. CONSTANTLY. FOREVER. BUT IT IS NOT THEM. NOT GIRL. NOT BOY. NOT REALLY. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “CLOSENESS IN SPACE”

BY SUMMER WRITERS’ WORKSHOP STUDENT DIEGO

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T U TO R I N G 2 016 –2 017

.

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4.............................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. ..............................................................

247 STUDENTS SERVED

718 VOLUNTEERS

OUR

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PROGR A MS

PUBLICATIONS

T U TO R I N G

Monday through Thursday, our writing centers are abuzz with the sounds of students completing their homework (and eating healthy snacks and occasionally goofing around) with help from trained volunteers. They also write creatively ever y day and produce a chapbook at the end of each quarter. 826L A hosts chapbook release parties, where students are joined by family and friends to celebrate becoming published authors.

513 TUTORING SESSIONS

92% OF STUDENTS IN TUTORING REPORTED THAT 826LA HAS HELPED THEM BECOME BETTER WRITERS 826LA

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This year, six Tuesday and Thursday Night Tutoring (TNT) high school students formed the first-ever Youth Advisor y Board in Mar Vista, premiering the TNT Talent Show Podcast. TNT students on both sides of town also published the first collection of TNT zines.

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Twelfth grader and TNT student Michelle writes: “From the moment you walk in, there is laughter and love. This is 826L A. Ever yone here has taught me so much. I am thankful for my mentors…. 826L A is the place to be. It has become my home.”

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I LOVE MY COMMUNITY. MY COMMUNITY IS NICE AND HELPFUL AND IT’S EVEN PRETTY INTERESTING BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY IT TELLS OF ALL OF OUR CULTURES WE ALL HAVE. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “COMMUNITY CULTURES”

BY BARNACLE’S BOOKWORMS STUDENT GERMANY

I

AM HALF THE FATHER AND HALF THE MOTHER HANGING BY A THREAD I AM THE SON WHO WONDERS WHO HE IS WHO WALKS METHODICALLY WITH THE SUDDEN URGE TO SPRINT ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM THE “I AM” POEM

BY SUMMER WRITERS’ WORKSHOP STUDENT JUDE 826LA

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826L A students might not expect to see who they are reflected in a museum exhibit. But in July 2017, photographer and Boyle Heights native Star Montana welcomed students in our Summer Writers’ Workshop to The Main Museum for a workshop inspired by her exhibition “I Dream of Los Angeles.”

Montana discussed her artistic process, the text accompanying her pieces, and how strives to depict the diversit y, adversit y, beaut y of those growing up and living in and South Los Angeles.

wall she and East

Inspired by the conversations Montana initiates with each of her subjects, 826L A students inter viewed one another and wrote their own wall text. Later, photographer Emily Blake took their portraits. Students celebrated the end of Summer Writers’ Workshop at iam8bit, reading pieces from their newly published chapbook, An Echo Within Ourselves, to family and friends.

The best part? Star Montana let 826L A students know that working with them was her favorite part of her critically acclaimed exhibit.

“You are the communit y I wanted to see my show,” said Montana. “You are the ones I wanted my show to reach. That is so special to me.”

S U M M E R W R I T E R S’ WORKSH OP W I T H S TA R M O N TA N A

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W O R K S H O P S 2 016 –2 017

1,276 STUDENTS SERVED

80 WORKSHOPS

WORKSH OPS

444 VOLUNTEERS

91%

15

OF STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO USE WHAT THEY HAD LEARNED IN THE 826 WORKSHOP ON OTHER WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

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826L A invites artists, writers, and professionals to lead workshops. The resulting collaborations have centered on journalism, screenwriting, poetr y, songwriting, STEM experiments, and even Writing for Pets.

PUBLICATIONS

In 2017, students in our Saturday morning reading program, Barnacle’s Book worms, published their ver y first poetr y chapbook, Too Many Blue Avocados, in honor of National Poetr y Month.

This was also the first year that students from both our Mar Vista and Echo Park locations visited The Broad contemporar y art museum for an Art + Stor y workshop developed by 826L A.

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Students Served: 4,736 Volunteers: 262 Field Trips: 190 Publications: 275 99% of teachers who brought their students on a Field Trip reported that their students will take a new excitement for writing back to the classroom.

