With innovative curriculum, intensive writing projects, and encouraging mentors, 826LA helps students build their communication and literacy skills. 826LA provides students with one-on-one support for academic and extracurricular writing projects, which they may not always receive in a classroom setting. This unique approach establishes habits of mind: developing persistence and discipline, improving self-confidence, and imparting a sense of accomplishment. Our spaces provide a comfortable, consistent, and creative environment in which all students can learn and grow.

Anticipated program outputs and outcomes below were developed as part of 826LA’s 2019-2021 strategic plan and outline the organization’s goals in the four following priority areas: 1) Expand students served with increased student impact to serve mission. 2) Grow, retain, and diversify volunteer base at Writers’ Rooms and beyond to support growth goals. 3) Grow fundraising and strengthen brand awareness to expand reach. 4) Build a thriving team, culture, and work practices to enable future growth.

After scaling at an ambitious rate over the last few years, 826LA is now set to strategically refine how programs are delivered to best meet the needs of underserved students in Los Angeles. With strong volunteer support, a well-trained staff, and dedicated Board of Directors, we are confident in our ability to meet our strategic plan goals.

826LA’s recently developed 2019-2021 strategic plan includes four main areas to guide the administration and operation of its programs. The first two priority areas are program-based, highlighting growth and development of student programs and volunteer recruitment and retention. The second two priority areas detail the fundraising, operational, and administrative goals that will ensure the success of the first two. Each of the four priority areas, along with examples of specific fiscal year 2019 activities, follow. 1) Expand Students Served with Increased Student Impact to Serve Mission. 826LA’s second, permanent Writers’ Room opened at Roosevelt High School in the fall of 2018. In order to accomplish the organization’s goal of opening a third Writers’ Room by 2020, 826LA will fine tune systems, operations, and programming within the Writers’ Room model at Manual Arts High School in order to create a blueprint for future Writers’ Rooms expansions. 2) Grow, Retain, Diversify & Train Volunteer Base to Support Growth Goals As 826LA’s programs evolve, its Volunteer Team must as well. 826LA will grow and realign the structure of the Volunteer Team with increased staff positions and refined roles for volunteer recruitment and management. 3) Grow Fundraising & Strengthen Brand Awareness to Expand Reach 826LA anticipates growing major gifts and individual giving, as well as non-event corporate partnerships and sponsorships. 826LA will strategically increase brand awareness to be recognized as the premier writing organization in Los Angeles. 4) Build a Thriving Team, Culture, & Work Practices to Enable Future Growth With a staff numbering nearly two dozen, 826LA will reinvest in its team members by growing and developing staff and working culture. This includes examining where additional personnel might be needed to support different departments (including volunteers, design, etc. ), and prioritizing DEI at every level of any new hire.

826LA presents a sustainable way to provide educational programs and individualized attention to economically disadvantaged children. By offering all programs for free, 826LA breaks down barriers that might prevent students from learning and families from accessing this level of high-quality, consistent, and personalized instruction for their children. In the 2018 fiscal year, 826LA: -Worked with 9,955 students from low-income communities; -Provided free tutoring to 253 students; -Hosted 195 creative writing field trips for 4,922 students from local schools; -Supported 825 students at Manual Arts High School, a 154% increase from when the Writers’ Room first opened in 2013; -Partnered with 258 teachers across Los Angeles; and -Produced 263 student-written publications.