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826 National Open Echo Park Chapter
New literacy center from author Dave Eggers and crew
By Hailee Bland-Walsh
826 National is a family of seven nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing at seven locations across the country as well as a whimsical retail component. The free literacy and writing center for kids was started by author Dave Eggers in San Francisco.
The new chapter, located on Sunset Boulevard, will be the second 826 in Los Angeles. The heart of 826's programming is drop-in tutoring. Students bring their homework in and work one on one with a volunteer until it's finished.
"The model is really simple," said 826LA co-director Mac Barnett. "It's basically a volunteer and a student working together. Part of its elegance is that simplicity."
Each chapter offers drop-in tutoring, field trips, workshops, and in-schools programs — all free of charge — for children, classes, and schools with particular interests or particular needs. Their mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
"The first goal is to get the kid home with all their homework complete," Barnett said. "When they're done, they work on various projects. We really encourage the kids to go nuts and be ambitious."
826 is especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English language learners, and publishing student work. Several locations offer unique retail experiences as well.
The idea was born of Eggers' conversations with his teacher friends in New York, who lamented that they didn't have more time to spend with students who were behind in their writing and reading skills.
As the story goes, the zoning of the first center at 826 Valencia Street in the Mission District required there to be some sort of retail space in the storefront. Instead of the predictable bookstore or art gallery, Eggers decided to open a pirate supply store.
In addition to their founding site at 826 Valencia in San Francisco, 826 National also has chapters in NYC, Los Angeles, Echo Park, Michigan, Seattle, and Chicago.