ONE DAY MY FAVORITE SPACESHIP AND I WERE ON A SPACE ADVENTURE, WHEN SUDDENLY WE DISCOVERED A NEW PLANET FULL OF PURE CHEETOS. WE DECIDED TO CALL IT SOTEECH. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “THE ADVENTURE TO SOTEECH (TO DESTROY IT)” BY AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING STUDENT ANDRES 826LA

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F I E L D T R I P S 2 016 –2 017

4,736 STUDENTS SERVED

262

FIELD TRIPS

VOLUNTEERS

190 FIELD

826L A welcomes L AUSD classes into our writing labs on weekday mornings for field trips that are far from ordinar y. The magic lies in creativit y, collaboration, and publication. Students may work in small groups with volunteers to write personal essays, or brainstorm as a class to write a book that gets approved and published by our grumpy publishers, Mr. and Mrs. Barnacle.

99%

This year, 826L A updated its lesson plans for the Memoir and Screenwriting Field Trips to better ser ve middle and high school students. And for the first time ever, 826L A launched an Educator Advisor y Board to deepen our relationship with L AUSD educators.

OF TEACHERS WHO BROUGHT THEIR STUDENTS ON A FIELD TRIP REPORTED THAT THEIR STUDENTS WILL TAKE A NEW EXCITEMENT FOR WRITING BACK TO THE CLASSROOM

I.T . .H .I .N .K ..T .H .E ..F .I .E .L .D ..T .R .I .P ......................................... .E H .L .P .E .D ..M .Y ..S .T .U .D .E .N .T .S ..F .E .E .L ........................................ .I L .K .E ..W .R .I .T .E .R .S ..A .N .D ..G .A .V .E .......................................... .H T .E .M ..A .N ..O .P .P .O .R .T .U .N .I .T .Y ..T .O ..W .R .I .T .E ................................... .N I ..A ..N .O .N ..T .H .R .E .A .T .E .N .I .N .G ., .......................................... .O N .N ..A .S .S .E .S .S .M .E .N .T ..E .N .V .I .R .O .N .M .E .N .T ..................................... .H T .E .Y ..L .E .A .R .N .E .D ..F .E .A .R .L .E .S .S .N .E .S .S .— ..................................... .O N .T ..B .E .I .N .G ..A .F .R .A .I .D ..O .F ..S .H .A .R .I .N .G .................................... .H W .A .T ..I .S ..T .H .E .I .R ..T .R .U .E ..S .T .O .R .Y ....................................... .............................................................. .H — .I .L .L .A .R .Y ..H .E .R .R .I .N .G .T .O .N ., ..E .D .U .C .A .T .O .R .................................. .T A ..G .A .R .F .I .E .L .D ..H .I .G .H ..S .C .H .O .O .L ........................................

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275 PUBLICATIONS

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SINCE I IMMIGRATED, I CHANGED IN A POSITIVE WAY BECAUSE NOW I HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY SPACE....NOW EVERY DAY THAT I WAKE UP, I STAND BY MY WINDOW LOOKING AT A FEW SAD TREES SURROUNDED BY HARD CONCRETE THAT LIMITS THEIR SPACE TO GROW UP, SOMETHING THAT NEVER HAPPENS ON THE FARM [BACK HOME IN MEXICO] BECAUSE THE TREES THERE ARE SURROUNDED BY SWEET GRASS. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “TWO LIVES AT AN EARLY AGE”

BY IN-SCHOOLS STUDENT OLIVER 826LA

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I N - S C H O O L S 2 016 –2 017

1,943

102

STUDENTS SERVED

18

VOLUNTEERS

I.F . .E .E .L ..S .O ..I .N .S .P .I .R .E .D ...I ..F .E .E .L ..................................... .I L .K .E ..I ..W .A .S ..P .A .R .T .N .E .R .E .D ..W .I .T .H ..A .................................... .T S .U .D .E .N .T ..T .H .A .T ..I ..N .E .E .D .E .D ..T .O ..M .E .E .T .................................. .N I ..M .Y ..L .I .F .E ..R .I .G .H .T ..N .O .W ...W .E ..W .E .R .E .................................. .O S ..A .L .I .K .E ...I .’ .M ..S .O ..I .N ..A .W .E ..O .F ..................................... .H W .A .T ..S .H .E ..I .S ..C .A .P .A .B .L .E ..O .F ......................................... .............................................................. .L — .I .S .A ., ..I .N ..S .C .H .O .O .L .S ..V .O .L .U .N .T .E .E .R .................................... .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. ..............................................................

