Volunteer at 826michigan, a nonprofit writing lab and tutoring center for kids!

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WHAT WE ARE

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. 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. 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.

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. 826michigan is a chapter of that national non-profit organization. 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 also the only local Robot Repair and Supply Depot in this galaxy. 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.)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Tutor: We offer tutoring throughout the school year, Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6. We train our tutors (through a program that Eastern Michigan has helped create), so there is no experience required. Any time you can give, from one hour a month to three hours a day, will directly improve a student's life. And you will be directly responsible for said improvement. Good for you!

In-Schools Projects: Assist teachers where they need it most: in their classrooms! In-schools projects vary from teaching to editing to providing back-up. If students can't get to us, we'll come to them!

Store Staff: Store helpers are our face to the world, and get to see everything that goes on at 826. It is also one of the only volunteer opportunities that involves reading a book or doing homework.

Intern: Straight-up volunteering just not enough of a time commitment? Looking to move in? Apply for an internship. Interns do all sorts of things. All John (a former 826 Valencia intern) will say is that they do "everything. They do, like, everything." Then he started saying something about blood in a giant monster. Now he's saying something about how if people are into something, like art or writing, then we can steer that intern in that direction. Whatever. If you've got 15-20 hours a week to hang out here, apply.

Fundraising: Have experience as a grant writer? We need you. Want to help plan and organize fundraising events? We need you. Have connections to people like the Rockefeller Family? Oh yes, we need you.

Field trips: Have time open during the day? We need volunteers to help conduct field trips to 826. Anyone with writing, drawing, copyediting, book layout, or publishing experience or interest who can help would be greeted with much rejoicing, and possibly a flower necklace.

We also need skilled individuals willing to help us out with smaller projects.

Carpenters and painters are needed to help us make our space unique. We want your ideas.

Maintenance and housekeeping duties are available for anyone who loves us just that much.

INTERESTED?

Download an application at www.826michigan.org/volunteer, fill it out, and bring it in or drop it off. We have monthly orientations, which are posted on our website. To attend an orientation, email katelyn@826michigan.org.