September Update

A New School Year, and Our Programs Are Up and Running

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year. Students return with new ideas, new challenges, and new possibilities. At 826 MSP, we are excited to have our programs fully up and running again, both at our South Minneapolis center and alongside educators in schools across the Twin Cities.

At 826 MSP, we believe writing is more than an academic skill. It is a vehicle for whole-student development, helping young people strengthen creativity, critical thinking, communication, civic engagement, confidence, and leadership.

Our Afterschool Writing Lab (ASWL) is once again welcoming students after school, providing academic support while giving young people space to grow as creative writers and explore their own ideas and voices.

Our beloved Story Writing and Bookmaking Field Trip is also back. Entire elementary school classes come to the 826 MSP center for an imaginative writing experience where students create original stories, collaborate with classmates, and discover just how much fun writing can be.

This year also marks an exciting expansion of our Young Authors Book Project (YABP). We are growing from one professionally published student book each year to three, creating even more opportunities for young people to experience what it means to become published authors.

We are also renewing our commitment to helping young people see higher education as a possibility. This year, we are restarting 826 MSP's Great College Essay Project, a free national initiative of 826 National and Reach Higher that guides high school juniors and seniors from a blank page to a completed personal statement draft. We plan to bring this support to more than 400 students, helping them tell their stories authentically as they take an important step toward college.

None of this happens without a community behind our students. Thank you to our supporters, volunteers, educators, school partners, and community partners for making these opportunities possible. Your investment gives young people the space, encouragement, and tools to write, imagine, learn, and lead.

As we look ahead, 826 MSP is also beginning the process of developing our next Strategic Plan. We want this plan to reflect not only where we hope to go, but what our community believes young people need from us. As valued supporters and partners, we welcome your ideas and perspectives.

If you would like to share your insight or participate in the conversation, please reach out to our Executive Director, Dr. Jamal Adam, at jamal@826msp.org.

Thank you again for believing in our students and in the power of their voices.

In Gratitude,
Team 826 MSP

SPOTLIGHTING A SUPPORTER