Capitol Letters Announces Affiliation with 826 National: Partnership Expands District Writing Education

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.