826 Oakland?

Last Thursday I went to see an interview with Dave Eggers in Lafayette for the LAMORINDA One Book, One City program. Their 2013 selection is Eggers' A Hologram for the King.

While the talk was incredibly interesting as he spoke about the genesis of some of the more interesting parts of the book, the existentialism and symbolism of certain other parts, and a snap-shop synopsis of the evolving Saudi culture, the biggest take-away was the mentioning of 826 Oakland.

If you've never heard of the 826 program please read below.


via 826valencia.org:


"826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our work is based on the understanding that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success and that great leaps in learning can happen when trained tutors work one-on-one with students.

We offer a range of programs, all free of charge, for students, classrooms, and schools in the Bay Area. Our project-based approach allows students ownership over the writing process, and strengthens their ability to express themselves clearly and in their own voice. By making writing fun, by demystifying the process, and by creating gorgeous books, magazines, and newspapers that honor their work, we can inspire young people to gain critical skills and write with confidence. For a more in-depth look at our recent programs, check out our 2010-2011 annual report.

826 Valencia was founded in 2002 by author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari. Read more about the history of the organization. Dave Eggers also tells the story about 826′s inspiration, early beginnings, and ensuing momentum in a TED Talks video."


Since opening in San Francisco ten years ago, '826' has tutored thousands of students across San Francisco and Bay Area with great success. An incredible 96% of students surveyed said that after a year of the tutoring program (which is free!) they feel confident in completing writing tasks assigned to them.


They have expanded to several cities across the country (Boston, DC, New York, and others) and now are hoping to bring their program to the East Bay.


There will be a town hall meeting this Monday from 6:30-8:00 at Oakland City Hall (1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612).  826 is looking for as many educators and community members to come out to support their effort as possible.

To learn more about 826, please visit:

http://826national.org/

and

http://826valencia.org/