August 2022 Volunteers of the Month

August 5, 2022 | Volunteer of the Month

This summer an incredible team of three volunteers were led by Teaching Artist Paige Bennett at the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s Summer Enrichment at Charles Wright Academy. This amazing group worked together to support students for the enrichment part of summer school. We were asked by the district to make our time as fun-filled and action-packed as possible. Paige, Anna, Amanda, and Steve rose to the occasion!

From left to right: Steve, Amanda, Anna, and Paige

Together, they supported students four days a week for four weeks of writing extravaganza activities, creativity, laughter, scary stories, building characters, Mad Libs, and more. They co-created a space for students to share their voices and shine. This program took a tremendous amount of effort and flexibility, and we’re so grateful for the Detroit Summer Program volunteers! 

Amanda Victory

Tell the world a little bit about your 826 volunteering so far:
I started volunteering with 826 in October 2020. At first I did the virtual field trips and had a blast creating fun stories with our brilliant writers, then I did an after school program for one semester and still participate in Wee-bots every now and then. My favorite experience so far has been with Wright Academy of Arts and Sciences because I got to work with students in-person, write poetry with them, and help them bring their characters to life through some crafts.

Tell the world a little bit about your summer 2022 Detroit 826 experience so far:
My favorite moment so far has been writing stories with two writers who then got so creative they took dried glue and turned it into slim monsters who were the main characters of their stories. We even taped the slim monsters onto the paper with the stories so that can stay there forever.

Favorite 826 memory?
My first day participating in virtual field trips because it reminded me what it was like to be a kid and fearlessly creative!

Words of wisdom to fellow and future volunteers?
Patience and encouragement go a long way. Also, don’t be afraid if you can’t spell every word a student needs help spelling, some things are easy to forget and sometimes they come up with really long words!

Favorite book?

Right now, Americanah

What was the best Halloween costume you ever sported?

I miss being little and dressing up as a pumpkin because it was so cozy.

Please describe your ideal pizza.

Pineapple and bacon with the usual tomato sauce and cheese 🙂

Anna Scott

Tell the world a little bit about your 826 volunteering so far:
I’m a summer intern and I started volunteering with 826 in May 2022. My favorite program has been the Detroit program, but I’ve also had a lot of fun creating prompts for the Ypsilanti Public Library’s summer program. I’ve also enjoyed working in the store—it’s always fun to see who wanders in and talk to them about 826.

Tell the world a little bit about your summer 2022 Detroit 826 experience so far:
We work with summer school students from second grade to fifth grade in a Detroit public elementary school. There have been so many favorite moments, from playing The Floor is Lava and climbing on the tables to collectively writing a scary story about a haunted skateboard, but one of the most memorable has been watching these students’ growth over four weeks. At the beginning of this program, many students had trouble reading and didn’t see themselves as writers. Now, at the end of the program, they are reading new words, writing poems and plays, and feeling more confident in their own voice. It’s incredibly exciting to watch them learn in real time. I’ve gone from transcribing students’ entire stories down to now being told, “Ms. Anna, can I write this story by myself?” Students are excited to come to 826’s program and are having a blast playing with language.

Favorite 826 memory?
There are so many to choose from, but one of my favorites was when I convinced an entire class I was the character Max from Stranger Things. Because I have red hair, they assumed I was this character and I just ran with it. I answered all their questions about being on set and promised to put in a good word for them with the producers. I even encouraged them to write scary stories about Stranger Things and put themselves in as characters—which clique would they fall into? Who are they: a good guy or a monster from the Upside Down? How would they help save the world? It was so fun and now whenever they see me in the halls, they always wave and say “Hi Max from Stranger Things!”

Words of wisdom to fellow and future volunteers?
Working with young people is so fun and rewarding! In whatever program you help with, try to approach it with curiosity, empathy, and energy.

Favorite book?

An impossible question but Ada Limón’s Bright Dead Things means a lot to me

What was the best Halloween costume you ever sported?

I was ~obsessed~ with Percy Jackson in elementary school and convinced my whole family to go as Greek mythological characters––I was Medusa with spray-painted green hair

Please describe your ideal pizza.

All the veggies: broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, maybe a couple olives if you’re feeling spicy. Medium crust, good tomato-basil sauce to mozzarella ratio. Top with arugula and a little drizzle of olive oil. Maybe throw on a fried egg on top? Square-shape, Detroit style with the toppings going out to the edges (minimal side crust).

Steve Liu

Tell the world a little bit about your 826 volunteering so far:
I’ve been interning with 826 for around three months, first working at the Robot Supply Co., then with young students at Charles Wright Academy in Detroit.

Tell the world a little bit about your summer 2022 Detroit 826 experience so far:
The kids re-taught me how good candy is, and let me see the world through their eyes again.

Favorite 826 memory?
On my last day of volunteering at Charles Wright Academy, one of our students wrote a Thank You note with hearts and our names on it.

Words of wisdom to fellow and future volunteers?
Young people have a lot of knowledge and insight if you get to know them well

Favorite book?

The Mezzanine, by Nicholson Baker

What was the best Halloween costume you ever sported?

Luigi (me) with Mario (my mother) from the Super Mario Bros. Series

Please describe your ideal pizza.

Thin crust, tomato sauce, light mozzarella, mushrooms, onions, pineapple


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