Hello all! My name is Emma and I first started my 826 journey as a volunteer at the Tenderloin and Mission centers in the spring of 2019, where I fell in love with the organization (and the students!) I came back this past summer for a remote internship, and have been here ever since!
I’d love to introduce our newest crew of interns! Hailing from all over the country, we have 36 interns supporting all of our programs in various capacities. Many of them are students themselves, figuring out the work/life/school balance as they go, not to mention doing it all remotely! We are so excited to be joining the 826 team for the semester, so when you see us in program, don’t be afraid to say hi!
Emma (she/her) is graduating from Westmont College in May with a major in a Sociology–Human Services and a minor in Studio Art. She currently supports Mission Bay In-Schools programs, as well as the Volunteer Engagement Team. She is passionate about creating spaces for everyone to feel valued and heard, and spends her free time baking and taking care of her family of houseplants!
Anna (she/her) is a third-year student at the University of California, Davis currently studying Community and Regional Development as well as Education. She supports the Tenderloin programs. On campus, she participates in several social justice organizations as well as the UC Davis longform improv team.
Brynn (she/they) is currently studying at University of San Francisco as and English major with a STEM Biology minor. They currently are an intern for 826 Valencia and supports In-School Programs and AST sessions. They strive to connect with others and make their voices heard and in their free time love to paint, bake, and have a good time.
Danika (she/her) is currently a student at Scripps College, dual majoring in Humanities: Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture (with an emphasis in English) and Africana Studies, and minoring in Psychology. She currently supports the Mission Bay AST Program. She strongly believes in the value of writing, especially for students who often feel silenced. Her hobbies are painting, reading, running, and searching for the perfect playlist.
Demree McGhee (she/her) is an intern for the In-Schools Team, currently working on the Young Authors’ Book Project. She enjoys writing fiction and poetry and learning new tricks on her roller skates. She is studying Literature and Writing at the University of California San Diego.
Helen (she/her) is a junior at Scripps College in Claremont, California. She is majoring in American Studies and minoring in English. She currently supports the Mission Center Program. When she is not on Zoom, she can be found running, listening to obscure 90s music, or on the couch with her favorite book!
Holly (she/her) is graduating from UCLA in the summer with a major in a Film with a concentration in screenwriting and a minor in education. She currently supports Mission Bay In-Schools programs, as well as the AST. She is passionate about her students and loves to hear the amazing and creative works they share each week. She is also a Bay area local and lives with her family and her pets: dogs and cats.
Joshua (he/his) graduated from UC San Diego in March 2019 with a major in Social Psychology. He currently supports Mission Bay In-Schools programs and After School Tutoring (AST). His goal this semester is challenging his students and himself to work on skills they’re uncomfortable with, and during his spare time, loves to play video games, learn new interesting things, and watch anime.
Kate (she/her) is graduating from Occidental College in the Spring of 2021 with a Psychology major and an Interdisciplinary writing minor. She is working (remotely) with the Mission Bay center as an intern, tutoring students throughout the week. Kate cares deeply about understanding the student as a whole and she spends her free time watercolor painting and baking desserts for her family.
Kate (she/her) is a sophomore at the University of San Francisco majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in American Literature. She will be part of the Mission Center After School Tutoring Program as an intern. Some of her hobbies include baking, crocheting, and journaling!
Keven (he/him) is a third year undergraduate student at Drew University with a major in Spanish, Media & Communications, and a minor in Psychology. He currently supports the Buena Vista-Horace Mann programs. He is passionate about inspiring voice and unique perspectives in writing, and can usually be found taking hikes around the Bay Area, cooking with his grandmother or talking to his friends online during his free time.
Lily (she/her) is a senior at the University of San Francisco, majoring in Psychology and minoring in Gender and Sexualities Studies. She is supporting the After School program with the wonderful Tenderloin team. She is passionate about amplifying student voices and encouraging self-confidence through writing, and in her free time she is writing songs or having one-woman dance parties in her room!