SCHOOLS SERVED

I N -SCH O O L S

The In-Schools program brings the unique spirit of 826L A writing centers and the support of trained volunteers directly into under-resourced classrooms throughout Los Angeles. This year, 826L A began working with Crenshaw High School, a school in southwest L A with a large population of students who are part of the foster care system.

34 TEACHERS SERVED

94%

In 2015, ninth-grade students at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights worked with 826L A to write a collection of stories about themselves and their communit y titled This Is My Revolution. In 2016-2017, the book became a classroom text for current Roosevelt students. The In-Schools program also published the second Roosevelt High School Ethnic Studies book You Are My Roots, which has already found its way into a graduate course at the Har vard School of Education.

OF TEACHERS WHO SCHEDULED IN-SCHOOLS SUPPORT FOR THEIR STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THE QUALITY OF THEIR STUDENTS’ WRITING HAD IMPROVED AFTER HELP FROM 826LA

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I MAY NOT BE IMPORTANT TO THE UNIVERSE, BUT I CAN STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE SAKE OF HUMANITY...IN MOMENTS SUCH AS THIS, I LOOK AT THE NIGHT SKY AND FEEL SMALL, BUT EMPOWERED. I KNOW THAT I’M LITTLE TO NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO THE UNIVERSE, BUT I KNOW WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVES, I CAN MAKE HUMANITY CLOSER TO BECOMING ALIVE THROUGHOUT THE COSMOS. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “WRITING TASK” BY 826LA WRITERS’ ROOM STUDENT DANIEL

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W R I T E R S’ R O O M 2 016 –2 017

766 STUDENTS SERVED

826L A

165

W R I T E R S’ R O O M AT

TUTORING HOURS

M A N UA L A RTS

12 TEACHERS SERVED

The Writers’ Room at Manual Arts High School is a classroom modeled after 826L A’s writing centers, complete with framed student writing, inspirational art work, bookshelves of student publications, coz y furniture, and trained volunteers who have welcomed more than half of the school’s students since its opening in 2015. The Writers’ Room is a space for students to drop in for support with their college applications and a resource for teachers to take on ambitious longterm writing projects.

In only its second year, the Writers’ Room hosted “Scholarships for Dreamers,” where students received after-school support with their college scholarship essays. Two of the ten students at Manual Arts who were awarded the $10,000 All Ways Up Scholarship came from the Writers’ Room. For the first time, the Writers’ Room also supported student journalism projects, culminating in articles published on their new digital platform, The Toiler Times.

89 VOLUNTEERS

100% OF TEACHERS WHOSE STUDENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT IN THE WRITERS’ ROOM REPORTED THAT THE QUALITY OF THEIR STUDENTS’ WRITING HAD IMPROVED

.............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .............................................................. .2 8 .6 .L .A ..H .A .S ..H .E .L .P .E .D ..M .E ..T .O ..B .E ...................................... .Y M .S .E .L .F ..W .H .I .L .E ..I .’ .M ..W .R .I .T .I .N .G ....................................... .............................................................. .G — .L .E .N .Y .S ., ..S .T .U .D .E .N .T ..A .T ..T .H .E ..8 .2 .6 .L .A .................................. .R W .I .T .E .R .S .’ ..R .O .O .M ..A .T ..M .A .N .U .A .L ..A .R .T .S ................................... .I H .G .H ..S .C .H .O .O .L ....................................................

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I’M A BIRD SPREADING MY WINGS BREAKING THE CHAINS OF RESISTANCE HOLDING ME BACK FREEING MYSELF OF THIS PLACE GLIDING THROUGH THE SKY FEELING THE WIND BRUSH THROUGH MY FEATHERS WITH THE SUN BEAMING DOWN NOT LOOKING BACK ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “MY WINGS OF FREEDOM”

BY TNT STUDENT MICHELLE 826LA

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C O L L E G E AC C E S S 2 016 –2 017

