Ghost Stories Workshop

The 826 Valencia Ghost Story workshop was originally designed to give students, ages 9–14, a chance to become paranormal sleuths. But what was intended to help them document ghostly experiences by interviewing real witnesses shifted into something much more: A combination of original and adapted stories written by the students. Some of them delved into real family lore and recounted ghostly experiences involving themselves or their relatives. Others cleverly recast classic tales. Another group simply invented their own ghostly stories from scratch. The result is the hodgepodge of horrific, a spate of the spooky and ghoulish opportunity to pretend it's Halloween all year long.

For optimal effect, be sure dim the lights before playing.

The first installment can be found here: The Mysterious Clapping.

Inauguration Special

In a flurry of excitement, 826 Valencia students have been writing letters to President-Elect Obama. They enjoyed the process so much that Jory John, Programs Director, decided to turn it into a full-scale book, and enlisted the help of other 826s around the country.

In this podcast you can hear a selection of the letters, read by the students themselves, as well as a short interview with Jory. Do listen through to the end - the last letter is pretty awesome!

Listen to them here.

Podcast #6: Meet the 826 Valencia Youth Advisory Board!

The YAB is an energetic squad of students aged fourteen to eighteen, representing different schools throughout the city, who have been an integral part of 826’s programs by acting as ambassadors to the schools and communities we serve. They meet twice a month to help with activities and planning, and to develop strategies for recruiting more students to take advantage of our free services.

The YAB:
• Organize and run youth-focused readings and events at 826.
• Support and attend fundraising events.
• Recruit high school students to attend our workshops, events, and activities.
• Support 826 Valencia’s tutors and interns during tutoring & workshops.
• Serve as liaisons to the community, schools, friends, and families.
• Offer presentations about 826 Valencia and the services we provide at their schools.

Listen to them here.

Podcast #5: The "Radio 101" workshop

In 826 Valencia's "Radio 101" workshop, we provided ten kids with the opportunity to reflect on growing up in San Francisco. We asked them to explore their relationships with friends and family, how they are shaping their identities, and what it's like to be a young person in our city.

Do you remember the first time you moved? Do you remember stepping outside the comfort of an accepted peer group? Do you remember taking physical and emotional risks? Why do we make connections with people in the world around us?

Listen in to what the kids have to say.

The 826 Valencia Podcast Episode 4

In this episode: Two students from Mission High School, Hile Lula and Danny Benitez, read their stories which were recently published by 826 Valencia in the magazine, The Mission High Magazine. Under the wing of 826 and Pirette McKamey, a language arts teacher at Mission High School, seniors were encouraged to write objectively on current, controversial topics. The result is a plethora of articles ranging from the politics of hair to global warming, Hurricane Katrina, body image, and dealing with romantic break ups. In the past year, all 122 of Ms. McKamey’s seniors were involved in the project. The issue is dedicated Jamar "Bear" Lake, a student who wrote an article in the issue on gang violence and was shot during the project’s final stages. Several students made podcasts of their work.

Listen to Hile Lula read her story, "Not Another Funeral"

Listen to Danny Benitez read his story, "Planetary Fever"