Meet Ms. Clark, Roc, and Desmond!

In the fall of 2024 we kicked off our new STRATEGIC VISION, which guides our way to the year 2030 and our loftiest goal yet:

WE WILL WORK WITH 25,000 NEW
STUDENT WRITERS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS!

Over two years, 826michigan has developed a five-year strategic vision under the leadership of board member Abby Fanelli, WAABEL Start-Up Studio. The work required to create this vision was both challenging and energizing, bringing together staff, volunteers, students, families, teachers, partners, funders, and community members. Launched in September of 2024, this vision describes the emergent core values of agility, balance, and belonging, which each address areas of growth for 826michigan and provide a roadmap for how the organization will approach challenges with innovative solutions. As you read on below, please meet the three fictional characters who will be illuminating this vision in the coming months. Desmond, a student, Ms. Clark, a teacher, and Roc, a volunteer, will bring to life 826michigan’s commitment to reach 25,000 new student writers by the year 2030.


Join us in welcoming
Ms. Clark, Roc, and Desmond!


Meet Tanya Clark!

Tanya Clark is an elementary teacher at an 826michigan partner school in Detroit. She encounters 826 while teaching kindergarten and loves what it provides her early readers and writers. The following year, Ms. Clark transfers to teaching fourth grade, where she receives a semester-long residency with 826 that results in a book project made possible by a special grant. Through this project, Ms. Clark develops a special way for her students, and other local student writers in Detroit, to share out the work they have written via a reading series around the city. This in turn inspires citywide engagement with reading the work of young writers, amplifying their voices such that their words reach thousands of people.

Ms. Clark’s 826michigan journey represents the pillar of AGILITY.

AGILITY is about responding to the changing needs of our communities, in real time. We work across three very different cities, and while the pandemic was our largest test of pivoting in the moment, it won’t be our only.

AGILITY means we will . . .

Build bandwidth and flexibility in our organizational structure so that there are people in place to respond and supporters ready to answer our call when new opportunities arise.

  • Diversify funding sources.
  • Leverage new technologies to streamline data collection.
  • Institute a new approach to staffing to mitigate burn-out and fully celebrate and utilize the incredible expertise of our team.

Meet Roc!

Roc is an Eastern Michigan University student and 826michigan intern who becomes deeply involved in retooling 826’s assessment work to make it not only student-centered, but student created. Following a successful internship, they write a paper on their findings, and travel nationwide to share their learnings with other educators and youth advocates.  Roc becomes a regular 826 volunteer, taking on weekly shifts during our After-school Writing Labs, where they meet a wonderful group of friends. Having loved the leadership and autonomy they received during their internship, they found a junior board, the 826michigan Associates Board.  Once Roc moves out of the area, they found the Chapter Affiliations Group so that nonlocal supporters can stay deeply engaged with our work. 

Roc’s 826michigan journey represents the pillar of BALANCE.

To stay singularly focused on the 25,000 new student writers we will reach by 2030, we need to ensure that our community partners are those who deeply share our values and can help advance our work in new ways.

BALANCE means we will . . .

Strive for depth over breadth by investing in quality collaborations that successfully meet our diverse stakeholder needs.

  • Determine the best home base for 826michigan moving forward, keeping in mind the different needs of our three service cities. 
  • Audit community partnerships for values alignment using all necessary resources, including time, assessment, and space for authentic dialogue.   
  • Find innovative ways to share our expertise so that the future can be bright for everyone.

Meet Desmond!

Desmond meets us as a third-grade student writer in an Ypsilanti Community Schools  in-school program. Desmond falls in love with writing, participates in our after-school programs throughout his elementary and middle school years, and then becomes  a Teen Mentor in high school, where he works with elementary school students in other 826 programs. Desmond discovers he has a passion for teaching and continues volunteering at 826 throughout college, and pursues elementary education as a career.

Desmond’s 826michigan journey represents the pillar of BELONGING.

BELONGING is about pulling from the vast resources we have at 826 already, and utilizing them in new ways.

BELONGING means we will . . .

Show all 826ers that they have not only a place here, but a multitude of ways to engage—and continue to engage—allowing us to better activate and showcase the tremendous resources of our community. 

  • Create a paid program for older students to become mentors to younger writers.
  • Start a paid Teacher Advisory Board.
  • Make standard the inclusion of  youth voice on the 826michigan Board of Directors.
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