ST . .U .D .E .N .T .S ..S .A .I .D ..T .H .E .Y ..F .E .L .T ........................................ .O C .N .F .I .D .E .N .T ..A .N .D ..M .O .R .E ..P .R .E .P .A .R .E .D .................................... .O T ..A .P .P .L .Y ..T .O ..[ .C .O .L .L .E .G .E .] ...T .H .E .Y .................................... .E F .L .T ..T .H .A .T ..T .H .E ..T .U .T .O .R .S ..A .S .K .E .D ..................................... .H T .O .U .G .H .T ..P .R .O .V .O .K .I .N .G ..Q .U .E .S .T .I .O .N .S .................................... .B A .O .U .T ..T .H .E .I .R ..L .I .V .E .S ...I ..F .E .L .T ...................................... .U S .P .P .O .R .T .E .D ..A .N .D ..G .R .A .T .E .F .U .L ..B .E ...................................... .A C .U .S .E ..T .H .A .T ..I .S ..O .N .E ..O .N ..O .N .E ..T .I .M .E .................................. .H T .A .T ..I .S ..I .M .P .O .S .S .I .B .L .E ..F .O .R ..M .E ..T .O ................................... .I G .V .E ..E .A .C .H ..A .N .D ..E .V .E .R .Y ..O .N .E ..O .F ..................................... .H T .E ..S .T .U .D .E .N .T .S ................................................... .............................................................. .A — .I .L .E .E .N ..G .E .N .D .R .A .N .O ..A .D .A .O ., ......................................... .N E .G .L .I .S .H ..A .N .D ..R .E .S .T .O .R .A .T .I .V .E ........................................ .O C .M .M .U .N .I .T .I .E .S ..E .D .U .C .A .T .O .R ........................................... .T A ..M .A .T .H ., ..S .C .I .E .N .C .E ., ..A .N .D .......................................... .E T .C .H .N .O .L .O .G .Y ..M .A .G .N .E .T ..A .C .A .D .E .M .Y ...................................... .T A ..R .O .O .S .E .V .E .L .T ..H .I .G .H ..S .C .H .O .O .L .......................................

472 HOURS VOLUNTEERED AT PERSONAL STATEMENT WEEKEND AND SCHOLARSHIP DAY

225 STUDENTS SERVED AT PERSONAL STATEMENT WEEKEND AND SCHOLARSHIP DAY

C O L L E G E AC C E S S

12 SCHOOLS SERVED

100% OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED HELP REPORTED THAT THE VOLUNTEERS THEY WORKED WITH CARED ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL

Supporting L AUSD students through the college admissions process is crucial to increasing college access, and the surest way that 826L A can have the greatest impact on students’ success.

Crafting an effective personal statement essay for college applications is stressful but essential for admissions. 826L A helps students write personal statements that reflect their lived experiences beyond grades—the obstacles they’ve overcome, the ever yday responsibilities they tackle, and the passions that aren’t reflected in other parts of their applications.

99% OF STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED HELP REPORTED THAT THEY FELT MORE PREPARED TO APPLY TO COLLEGE AFTER WORKING WITH A VOLUNTEER ON THEIR PERSONAL STATEMENTS

826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

826L A’s Seventh Annual Great L A Personal Statement Weekend gave 162 L AUSD students throughout L A the chance to work one-on-one with trained volunteers to polish and finish their essays. In March 2017, Scholarship Day at the Writers’ Room at Manual Arts helped students transform these same personal statements into scholarship application essays.

2016/2017

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YO U N G A U T H O R S’ B O O K P R OJ E C T

Each year, 826L A partners with one Los Angeles public school to publish a beautifully designed book of student writing for the Young Authors’ Book Project. Over the course of seven weeks, 826L A volunteers work one-on-one with students to support their writing around a central theme, with a student editorial board overseeing the process. 826L A publishes the books and distributes them nationally.

[MY SISTER] FILLED THAT LITTLE EMPTY SPACE THAT I HAD INSIDE OF ME. SHE WAS ONLY TWELVE YEARS OLD. SHE COULDN’T ENJOY HER CHILDHOOD BECAUSE SHE NEEDED TO BE BRAVE FOR US, HER LITTLE SIBLINGS. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “LET YOURSELF GO”

BY IN-SCHOOLS STUDENT ALICIA 826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

2016/2017

38

In 2017, 826L A collaborated with 61 students from Alain LeRoy Locke High School for the Young Authors’ Book Project publication When the Moon Is Up. This collection of stories, with a foreword by Héctor Tobar, showcases the lives of young people in South L A, inspired by the 25th anniversar y of the 1992 L A uprising. The student authors depict the modern lives of youth in stories about responsibilit y, family, loss, courage, and favorite pairs of sneakers. The book was designed by Shannon Doronio of parallel-play studio.

