Due to the massive snowfall in the D.C. metro area, we are pushing back tonight's volunteer orientation to another Monday.

The details:

When: Monday, February 22, 6:30pm
Where: Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library (945 Rhode Island NW, 2.5 blocks from the Shaw/Howard Metro stop on the green line)
Why: Learn more about 826DC and how you can get involved!
What's required: For you to let us know you're coming by filling out this quick form.

If the new date doesn't work with your schedule, don't give up! Please join us later for another orientation. Check out our volunteer page for future dates.

Student publications remain a major focus of 826DC’s curriculum each school year. For our second publication, we’re working with seniors at Cardozo and Woodrow Wilson high schools for our Dear Freshmen anthology, which compiles the wisdom (and wit) of some of DC public schools’ most weathered veterans into a handbook for the next generation of graduates.

The project combines journal entries, text message poems, and other mixed media with traditional letter-writing that focuses on the upperclassmen’s personal experiences to give practical advice to up-and-comers on wide ranging subjects like peer pressure, academics, and the most edible lunch menu items.

While last year’s anthology, The Way We See It: Complete Coverage of the Nation's Capital From the Inside Out featured the work of a thirty high school seniors, Dear Freshmen is by far our largest, most ambitious publishing effort yet. 826DC has spent this year working with 64 students in 3 classes, with over 30 volunteers leading weekly, intensive workshops, forming and advising student editorial boards, and delivering lectures on not just how students can tell their stories, but how to make them useful for the next group of seniors who’ll sit in their desks soon enough.

“Each student has a distinct voice and perspective. However, the students don’t always know that,” says Jen Girdish, the project coordinator. “Over the course of this project, they’re learned how to shape their narrative voice, and realized what they have to say is completely different from the person in the next desk over.”

Dear Freshman will be designed by Oliver Munday, and -- like all student publications -- will be sold in bookstores nationwide, with all proceeds going toward program funding for 826DC. Volunteers and partnering educators will celebrate the completion of Dear Freshmen at a release party this spring that will feature live readings, non-cafeteria food, and a crew of seasoned high school authors ready to become rookies at whatever comes next.


Local writer and long-time volunteer William Bert shares his skills with seniors at Cardozo High School during a recent radio-essay workshop.

This reading series began in May of 2008 as an effort to provide CLWC volunteers with an opportunity to share their writing with each other and the residents of the District. The readings take place in a relaxed and informal atmosphere on the first Wednesday of the month at Big Bear Café. Nestled in DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood at 1700 First Street, NW, Big Bear offers an excellent coffee menu and is committed to buying locally and sustainably. Readings begin at 7:00pm. (Readers sign up in advance.) Contact Steve Souryal, Series Coordinator, at stevesouryal@gmail.com.

February
2010 continues with readings by CLWC writers who make it possible for children in the District to enjoy fun and creative opportunities to write.
When: Wednesday, February 3, 7:00pm
Where: Big Bear Café, 1700 First Street, NW (between Florida & R Streets)
How: On the Metro, take the Green line to Shaw-Howard University Station

"It’s that time of the year when a fresh start means reducing the clutter accumulated in the last 12 months and in the many months and years before. The sagging bookshelf and the piles of books under the tables and around the bed might be a good place to start."

- New York Times "Room for Debate" blog, December 27, 2009

826DC invites book lovers everywhere to pare down–and add to–their libraries at its first ever Book Swap fundraiser on Saturday, January 30 from 2-5 p.m. at 2015 Q Street, NW (closest Metro: Dupont Circle, Q Street exit).

Participants will bring their own used books to leave on the "swap table" and take away the well-loved titles donated by other readers. Light refreshments will be available. Participants may take as many books as they can carry.

The $20 suggested donation for participation in the Book Swap will benefit 826DC's writing programs.

First came San Francisco. Then New York, L.A., Ann Arbor, Seattle, Chicago, and Boston. And now Washington, DC?

Capitol Letters Writing Center is excited to announce its formal affiliation with 826 National, thus making the District the eighth hometown for 826 National’s innovative writing education program.

The affiliation makes official the important partnership between the two organizations that has grown since the creation of Capitol Letters in the spring of 2008. What was once an exchange of ideas and inspiration will now become an exchange of resources, allowing Capitol Letters to further engage its community of future writers and realize the dream of its first home.

