Annual Report 2015-2016 Our Mission
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 OUR MISSION 826LA is dedicated to supporting students ages 6-18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. 826LA’s services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 3 DEAR FRIENDS, TABLE OF CONTENTS At 826LA, students discover the joy of writing and build skills for future success. Whether students aspire to go to college, land an amazing job, or create the next 5 18 Hollywood blockbuster, writing will play a vital role in achieving their dreams. Dear Friends 826LA Writers’ Room at Manual Arts Writing is a tool for learning, advocacy, and self-expression. It can transform a struggling student into a confident scholar and storyteller. 6 20 We see this transformation happen every day at 826LA. It inspires us to reach as many students with our free writing programs as we can, and we are well on our way. During Why 826LA? College Access the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2016, 826LA served more than 9,000 students and published more than 200 books. 7 22 Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world, but marginalized populations At a Glance Young Authors’ Book Project don’t often have the opportunity to share their stories widely. We work to show students just how far their creativity can take them. Last year, 826LA students turned their writing into a back-to-school campaign for Target, saw their books integrated into the curriculum of local colleges, and pitched their movie ideas to J.J. Abrams and the staff 8 24 of Bad Robot Productions. Volunteers Strategic Plan and Tell Me a Story 826LA is proud of our students and the community of supporters that we have built. We hope that you enjoy reading about our progress and achievements, but more importantly, we hope you are inspired to get involved in anyway you can to cultivate 11 26 the next generation of Los Angeles storytellers. Tutoring Time Travel Mart With gratitude, 12 28 Workshops Treasurer’s Report JOEL ARQUILLOS 14 30 Executive Director Supporters and Field Trips In-Kind Contributions 16 33 In-School Projects Thank You 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 5 WHY 826LA? Writing is an essential tool for success in the 21st century. The National Commission on Writing reports that over 90% of white-collar workers and 80% of blue-collar workers think that writing is important to job success. 2015-2016 AT A GLANCE 21,687 But in last year’s California statewide testing, 41% of 11th graders did not meet standards hours volunteered for language arts. The situation is more dire for students from low-income families, which account for 80% of the LAUSD’s 734,000+ student population. The percentage of students living at the poverty level scoring below basic in English language arts tends to be two times 9,087 higher than students from higher-income families. students served 826LA addresses this income achievement gap in LAUSD schools by providing quality writing programs six days a week all year round to students who need it most. With a 237 volunteer corps that includes writers, artists, and creative professionals, 826LA provides LAUSD teachers supported much needed individualized attention to students to help them realize their dreams. At 826LA, writing opens hearts, opens minds, and opens doors. 222 books published 1 Writers’ Room launched 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 7 “There are few instances where the VISIT 826LA.ORG/VOLUNTEER people you meet and the interactions you have really sink in. 826LA has definitely been one of those instances. The volunteers—they will forever be remembered.” JORGE, STUDENT AT MANUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS Centaur Club Expanded this special group for those What’s the secret behind 826LA’s success? who volunteer over 100+ hours a year. Thousands of amazing volunteers. Trainings This year, over 1,200 new faces walked Implemented new volunteer trainings, through 826LA’s doors to support student including “Race, Gender, and Identity.” writing. 826LA didn’t just focus on Diversity recruiting volunteers—the organization Focused on recruiting more seniors provided new opportunities for professional and volunteers of color. development, including how to respond to conversations about race, gender, and Service Learners identity in the classroom. In 826LA writing Provided hands-on learning centers and in schools across Los Angeles, opportunities for students from volunteers showed how much they care about Antioch University, Cal State LA, the future of students and their voices. CSUN, USC, Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA, LMU, and Santa Monica College. Community Partnerships Partnered with Union Bank, Blue Bottle, Team One, Google, Sony Pictures, Bad Robot, Target, and ADHD to create more opportunities for student engagement and learning. 