I.D . .R .E .A .M .E .D ..T .H .E .N ..O .F ..A ..K .I .N .D .E .R ., .................................... .O M .R .E ..J .U .S .T ..C .I .T .Y .— .A ..P .L .A .C .E ..W .H .E .R .E ................................... .O Y .U .N .G ..P .E .O .P .L .E ..B .E .L .I .E .V .E .D ..T .H .A .T ..................................... .O W .R .D .S ..A .N .D ..I .D .E .A .S ..C .O .U .L .D ..B .E ..A .S .................................... .O P .W .E .R .F .U .L ..A .S ..R .O .C .K .S ., ..G .U .N .F .I .R .E ., .................................... .N A .D ..F .L .A .M .E .S ...N .O .W ..T .H .A .T ..D .A .Y ..H .A .S ................................... .R A .R .I .V .E .D ........................................................ .............................................................. .F — .R .O .M ..T .H .E ..W .H .E .N ..T .H .E ..M .O .O .N ..I .S ..................................... .P U ..F .O .R .E .W .O .R .D ..B .Y ..H .É .C .T .O .R ..T .O .B .A .R ., ................................... .U A .T .H .O .R ..A .N .D ..J .O .U .R .N .A .L .I .S .T ..........................................

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SO, WHAT NOW? DO YOU FEEL SMALL OR TINY? YOU DECIDED WHAT TO FEEL BUT REMEMBER THERE ARE SMALLER THINGS THAN YOU THAT DO BIGGER THINGS THAN ANYONE ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “UNTITLED”

BY IN-SCHOOLS STUDENT YESSENIA

S H O OT I N G F O R T H E MOON

At 826L A is a small organization that makes a big impact. Our 2015-2018 strategic plan prioritized deepening and expanding our reach; growing and diversif ying our volunteer base; growing fundraising and brand awareness; and continuing to strengthen our operations and organizational culture.

As we embark on creating a new strategic plan, we are looking at expanding our In-Schools programming, which will allow us to ser ve more students more deeply without substantially increasing overhead. Specifically, we are excited about the opportunit y to implement the Writers’ Room model, which has been so successful at Manual Arts High School, at other high schools in Los Angeles.

We could not do any of it without our generous volunteers and supporters. Please join us, and help us take our next giant leap!

826LA

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826LA

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826L A.org/donate

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I.W . .A .S ..K .I .N .D ..O .F ..A ..B .O .O .K .I .S .H ..K .I .D ., ................................... .I K .N .D ..O .F ..A ..N .E .R .D ...W .R .I .T .I .N .G ..I .S ..................................... .O H .W ..I ..E .S .C .A .P .E .D ..A .N .D ..F .A .N .T .A .S .I .Z .E .D ................................... .N A .D ..C .O .U .L .D ..B .E ..A .N .Y .B .O .D .Y ..I ..W .A .N .T .E .D .................................. .O T ..B .E ...I .T ..W .A .S ..T .H .E ..W .A .Y ..I ..G .O .T .................................... .Y M ..I .D .E .A .S ..A .C .R .O .S .S ..A .N .D ..E .X .P .R .E .S .S .E .D .................................. .Y M .S .E .L .F ...A .N .D ..W .H .E .N ..I ..G .R .A .D .U .A .T ..................................... .D E ..F .R .O .M ..C .O .L .L .E .G .E ., ..I ..B .E .C .A .M .E ..A .................................... .T S .A .N .D ..U .P ..C .O .M .E .D .I .A .N ..S .O ..I ..H .A .D ..................................... .O T ..W .R .I .T .E ..A .L .L ..M .Y ..J .O .K .E .S ...I .T .’ .S .................................... .M I .P .O .R .T .A .N .T ..T .O ..W .R .I .T .E ..S .T .U .F .F ....................................... .O D .W .N ., ..T .O ..R .E .A .D ..I .T ., ..T .O ..E .V .A .L ...................................... .A U .T .E ., ..A .N .D ..C .O .M .E ..B .A .C .K ..T .O ..I .T ...................................... .H T .A .T .’ .S ..T .H .E ..W .A .Y ..Y .O .U ..G .E .T ..T .O ...................................... .N K .O .W ..Y .O .U .R .S .E .L .F .................................................. .............................................................. .A — .I .S .H .A ..T .Y .L .E .R ., ..C .O .M .E .D .I .A .N ., ........................................ .U A .T .H .O .R ., ..A .N .D ..T .E .L .L ..M .E ..A .......................................... .T S .O .R .Y ..P .R .E .S .E .N .T .E .R ................................................

