Ed Cavagnaro has been a dedicated 826 Valencia volunteer for the past decade, bringing a lifetime of experience in journalism and audio storytelling to our community. After retiring from a long and impactful career in broadcast news, including 27 years as News and Program Director at KCBS, Ed joined 826 Valencia with a desire to mentor young people and help them find their voice.
Over the years, Ed has supported a wide range of programs, from our Mission Chronicle Journalism Program and Young Authors’ Workshop to Personal Statement coaching and college essay support. He was one of the very first volunteers in our Tenderloin Podcasting Field Trips program and continues to lend his voice—and audio editing skills—to help students not only write their stories but hear themselves as storytellers.
Ed’s calm, thoughtful guidance has helped countless students build confidence and step up to the microphone. His love of writing, editing, and community shines through in every interaction. A longtime San Franciscan and proud grandparent, Ed enjoys hiking, cooking, playing guitar, and exploring the city. We’re lucky to have him in the 826 Valencia family.
“It’s fun to watch students step up to the microphone for the first time and tell their story. I think I learn as much from them as they learn from being here.”
— Ed Cavagnaro, 826 Valencia Volunteer of 10 Years
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Looking back over the past 10 years, what’s one unforgettable moment or story that stands out from your time with 826 Valencia?
There are many variations of this story, but this is one of the first I experienced as a new volunteer. A middle school girl wasn’t interested in the writing assignment and was even a bit obstinate. More likely, she was nervous and unsure of what to do. We took it slowly, and by writing down answers to questions I asked, she had the outline of a story on paper, and finally a finished product. The smile and pride on her face at the end of that class made my day. Weeks later, I saw her beaming on stage at an 826 Valencia Storytellers’ Showcase.
What first brought you to 826 a decade ago—and what’s kept you coming back?
I retired in my early 60s from a rewarding but stressful job, knowing I wanted to stay involved in the community. I love writing and editing and working with students. So how lucky are we that 826 Valencia, founded with the idea of volunteer engagement, is in our backyard? I took my TB test the day after I retired and was in an orientation class the same week. The experience is everything I hoped it would be.
How has your experience as a volunteer grown or changed over the years?
I started by sampling the wide range of programs and age groups. A few years later, I got word of a podcasting program launch at the new 826 Valencia Tenderloin Center and was lucky to be involved in that from the beginning. I love the added dimension of students of all ages voicing what they write, and it’s fun to watch that happen in the studio. I also assist with the audio editing and take pride in helping polish their work.
What advice would you give to someone just starting their journey with 826 Valencia?
I’d encourage new volunteers to try various programs and age groups, and find one or two or three you like best. 826 offers a huge variety of opportunities.
If you could record a podcast episode with any literary character (real or imagined), who would you choose—and what would you ask them?
I love US history and what it can tell us about our present and future, so I’d require some time travel over a couple centuries. I’d want to ask Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others, about how they persevered in the face of tremendous challenge and despair.