Mia (she/her) is a junior at the University of San Francisco with a major in Psychology and a minor in Child and Youth Studies. She currently supports the Tenderloin Center team helping with after school tutoring programs. Mia is passionate about working with children, helping them become the best version of themself!
Morgan (she/her) is graduating from UC Santa Barbara in June with a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Professional Writing. She supports the Mission Bay In-Schools and After-School tutoring and the Youth Leaderships Advisory Board programs. She is passionate about helping students develop and gain confidence in their writing, and enjoys playing with her dog and hiking in her free time.
Nat (she/they) is at UCSB majoring in Film and minoring in Earth Science and Music. They’re passionate about writing, and also getting students to be passionate about writing. They love to bake, read, research pirates, play piano or harmonica, sing, and dance as much as they can.
Nic (he/him) is graduating from UCLA in March with a major in Dance and a minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education. He currently supports Tenderloin Center Programs. He is passionate about community and arts education, and spends his free time watching anime and making clothes for his small business!
Nikhil (him) has recently graduated in winter of last year from UC Santa Barbara majoring in Economics. He currently supports the Mission Center After-School program with focus on high school math and science. He is passionate about being able to explain concepts and build critical thinking skills, and spends his free time surfing!
Noah Caesar-Kim (he/him) is an intern working with the Mission Bay in-schools and YLAB programs. He is a sophomore at Tufts University studying political science and education, and is passionate about teaching, writing, and history. In his free time he shreds the guitar like an amateur, watches movies, sketches and goes on hikes.
Rei (they/them) is a senior History major at the University of San Francisco with an emphasis in global history and a minor in Latin American Studies. They currently support the Buena Vista Horace Mann Program. Rei is passionate about ensuring that those who have been systematically oppressed have the opportunity to share their stories. In their free time Rei enjoys drawing and playing with their cats.
Sophia Cázares (she/her) recently graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Communication and Culture. She currently supports the In-Schools programs and The Black Student Initiative. She is passionate about public humanities, publishing, podcasting, and flamenco dancing.
Taran (he/him) is a Massachusetts-born California-based undergrad student studying English and Education at Bowdoin College. When he finds the strength to tear himself away from the latest fantasy series, you’ll find him wandering the coast working on his next photography project.
Tatiana (she/her) is attending CSU East Bay with a major in Communications – Media and minor in Business Administration. She currently supports the Mission Bay program. As a first generation, Indigenous college student, she is passionate about helping her Polynesian community develop growth and abundance mindsets through the healing power of reading and writing.
Tony (he/him) is from China and he is currently at Pomona College, working towards a BA in Anthropology and Romance Languages & Literatures. He supports the Mission Bay Center Programs as an educational programming intern. During his free time, he enjoys dancing, hanging out with his friend and his cat, and, of course, coffee!
Valentina (she/her) is a junior at Dartmouth College majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Medieval History. She is an enthusiastic new addition to the Mission Bay In-Schools programs team! She is passionate about learning, thinking critically about language, and making others feel cared-for. She spends her free time playing with her dog Peanut and binding books by hand.
Zimri (he/him) is attending California State University, Dominguez Hills and is expected to graduate in May 2022 with a major in English-Teaching and a minor in Public Administration. He is currently supporting the 826 Valencia team in The Tenderloin. Zimri is passionate about education and uplifting those around him. In his free time, he likes to read and talk with his friends.
Getting to intern at 826 Valencia has truly been one of my favorite parts of the past few months, and getting to work with my students brings me so much hope, laughter, and joy. Lastly, I’d love to share one of my favorite student quotes from last semester:
You teleport to your secret office that has all the pictures of dogs that are thinking about something and all of the dogs you’re going to find. They’re all the golden retrievers in the world, about 6,000. The office is in a country that no one has ever been before, Dogs’ Palace Adventure. You’re the only human allowed in the country, except for my family.