T H E S TA R S C O M E O U T

Tell Me A Stor y is 826L A’s biggest, most star-studded event of the year. Our 2017 theme was “Stories from Childhood.” Members of 826L A’s Youth Advisor y Board channeled their inner celebrit y reporters (but with cooler questions), and conducted red carpet inter views with the likes of Aisha Tyler, 826 co-founder Dave Eggers, comic Al Madrigal, actor Rob Corddr y, and musician Ben Gibbard. Equal parts humor, glamour, and celebration of the written word, the event raised a record $475,000 for 826L A’s free writing and tutoring programs.

826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

Let ’s Do the Timewarp (Again!) 826L A knows how to part y. At our fall peer-to-peer fundraiser, costumed revelers danced the night away and competed in categories like Best Worst Dancer and Most Thrilling Thriller. Host Marc Evan Jackson, judges Laraine Newman, Kelly Moore, and Dav y Rothbart, and DJ Soft Touch aka Clifton Weaver, 4D-J Daniel Tures, and Jack & Zach kept dancers laughing and grooving.

2016/2017

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T I M E T R AV E L M A R T

“Whenever you are, we’re already then.”

Whether you’re an android visiting from 3017, a cave person in search of fresh mammoth chunks, or a tourist taking in the sights, the Time Travel Mart is one-stop shopping for all your time travel needs. Impress people back at home (or in your home centur y) with souvenirs like 15 Minutes of Fame, Industrial Revolution Pollution, and Emergency Mummy Kits.

Both Time Travel Mart locations (in Mar Vista and Echo Park) are attached to 826L A’s writing and tutoring centers. Be prepared to see students from the 21st centur y having a lot of fun!

You can purchase books they’ve published (sample title: No Traffic in Space), plus one-of-a-kind tote bags and T-shirts, and the usual time travel supplies. All proceeds from the Time Travel Mart help support the free programs at 826L A.

826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

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826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

timetravelmart.com

2016/2017

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T R E A S U R E R ’S R E P O R T 2 016 –2 017

1% GOVERNMENT GRANTS 8% CORPORATE DONATIONS

AND GRANTS 10% STORE SALES, CONTRACTS,

AND OTHER

EARNED INCOME

7% MANAGEMENT

& GENERAL TOTAL EXPENSES ............................. ............................. ............................. .............................

19% FUNDRAISING

$1,527,051 826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

TOTAL INCOME ............................. ............................. ............................. .............................

26% EVENTS

$1,744,809

74% PROGRAM SERVICES

2016/2017

21% INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

46

826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

34% FOUNDATION GRANTS

2016/2017

47

SUPPORTERS $50,000+

Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow Karisma Foundation Louis and Carolyn Lucido The Eisner Foundation The Goldhirsh Foundation The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Vera R. Campbell Foundation

$25,000+

Anonymous California Community Foundation Henry and Inell Chase City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation Mark and Kimberly Koro Los Angeles Times Family Fund Los Angeles Unified School District Qualcomm Incorporated Rose Hills Foundation William and Deborah Ryan Skylight Foundation The Broad The Green Foundation

Critical Role Productions and Critters Grant DeVaul Diane and Dorothy Brooks Foundation Jodie Evans Vince and Lesley Fiorillo HBO Jennifer’s Fund Tai Lopez Los Angeles County Arts Commission Mindel Family Foundation Morgan Stanley Foundation PWC Sony Pictures Entertainment Allen Blue and Kiaran Snyder The Joan Leidy Foundation The William C. Bannerman Foundation WGN America

$5,000+

All Ways Up Foundation Bad Robot Productions, Inc. Baskin Family Foundation Boulevard Partners Scott Boxenbaum David Bramante Byrne Family Foundation

