826michigan is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students aged 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. 826 opened its doors in June of 2005. Since then, we have been blessed with students, tutors, and volunteers overflowing with enthusiasm.

We believe that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. To make that a reality, we provide drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-schools tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications.

We also believe that the more fun a student has, and the more directly we speak to a student’s interests, the more we can help students find the fun in learning. That’s why our programs are more than just extra homework. Students can come to 826 for help and inspiration for all kinds of things, from poetry to storytelling, writing songs to writing college entrance essays, finishing novels to starting haikus. And of course, homework of all kinds too.

All of our programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each student’s power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in his or her individual voice. And best of all, all 826michigan events and activities are offered completely free of charge.

Our three most frequently asked questions: “No, really? Free? Everything?” Absolutely. 826 was founded on the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to become a better writer and build a better future. So, yes. Free.

 
The Particulars

Drop-in Tutoring: We offer one-on-one tutoring Monday through Thursday. Session one runs from 3:30-4:30pm, and session two runs from 4:30-5:30pm. Students who have enough homework are welcome to stay for both sessions. Tutors are available at the lab and ready to help students with writing assignments, homework, English language learning, creative writing, and publishing projects. We don’t take reservations for tutors—students just drop in and one of our trained volunteer tutors will help the student with anything he or she needs!

Workshops: We offer all kinds of free after-school and weekend workshops designed to foster creativity, strengthen writing skills, and provide students with a forum for executing projects they might not otherwise have the support to undertake. Workshops range from the playful to the practical, and all are taught by volunteer writers, artists, educators, and publishing professionals.

Publishing: We are committed to making sure that our students have an outlet for the wonderful material they produce. To this end, we help them publish and distribute their work, be it in their own zine, in a specially produced book, or in our quarterly.

Field Trips: 826 is a great destination for school field trips. For younger classes, our Storytelling and Bookmaking trips take a fun and creative approach to writing, both independently and in groups. And at the end, each student gets a professionally bound copy of the book he or she created. For older groups, we offer challenging writer’s workshops, preparation for written exams or SATs, and anything else we can do to help the writing process, from inspiration to final draft fine tuning.

Other Programs: As an additional way of fundraising, we also offer nighttime workshops and seminars for adults. All proceeds from the fees assessed by these programs goes directly to student programming at 826michigan. Please keep an eye out for our monthly Seminars for Aspiring Writers and our Evenings at 826michigan Series in which we invite authors to read and discuss important issues.

Our Store: Monster Union Local 826 is a meeting place and supply store for all the monsters, beasts, spooky creatures, undead individuals, bogeymen, things that go bump in the night, formerly-frightening-turned-Hollywood-monster-ambassadors, and unusually tall people represented worldwide by the International Monster Union. Our members haunt with pride. To help them in their glorious destiny, we cater in all the frightener’s needs—fur growth serum, “closet to cave” organizers, and condiments for bland children. All proceeds go directly toward supporting the mission and programs of 826michigan.

 
Where We Came From

826 Valencia was started in San Francisco by famed writer and editor Dave Eggers. Have you heard of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius or McSweeney’s? Well, he’s behind both. Anyway, a few years back he decided to start a non-profit organization that focused on mentoring kids in creative writing. Founded by Ann Arbor writer Steven Gillis, 826michigan is a chapter of that national non-profit organization. In case you don’t believe us you will notice the official 826National seal on the bottom of our homepage. Through afterschool, drop-in tutoring, field trips, workshops, writing rooms, and various other means, 826’s main goal is to inspire young people and foster their creativity. We take kids very seriously in an often not-so-serious way. Programs are free of charge. We are not responsible for how overwhelmingly creative or thoughtfully energized any young person may be upon leaving 826. We should note that we are the world-renowned Monster Union Local 826. We bet that intrigues you, and therefore, we’re going to be coy and tell you that details on that are forthcoming. (That’s called narrative tension.)

 
The Brotherhood

826 National is essentially an umbrella organization that works toward duplicating the successful 826 Valencia program in youth writing centers across the country. 826NYC (in Park Slope, Brooklyn) opened in September 2004; 826LA (in Venice, CA), 826 Seattle, and 826 Chicago opened in 2005; and 826 Boston opened in 2007. Each 826 will provide the same caliber of volunteer-based, free services for students that 826 Valencia in San Francisco has successfully developed. We couldn’t be more excited.

For more information about 826 National’s progress, please visit the following website: www.826national.org.

 
826michigan Is, Among Other Things:

Founder Steve Gillis Executive Director Amanda Uhle amanda@826michigan.org Education Director Erin Bennett erin@826michigan.org Program Director Amy Sumerton amy@826michigan.org Superinterns Jen Halas Jared Hawkley interndungeon@826michigan.org Store Manager/Master of Monsters C. Jason DePasquale c.jason@826michigan.org Website Minder Scott David Herman

Still in Our Hearts, Past Superinterns Becca "Frannie" Bald Ellen Fitzgerald Diana "DK" Kimball Heather "Puppies and Rainbows" Kingsbury Emilie Lerner Rachel Lieberman Hollis "Holla" Bentley Richardson Always on our minds, Past Interns Erik Buehmann Jill Dembowski Bobby Gruenberg Ryan Howard Franco Muzzio Sydney Smith Blake Swihart Director of Alliteration, Superintern Division Valerie Valentino Director of Homonym Research Luke Meinzen

Board of Directors Keith Hood, President Jessica Krivan, Vice President Patrick Cooper, Secretary Angela De Smet, Treasurer Linda Adler-Kassner Bruce DeMaine Julie Gagne Margaret Krasnoff Lauren London Christopher Taylor Laura Wagner Richard Weise And an army of dedicated and inspiring volunteers and students, without whom life would certainly be but a vacuous shell of what it has become. Contact Information Address 115 E. Liberty Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734.761.3463 info@826michigan.org Click here for directions.