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 9 “How do you get better at writing? You practice. I’m always excited to come here. I hope this never ends.” YATZEL, STUDENT IN AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORING TUTORING 226 The scratching of pencils, the hum of Students Served conversations, the applause at a book release party—this is what 826LA’s tutoring program sounds like. 693 Volunteers Monday through Thursday, trained volunteers help students with homework and creative writing projects. Students participate in a daily 506 writing and editing practice, which culminates Tutoring Sessions in the publication of a beautifully designed chapbook. To inspire students to create and value their writing, 826LA hosts quarterly book 10 release parties, where students read their writing Publications for an audience of family and friends. 90% of students reported that they felt comfortable asking for help with their homework. OUR PROGRAMS 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 11 “The workshop made me confident to write even if I was wrong.” LUIS, STUDENT AT ICEF VISTA Bad Robot Productions WORKSHOPS Inspire a New Generation 1,208 826LA’s workshops bring students together Students Served with artists and writers for creative collaboration. This year, 826LA hosted a wide “Ciro’s pitch was so imaginative and The students weren’t the only ones that range of workshops from screenwriting to enjoyable to listen to. It represented were inspired. Bad Robot’s Becca Perry was 445 journalism, during which professional journalists Volunteers everything 826LA stands for— particularly excited by Ciro’s protagonist supported students as they researched, wrote, encouraging creativity and inspiring named Journey Kernel who she hopes to see and edited articles for a printed newspaper. students to discover and explore their on the big screen one day. Becca said of the 81 passion for writing.” experience, “Seeing the genuine enthusiasm In the fall of 2015, 826LA launched a Workshops BECCA PERRY, BAD ROBOT PRODUCTIONS for creative writing that a younger partnership with The Broad, Los Angeles’s generation has definitely helps reignite my newest art museum, to host workshops in Screenwriters across LA know that their own passion for the work I am doing and 34 genius idea will never be produced unless writing and art. 826LA students piloted these reminds me why I am doing it. Publications they can pitch it compellingly. The workshops, visiting the museum multiple times throughout the year and constructing writing aspiring screenwriters at 826LA polished After visiting Bad Robot Productions, Ciro prompts in response to the exhibits. The Broad their own pitches before visiting Bad said that learning is “to believe in your will use the new 826LA workshop curriculum 93% Robot Productions in May 2016. They stories and ideas no matter how crazy they of students reported that were all nerves on the drive over, but for all field trips to the museum. seem.” they would be able to use their preparation and confidence shined what they had learned in brightly when it came time to share their the workshop on other very own movie ideas and screenplays with Bad Robot Productions. Students listened writing assignments. intently as J.J. Abrams and the staff provided constructive feedback and advice. 826LA Annual Report 2015-16 13 “The program was strong in the development of a story. This is really important not only for grabbing interest, but allowing children the free space to be creative without fear.” SHANNA BURBANK, TEACHER AT LOCKWOOD AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS 4,770 On weekday mornings, 826LA welcomes Students Served Mr. Page is on a Five Year Roll LAUSD classes to its writing centers for a morning of high-energy learning. In one popular Field Trip, elementary school students 254 “Students must have the foundation for writing, decisionmaking in the process. Every student collaborate to write a book to please the grouchy Volunteers both narrative and informational, in order to individually finishes a storyline, and takes home a publisher, Mr. Barnacle, who admonishes them be best prepared for futures that will depend on bound book. For Mr. Page, the school year is not to avoid clichés and urges them develop original communication in written form.” complete without an inspiring visit to 826LA. characters. During other Field Trips, students 190 MR. PAGE, TEACHER work in small groups to write memoirs or tackle Field Trips “826LA workshops and programs will help to an essay assigned by their teacher with the Ten years ago, Mr. Page became an LAUSD teacher underpin any writing curriculum you are using or support of 826LA volunteers. to serve his city. As a proud and native Angeleno, have designed,” he says. But 826LA Field Trips do 234 Mr. Page loves nothing more than teaching 6th more than provide Common Core support, they This year, 826LA made a shift in the schools it Publications grade English Language Arts and Social Studies inject enthusiasm for learning and create lasting invited to attend Field Trips, focusing on those at Thomas Starr King Middle School.