Tess Ayers and Jane Anderson Joel Arquillos Atlantic Philanthropies Director/Employee Designated Gift Fund Meredith Bagby Ray and Ami Carpenter Matthew and Christy Cherniss City National Bank Paul Boese and Carrie Clifford College Track DreamWorks Animation SKG Rebecca Goldman Susan Ko Shalini Malhotra Middle Road Foundation NBC4 Louise Nutt Paramount Pictures Rose and David Dortort Foundation Target Corporation

826LA

ANNUAL

$10,000+

REPORT

The Frances & Benjamin Benenson Foundation The Gotham Group, Inc. Kathryn Turley Jesse Coleman and Sarah Varet Vista Investment Group LLC Glasgow Phillips and Heather Waters UCLA Armand Hammer Museum of Art

$2,500+

826 National American Endowment Foundation Benevity Community Impact Fund Brillstein Entertainment Partners Alejandra Castillo Communities Foundation of Texas Creative Artists Agency CTRL Collective Scott and Jamie Ginsburg DeAnna Gravillis LA Promise Fund Rachel Kropa Media Storm MEP Foundation Kate Micucci Cheryl Nakao-Miller and James Miller Nancy E. Barton Foundation Matthew Palevsky Mark Pollack Sylvie, Steve, and Josh Rabineau Will Scheffer Patrick F. Spears Brian and Katie Sumers Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Wells Fargo Peter and Nora Wendel Yelp Foundation

2016/2017

$1,000+ AT&T Benjamin Au Philip and Daniele Barach Aimee Bender Matthew Bergida Fred Beshid Tracy Bloom Aviv Brawer-Cohen Brookfield Property Partners Anne Carroll Adriana Centeno Stephanie Cha Greg Collins Don Davis Stacy and Chad DePue Anand Devarajan Disney VoluntEARS Community Fund DLD Accountancy Dennis Duban Jennifer Ferro Ryan and Holly Gaglio Laura Geffen Lisa Goldberg Nancy Graham Tony Graham Carly Hallam Hippolyta Productions Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman Peggy Joseph Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Foundation Jimmy Kimmel Jay Liepis Suzanne Maillard Mary K. and Daniel M. Kelly Family Foundation Alison Turner and Lou Mathews Brian Vaughan and Ruth McKee Advay Mengle BJ Novak Kristin Newman Pacificus Foundation Plinth Institute James and Megan Ponsoldt Kerith and Marvin Putnam Sam Riback Daniel Ricker Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

48

Anthony Graham and Dierdre Roffoni Tim Rohlfing Elizabeth Ellison and Peter Sattler Roy Sekoff Kieran Shamash Shapiro Family Foundation Silva/Weiss Family Foundation Debra Vilinsky and Michael Sopher Belinda Tan The Blum Family Foundation The Ellison Family Foundation Aisha Tyler Jamie Wolf Rebecca McTavish and Jason Woliner Luke Wood

$500+

Jessica Jackley and Reza Aslan Monique Caulfield Charlie Collier (and friend at AMC) Rita Cooper Lee David and Sylvia Weisz Family Foundation Arnell Davis Laura Doss-Hertz Terena and Anders Eisner Jon Gibson Deepti GuptaPontius Richard Greenfield and Laura Hertzfeld Matthew Hsu Hungry Heart Media IBM Employee Charitable Contribution Campaign Marc Evan Jackson Rick and Amanda Jaffa JustGive.org Jeff Kleeman Lori Kozak John Leckie Darlene Letcher Norman Marck and Linda Lichter Heidi and Damon Lindelof

826LA

Dianne and Jim Lonergan Krystyn and Al Madrigal Barbara Meyer Mohawk Bend Andy Molnar Thomas Moore Morgan Lewis (Philadelphia) Moss Family Foundation Alissa Neubauer Kent Osborne Daniel Richnak Esther Ro Howard Rodman Rooster Teeth Productions Suzanne Russell Ronald Schouten Selman/Ridgeley Family Trust Eileen Shields and Kevin Shields Andrew Simon Aditya Sood Lisa Stewart Carolyn Strauss Sunset Beer Company Phillip Tate Mark Tobin TuneCore.com Wilhelm Foundation

