About
826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced 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 the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
826 Valencia comprises three writing centers—our flagship location in the Mission District, a center in the Tenderloin neighborhood, and a new center on the ground floor of an affordable housing building in Mission Bay —and three satellite classrooms at nearby public schools. All of our programs are offered free of charge to make them accessible to the students who would not otherwise be able to access our support.
Due to the success of our model, a separate organization called 826 National was founded in 2008 to help other cities launch their own writing and tutoring centers. We are now one of nine official 826 chapters in the United States, inspiring many other like-minded groups around the world.
Learn more about the 826 chapters in:
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Transform students’ relationships to writing, building their confidence and pride.
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Provide individualized attention and support, so students can make great leaps in learning.
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Partner with under-resourced schools and communities, providing our free services to those who would not otherwise have access.
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Cultivate wonder, inspiring imagination and creativity in all of our spaces and programs.
Writing?Why
Writing is agency. It’s a tool for telling your story, processing experiences, building community, and bringing imagination to life.
But many students lack confidence and skills when it comes to writing, for a host of reasons—the challenge of learning English as a second language, financial and housing instability, and a lack of one-on-one attention during the school day, to name a few.
In a world that systemically devalues the voices and stories of young people of color, writing can empower them to express themselves, celebrate their cultures, and engage in our national dialogue —making writing skills core to a just and democratic society.
that when our students feel confidence and pride in their writing skills, they can access opportunities, tell their stories, and make the world a better place.
Our work is made possible by the generosity of many individuals and groups.