Thanks to the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, educators, families, and most importantly, our brilliant young writers, 826LA’s 20th year was one for the books. Together, we showed up, dreamed big, and made space for thousands of student voices to be heard. So let’s raise a metaphysical toast to your impact and dive into the biggest highlights of this unforgettable year.

1. 8,905 Students Served and 800+ Volunteers

Okay, this isn’t a calendar year achievement, but this past school year, 826LA officially served 8,095 students with the support of an incredible community of 800+ dedicated volunteers.

2. 20th Anniversary Anthology Celebration at 826Day

This year’s 826Day brought community members together for a reading showcase, student and volunteer roundtable, interactive games, and a raffle celebrating 20 years of storytelling with a published anthology of writing from our community.

3. Winter Writers Workshop at Greenbus Art Space

Across two sessions, we brought 70 students to Greenbus Art Space at Bergamot Station, where they explored thousands of archival photos and wrote stories and poems inspired by the images, which culminated in the student publication, I Miss You, August.

4. 20th Anniversary Gala at Playa Studios

We celebrated our big 20th-anniversary birthday at our annual Changing the Story Gala at Playa Studios, where students took center stage to share their work, and five community members were honored for their pivotal roles at 826LA.

5. 826LA on Spectrum News

826LA’s work was featured on Spectrum News, amplifying student voices and highlighting the power of youth storytelling across Los Angeles.

6. Los Angeles Public Library Partnership

We launched a large-scale collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library, bringing writing workshops and field trips to branch locations across the city.

7. Manual Arts Cookbook Release Party

Students at Manual Arts celebrated the release of their cookbook with a joyful launch party that honored their creativity, culture, and voices. The first book published in 6 years!

8. Restructuring the TNT After-School Writing Program

We introduced a bold new structure to TNT, guiding students to build professional writing portfolios across four genres while maintaining daily mindfulness journaling.

9. Student Publishing Beyond 826LA

Many students were published beyond our programs this year through opportunities like The Poet Trees Contest, Illustoria, and 826 National’s publication, and we’re excited to keep opening doors for young writers whose words are ready to reach the edges of the universe.

10. Future Bestsellers Club Growth

Our monthly donor program, Future Bestsellers Club, continued its year over year 10% growth. We are deeply grateful for a community that commits to our students year after year.