$250+ Heather Adams Elijah AllanBlitz Avalon Hollywood John Baker Indu Berman Donald Bitters III Peter Boardman Frederick Brandt Rebecca Brooker Matt Calkins Corey Chan Jade Chang City of Los Angeles Sandra Cosfeld Kelly D’Angelo Steve De Castro and Carly Dierkhising Barbara and Bruce Dobkin Brian Donahue Sophia and Dahlia Estrada Michael Ferguson

ANNUAL

REPORT

Michael Ferraro Damian Fraticelli Friends of Broadway Elementary School Lirona Kadosh and Ethan Goldstine William and Nancy Gubin Jon C. and Jo M. Healey Dennis Heaton Jessica Hoy Sohrab Kadivar Elliot Kahan Wendy Kaplan Ian Orr and Gail Kiralla-Orr Barbara and Wood Lockhart Brett Loncar Mark McConville Michael Mullane Mitch O’Farrell Michael Panich Cheryl Petersen Margaret Gordon and John Peterson Shannon Quon David Morse and Merete Rasmussen Steven Robillard Gail Roque Liba Rubenstein David Safir Alex Saks Larry Sanders Dwight Schmidt L. S. Webster Shaw Claire Smith J. Ryan Stradal Stan Thomas Jennifer Tivang Natalie Toppino Violaine Toutée Tania Bortolotto and Tony Tullio Kenneth Viste Jon Wax Michael and Betsy Weisman Regina and Liza Williams-Corrado

IN-KIND DONATIONS Clif Bar & Co. Geffen Playhouse Golden State Fun Company Gumbiner Savett Inc. Headspace Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Mar Vista Art Department Parallel-Play Studio Pure Barre Hollywood Starline Tours Trader Joe’s

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2016-17 826L A STAFF Joel Arquillos Executive Director Carolyn Gan Director of Development Kristin Lorey Director of Operations Marisa Urrutia Gedney Director of In-School Programs & College Access

Alejandra Castillo Mar Vista Program Coordinator Pedro Estrada Echo Park Program Coordinator Rebecca Escoto Mar Vista Program Coordinator Carinne Mangold Time Travel Mart Store Coordinator

Vickie Vertiz Site Director, Mar Vista

Kenny Ng Echo Park Programs Coordinator

Lauren Humphrey Mar Vista Volunteer Manager

Emmanuel Portillo Echo Park Programs Coordinator

Rachel Mendelsohn Designer

T Sarmina Writers’ Room Coordinator

Latesha Adolphus In-Schools Program Coordinator Mariesa Arrañaga Kubasek Echo Park Volunteer Coordinator

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Henry Chase Matthew Cherniss Dave Eggers, Emeritus Terena Thyne Eisner Jodie Evans Scott Ginsburg Rebecca Goldman DeAnna Gravillis Claire Hoffman Christine Jaroush Susan Ko Louis Lucido Krystyn Madrigal Sylvie Rabineau Terri Hernandez Rosales

Shawn Silver Events Coordinator

ADVISORY BOARD J.J. Abrams Judd Apatow Miguel Arteta Mac Barnett Steve Barr Joshuah Bearman Father Greg Boyle, SJ Stefan G. Bucher Mark Flanagan Ben Goldhirsh Ellen Goldsmith-Vein Spike Jonze Miranda July Catherine Keener Keith Knight Al Madrigal Tara Roth Katie McGrath R. Scott Mitchell Lani Monos B.J. Novak Jane Patterson Keri Putnam Sonja Rasula Luis J. Rodriguez Brad Simpson J. Ryan Stradal Sarah Vowell Sally Willcox

AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS Raquel Olvera Communications & Marketing Assistant

Michael Reyes Mike Dunbar Volunteer Outreach & Mar Vista Retention Assistant Programs Coordinator

Publication Design Dante Carlos River Jukes-Hudson Stephen Serrato (Studio ELL A)

826L A is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expositor y writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our ser vices 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 future success.

826L A EIN: 38-3722092

826LA

ANNUAL

REPORT

2016/2017

826L A.org We’re social: @826L A 826L A in Mar Vista 12515 Venice Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90066 826L A in Echo Park 1714 W. Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

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WE

END THE DAY WITH THE STARS DANCING THROUGH THE NIGHT, THINKING THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL FREEDOM. ———————————————————————————————————————————— FROM “THE FREEDOM OF MEXICO”

BY TNT STUDENT MARIANA 826LA

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826LA

WWW.826LA.ORG