The minute I heard about
826 LA opening in Venice back in 2005, I was on board. I have adored author Dave Eggers since reading his wonderful memoir,
A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius,
and gobbled up every word he's written since. He founded 826 Valencia
in San Francisco to offer tutoring and creative writing adventures to
kids after school, and when it became such a success, it was almost no
time before chapters began opening up across the country. As L.A. is so
spread out, we are lucky enough to have two locations, one in Echo Park,
and one right here in Venice, upstairs in the SPARC building (though
they'll soon be moving a bit more east on Venice Boulevard).
I
painted chairs and helped assemble Ikea furniture alongside Mr. Eggers
to get the Venice location open, and then volunteered with them at Animo
Inglewood to get a book by those kids out in a project collaboration
with former Lakers coach, Phil Jackson. It was called
Rhythm Of The Chain,
and it was awesome. Then I got all busy with life and work and stuff
and wasn't able to get to 826 during tutoring hours any longer, but have
kept track of them over the ensuing years, and am always impressed.
When
I went to check them out again recently, I was beyond impressed. I was
floored. That the tutoring room is PACKED with kids, all excited and
bright eyed and eager to learn, to a kid. There is a happy buzz in the
room of controlled chaos, as the kids (from 6-18) get help from extra
nice and helpful adult volunteers with their homework and creative
writing stories. 826 also offers class field trips to schools, free
workshops, In-School programs, Young Authors' Book Projects, English
Language Learner Summer Camp, Spoken Word Summer Camp, they publish a
newspaper by the kids (The Venice Wave), have their own publishing brand
(Dogtown Press), and help high school students with preparing College
essays. All of this is free, all of it is non-profit, and all of it is
so inspiring, your heart swells just sitting there observing.
As
I did one recent day, and watched all the fun, creative interaction
between kids and tutors, and the light bulbs popping on as things got
figured out, and ideas came to life. Once the kids finish their day's
homework, they settle in to write fun stories. As these stories get
closer to completion, they move up a basket, and when a child's story is
ready for the top basket, all action stops, an announcement is made to
the entire room, and that beaming, proud child gets to clang a bell in
celebration of their story.
Two
little guys were so small they had to climb up on a desk and jump to
ring the bell, and you could tell they'd been bursting at the seams to
do it. Their faces as they received the applause from their peers and
the grown-ups were a sheer delight to behold, as you could see them see
their own potential ... and it's looking pretty bright for them. (These
finished stories will then be part of a reading the students participate
in at Beyond Baroque to share with their friends and family).
Speaking
of bright, ALL of the kids I spoke to said that they were doing much
better in school since attending 826. One little 5th grade girl I talked
to named Melisha, full of energy and spilling over happiness, said
simply, "It's a great place to write". She should know, as she attends
826 every day they're open, and loves it. I asked her what she loves
most about Venice, and she said, "826 LA". Whoa. I said, "More than the
beach?" A very firm, "Yes". Now THAT is impressive. She continued, "I
get 3's and 4's every time because of coming here. 826 LA made me
gifted. My Mom was so happy. Now I want to learn more to make my
advanced level higher, " she said with excited eyes blazing. I
high-fived her for that, and for talking to me, and she went back to her
volunteer, saying, "I'm done with my meeting." Ready to get back to it.
How great.
As
I have found with my previous creative writing teachings with kids,
their purity and unabashed honesty in writing makes your own writing
better. I spoke with volunteer named Lili Flanders, a writer now in her
fifth year of tutoring at 826, and she wholeheartedly agreed. She said,
"I fell in love with the creative cacophony that is 826 ... It amazes me
the turnaround you'll see in kids from being here for two hours a day."
She explained that the young people running the place are very
impressive, care deeply about grass-roots education, and they give you
everything you need to be a volunteer, including a true feeling of
appreciation every time. Because the first rule of 826 is that everyone
is there because they WANT to be, students and volunteers alike. Lili
went on to say, "Being here gives these kids power over their craft, and
it's really happy learning ... The connection with the kids is the
reward, and I usually leave here dizzy and happy and having used every
bit of me and my time." What a satisfying feeling!
The
proof of 826's success is in those little happy, proud, inquisitive
faces ... and their grades. Given attention, encouragement, knowledge,
and respect, kids thrive. It's plainly obvious that 826 offers all of
this, in abundance. When parents arrive to pick up their children, it's a
happy reunion as they hear their kid gush about what they did that day.
As a busy, working parent ... what a joy to know your child is not only
learning, but thrilled about it. Everyone wins in this place.
A recent chap book published by the 826LA kids (through their "Barnacle & Barnacle Publishers") was titled
Is Venice Beautiful In The Night? featuring
stories by the young writers about Venice, California and Venice,
Italy. I would answer that Venice is extremely beautiful at all times,
but maybe never more so than on a golden afternoon, with the sun
streaming in over the heads of the kids of our town, as they write about
what they love.
This is a perfectly wonderful
organization, and they can always use more volunteers and/or donations.
Contact them at IWANTTOHELP@826LA.org and feel excellent about it.
826LA - Venice
685 Venice Boulevard
Venice, 90291
310.305.8418
Photos by 826 (with people in them) and me.
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