Monday, June 14th— To thunderous applause, 826CHI’s Compendium Vol. 2 was released this weekend at the Printers Row Lit Fest downtown.
Authors read from our latest professionally-published anthology to a packed tent and then celebrated their accomplishment with cake and punch.
This year’s Compendium showcases the work of 42 student writers ages 6 to 18 and the group work of 11 classes, with a foreword by local author/instructor/all-round rockstar Joe Meno.
The book features such selections as the tale of a terrible day involving too much ham, an account of two aging friends engaging in the genteel art of squirrel hunting, a haunting poem about Arthur Rimbaud, and a timely lesson on teaching Rod Blagojevich how to eat chocolate.
The 826CHI Compendium Vol. 2 is out now! Stop by the Boring Store and pick up a copy today!
Friday, June 11th— Reina Delgado, cap and gowned in the picture here, graduated from Lincoln Park high school today! Reina, the first in her family to claim such a feat (and to do so with distinction to boot – 8th in her class!), was one of our first brave high schoolers to walk through our doors as a Freshman.
Now after countless after-school tutoring visits and writing workshops, Reina’ll be off to University of Illinois Chicago in the fall. We wish her and the rest of the class of 2010 the best in all their future endeavors!
Thursday, June 10th— We wrapped up our amazing year of drop-in-tutoring by throwing a Frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, duck-duck-goosing, running, tagging, jungle gyming and picnicking. It was a grand party amongst students, volunteers and volunteers as we celebrated their hardwork throughout the year and continued the celebration of their very own publication: Erase, Write, Type, Sharpen. Yes, on top of dilligently attacking their homework daily, they also wrote at our Writing Table throughout the school year and produced a bound collection of their finest pieces. Pick up a copy at the Boring Store! Happy Summer!
Thursday, May 6th— Attention spies and parents!
826CHI is currently accepting reservations for our SUMMER WORKSHOPS!
So be sure to sign up if you are yourself or know some spy who is interested in: aliens, Cinderella, photography, interviewing bands, silent films, radio plays, super foods, hip hop, animation, chocolate, etc.
Once you have submitted your reservation(s), you can expect to receive an email from us within one week.
At this moment, reservations will only be accepted online. If you encounter any technical difficulties please email workshops@826chi.org.
We look forward to seeing you all this summer!
REGISTER HERE!!!
Thursday, April 29th— Dave Eggers, founder of 826, will be in our neck of the Forest again soon!
Tuesday, May 4th, at 7pm Dave will be joined by acclaimed author Luis Alberto Urrea for an evening of reading and discussion at the Gorton Community Center.
The event is a joint benefit for
Ragdale (the artists’ community in Lake Forest) and 826CHI.
Tickets are available right below or by Ragdale phone: 847.234.1063. VIP tickets that include priority seating, pre-show hors d’ouevres and drinks are available as well.
Ticket purchasers! 1st: Thanks for the order! 2nd: Please note that no physical tickets are being issued for the event. All names will be on a list at the door.
Thursday, April 29th— T.HANKS to all who made our spring fundraiser PROM HANKS a success!
The photographs rotating below were taken by the awesome
Sarah Jane Ree. The photos can also be seen
here and
here!
Also the terrific Justin Goh posted the photos from his photo booth and some great roaming shots here!
Sunday, March 7th— We’re searching for the right words to express our gratitude for the great and generous GOOGLE! We’ll start with THANKS!
826National received a whopping $132,531.98 grant from Google to supply many of the chapters with 15 new laptop computers and vertical laptop storage shelves with locks for their student writing labs. The grant also comes with technical support from the local Google teams.
Thanks for being so coolgle, google!
Saturday, March 6th— Moustaches! We hairdly new thee! Alas, Moustache-a-Thon 2010 has come to an end. But, oh what an end! Our ‘stacheletes, with the help of generous folks from over half of the United States and several countries, raised a ‘stachetastic sum of $10,330.46 for 826CHI!
A huge congratulations to ‘stache tiara winner CATHERINE M., ‘stache sash winner EL SALGADO, and the recipient of the ‘stache chap cup, TOMMY Q.
Thank you to the ‘stacheletes, all who supported their growth and, similarly, the growth of 826CHI!
Friday, March 5th— 826CHI PROM 2010: PROM HANKS!
826CH’s annual PROM will be APRIL 24th at 8PM at the historic (and easily accessible via public transportation) Pulaski Park Fieldhouse!
The theme of this year’s prom will be inspired by the 2 time Oscar winning super human. Accordingly, the dress for PROM HANKS is second hand formal and/or dress as a person, place or thing that can be seen in a Tom Hanks movie.
Admission includes refillable cup for hooch, food, silent auction, not silent music, and dancing, dancing, dancing.
Must be 21+.
Tickets: $50 at the door.
Package advance tickets: $40 [includes admission and student written book of poems about Tom Hanks] $50 [Includes admission, book, t-shirt]
Our past events have sold out fairly quickly. Be sure to get your tickets fast! As always, all proceeds from the evening benefit 826CHI and our free writing programs for Chicago students!
Questions … write info@826chi.org
GO PROM!
Wednesday, March 3rd— This is Agent Brigid Pasulka.
You may recognize her as a longtime 826CHI after-school homework help volunteer. Or maybe you recognize her from her side gig of being a full time high school English teacher at Whitney Young. You may also recognize her from the dust jacket of your favorite new book.
Well, we’re here to inform you that Agent Pasulka has just received the 2010 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for her terrific novel, A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True. If you see this spy, wish her congratulations! And if you have not yet picked up your copy, get it!
Congratulations Brigid!