Since its inception, the work of Capitol Letters—now 826DC—has been fueled by an unmitigated force of local volunteers, now 260-strong. "Our programs,” says Executive Director Naomi Ayala, “help children and teens see for themselves their increased potential to succeed. At the heart of Capitol Letters is the District's great spirit of volunteerism, and this is the force that fuels our work. We have proven that we are part of a community that cares about partnerships and values collaborative work. It is this collective concern and shared accountability for the District's youth that have enabled us to succeed."

826DC works with local public school educators to help develop the writer within every District student. From fun workshops to one-on-one tutoring sessions, 826DC provides students a safe, fun, and creative environment in which they can hone their writing skills.

Led by the belief that strong writing skills are critical for future success, 826 National helps students get excited about writing at its seven other locations across the country. Capitol Letters will adopt much of 826 National’s innovative writing education model by deepening its role in the District’s public schools.

Want to lend your voice to help a student find their own? Join us! For more information, email us at info@826DC.org.

On the evening of Friday, December 11, nearly 125 friends and supporters of Capitol Letters joined together to celebrate the holidays, the power of the written word and the launch of 826DC in the home of Carol Blue and Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens, master of ceremonies for the evening, set the stage for impassioned readings by some of the best of our contemporary literary minds. Christopher Buckley opened with a reading from his memoir Losing Mom and Pup, followed by Azar Nafisi (author of Reading Lolita in Tehran) and George Pelecanos (The Wire, The Turnaround). Dave Eggers shared his compelling vision for the founding of 826, the vital role 826DC plays in the lives of District students, and the need for stakeholders to continue to pledge their support. Nearly $10,000 was raised to help fund the opening of 826DC’s first home later next year.


George Pelecanos, Azar Nafisi, 826DC Board President Holly Jones, Christopher Buckley.


826 Co-Founder Dave Eggers talks about the impact of publishing on young authors' lives.

This past summer, Washington, DC high school students who were enrolled in the summer Upward Bound program were presented with a challenge: to find someone who was "being the change." Inspired by President Obama, students looked around their communities, households, and even dorm rooms to discover that person who was making a difference for them personally or for the world at large. They then conducted interviews and wrote articles about the contributions of those individuals. This blog is a collection of those interviews and articles celebrating people who will "Be the Change."

On Saturday, September 12, volunteers and racquet sport enthusiasts gathered at Kalorama Park for the first annual CLWC Badminton Classic. Even with the rather windy conditions, the seven teams battled it out, and the Doozers and the More Magnificents made it to the championship round.

Despite an impressive rally by the Doozers who managed to maintain game point for 5 points, the More Magnificents proved that they were in fact, more magnificent, and won the match. The More Magnificents, featuring CLWC Board Chair Holly Jones and CLWC friend Matt Scholtes, took home the coveted chicken trophy, although all Badminton Classic participants were presented with ribbons to commemorate their participation.

Trophies were also awarded to teams for best uniform (Pretty in Polyester taking this first prize) and for best team name (first prize going to Color Me Badd-minton). The tournament came to a close after a bittersweet goodbye to CLWC’s summer intern, Maria Fortino, who is returning to Stanford this fall. We will miss her greatly.

Capitol Letters is grateful to all who came out on Saturday to share in such a wonderful opportunity celebrate the spirit of volunteering. If you were not able to join us and would like to show your support for CLWC, you can still make a donation to your favorite team at http://clwcbadminton.blogspot.com/2009/08/support-your-team.html.


The More Magnificents: CLWC Board Chair Holly Jones and CLWC friend Matt Scholtes


Pretty in Polyester: Lee Vanderwerff and Megan Hulland

On Tuesday, July 21st, students at the Multicultural Services Center used random everyday objects to design their very own green superheroes. Each group was given about five objects and charged with the task of using every object to brainstorm an environmental problem, design a superhero to solve that problem, and write a script for a skit involving their superhero and other characters. Villains with names like ‘Joe Dirt’ and superheroes made from cereal boxes and sunglasses came together to solve real environmental problems.

Capitol Letters will visit Multicultural Services Center for the last workshop of the Going Green workshop series this Tuesday, August 4th.

-Maria F.

On July 16th, CLWC volunteers continued to work with the students of NCLR Upward Bound on interviewing strategies through games, role play, and discussion of newspaper articles. For example, a game of “Finding the Unusual Thing” helped students practice getting a good story out of an interviewee who might leave out interesting parts during the interview.

After realizing the significance of well-focused questions and reading a newspaper article as a class, students conducted their own mini-interviews with each other on the topic of how they are "being the change" and practiced writing the beginnings of articles in preparation for their final project. Be the Change workshop returns for the next installment July 23rd.

-Maria F.