Calling all adventurers, dreamers, and supporters of young writers! 826LA is proud to present Write Your Own Adventure, a Changing The Story gala, an evening that promises to be as vibrant and inspiring as the stories we aim to create. Set against the backdrop of the bustling Los Angeles cityscape, this gala is not just an event—it’s a celebration of the boundless imagination of LA’s youth. On Thursday, May 2nd, 826LA invites you to join us for an extraordinary evening at SmogShoppe in the Culver City Arts District. Write Your Own Adventure  is more than just a gathering; it’s an opportun ..read more

This past weekend, 826LA hosted its annual Fund Your Future event, a pivotal day dedicated to supporting high school students as they navigate the often daunting path of college scholarship applications. The event was a beacon of hope for many, offering not just guidance but the invaluable one-on-one support of trained volunteers. For many students, the dream of attending college is often overshadowed by financial barriers. However, Fund Your Future sought to change this narrative by equipping students with the tools and resources necessary to secure the financial aid they deserve. Among the d ..read more

826LA hosted its second installment of our hit open mic series on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm, which featured our own Executive Director, Jaime Balboa, as he shared poems from his collection Missing Possibilities. Westside volunteers gathered at our Mar Vista Writing lab alongside 826LA staff members, college corp fellows, interns, and community members. Event attendees shared a mix of their own work, pieces from favorite authors, and journal entries, bonding over their love of storytelling and showing that anyone can take the stage no matter where they are in the writing process!&nb ..read more

It was 2011 and Ashlyn, an illustrator and adventurer, packed up her life in Toronto and moved to Los Angeles. She didn’t know anyone in the city, and thought she’d start volunteering with a local nonprofit organization, called 826LA, inside an old building next to a little garden on Venice Boulevard. Little did she know, her journey would take her through leaps in her creativity and career, enable her to build a community of friends, inspire her to lead her own creative workshops for young students, and, at one of those workshops, meet the love of her life. 13 years later, as Valentine’s Day ..read more

“Art will save us. Expression and getting it out on paper will save us, and that is what 826LA does.” – Emily Barth Isler Jennifer Chen and Emily Barth Isler took the stage Sunday, January 21st at our Echo Park Writing Center to share with our donors, volunteers, and community members the importance of writing as a way to express oneself creatively. Jennifer Chen wrote  Artifacts of an Ex during the height of the pandemic when Asian-American hate cries were at an all-time high, Jennifer was able to escape to a world where Asian American characters are safe, loved, and happy- and the bigge ..read more

What would a year-end be without a top-ten list?  At 826LA, we unlock the creative power of writing in the lives of our students and support teachers as they cultivate the love of writing in their students. We celebrate student accomplishments in big ways and small, and this Top 10 list is in that same spirit. 2022-23 was a banner year for 826LA, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of every donor, volunteer, educator, family, and of course, student that we work with.  So here they are, in no particular order: 1. 14th Annual Personal Statement Day! We more than doubled th ..read more

For the past two weeks, 826LA has partnered with 74th Street Elementary School on our first-ever elementary school book project! With the help of staff, UCLA College Corps Fellows, and volunteers, we worked with three 3rd-grade classes on outlining, drafting, and revising a descriptive piece about the door to their future.  On Professor Barnacle’s request, the students practiced their descriptive writing skills using sensory details to describe a portal that leads them to their future, and then what their world is like on the other side.  First, we wrote the beginning of the story al ..read more

I was thrilled to hear that the Odenkirk’s had written a book of rhymes for children. I’m so glad I got my hands on a copy and I think you’ll be glad when you do, too! In full disclosure, the Odenkirk’s are long-time friends and supporters of 826LA. Perhaps that’s why, when I learned that they wrote this together, over years, when Bob and Naomi’s now adult children, Erin and Nate, were just kiddos themselves, I grew to appreciate their support of our literacy-based organization all the more.The writing of Zilot, to my mind, explains so much of the why behind their support of our work unlocking ..read more

From the moment he walked through our doors, long-time volunteer Patrick Diaz knew he found a special place to give back! 10 years later, he is still just as excited when he shows up as our Field Trip Illustrator with Professor Barnacle! We caught up with Patrick as he reflected on the last 10 years. 1. What is your favorite part about working with students? I volunteer as an artist working with students. I love seeing the outbursts of joy and awe as students see my illustrations for the first time during a field trip. Their reactions never get old after ten years of volunteering. I was told ..read more

826LA welcomes its newest board members, Joe Ferencz, Cisca Brouwer, Scott Boxenbaum, and Jeff Boos. Each board member firmly believes that all students should have access to high-quality education and creative outlets. We caught up with each of them; here’s what they had to say about writing, 826LA, and what they hope to accomplish as board members. Tell us about yourself? Joe: Lifelong reader and lover of the creative arts, passionate about education, excited to help young people grow in their potential.  Work in the video game business and have had a chance to contribute to the le ..read more