Have you met our Volunteer Ambassadors yet? If you’re a longtime volunteer, you probably have! And if you’re just getting started, these are the folks to know.
The Ambassadors are volunteers in our programs who wear a lot of hats. In addition to tutoring and supporting our students, they’re there to welcome and get to know new volunteers and share what’s awesome, challenging, and rewarding about this work.
Keep reading to get to know these fine folks, and keep an eye out for them the next time you’re volunteering! And if you’re interested in becoming an Ambassador yourself, reach out to our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Paolo Bicchieri at paolo.bicchieri@826valencia.org to learn more.
Dave Becker, Mission Center Field Trips
Dave is a mostly retired journalist who figured it was time to give something back to the writing gods. He lives in the Glen Park area of San Francisco where he froths the waters of Lake Merced withthe SF Rowing Club, cuddles kittens as a volunteer at the city animal shelter and makes a mean coconut cream pie. “Give 826 a chance, and chances are it will help you discover something you didn’t know you were good at.”
Susan Birnbaum, Mission Center Field TripsSusan has been a volunteer for years, seeking out organizations that focus on youth, creativity, and education. She is involved in several nonprofits that support projects created by students, nurturing their ideas and imaginations in the process. She believes that these opportunities encourage and validate original thinking and creativity. “826 Valencia is at the top of the list for me, for promoting these crucial aspects through a variety of amazing and well-thought-out programs.”
Brittany Carico, Mission Center Field Trips
When asked about her experience tutoring at 826, Brittany said, “826 not only encourages students to use their creativity but teaches them that it is valued. Being able to work with such a wonderful team of people that care about the joy students can experience while learning is one of the best parts of my week. She predominantly volunteers with the Story Telling and Bookmaking Field Trips.”
Paul Cartier, Tenderloin Center Field Trips
Paul has volunteered for our in-schools programs and has conducted workshops on photography and writing. His current passion is helping to record students at our Tenderloin podcasting field trips. Why? He says, “I find inspiration for my own work in working with students in such an intense, one-on-one program.”
Ed Cavagnaro, Tenderloin Center Field Trips & In-school Programs
Edstarted out as a regular tutor in our summer programs in 2015, and went on to dedicate himself to the Straight-Up News at Everett Middle School, Mission Magazine at Mission High, and the 2016 Young Authors’ Book Project at John O’Connell High School. Ed is also a staple tutor in several of our Tenderloin programs, and in fact used his expertise as a radio producer to help us shape and launch our Tenderloin Podcasting Field Trip program. On top of all of that, Ed has also helped to plan and lead several podcasting workshops for high school students at our Mission Center, and has taken it upon himself to edit the final products. Needless to say, when Ed was brought up as a nominee for Volunteer of the Month, staff lined up to sing his praises.
Billy Daniels, Mission Center After School Tutoring
Billy has been a dedicated volunteer at After-School Tutoring and says: “Creative writing workshops were a great introduction to 826 Valencia. I was reminded of what it’s like to have an infinite imagination when a student wrote a story about flying mobile phones that taste like jelly donuts. The energy and dedication of the 826 staff and other volunteers make it easy to follow in their footsteps.” In his free time, Billy reads up on trends in the geometry & geology space to ensure his tutoring knowledge is up-to-date.
Matt Krieger, Mission Center After School Tutoring
Matt volunteers at 826 Valencia as a way to give back to the city he loves, and it brings him great joy to do so. Matt also finds joy taking long urban walks, baking cakes from scratch, hiking Pt. Reyes, hosting pizza and poker parties, visiting the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), going to magic shows, listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday on vinyl, and occasionally splurging on good seats at the San Francisco Playhouse. To make ends meet, he pieces together a living as an Airbnb host and as a freelance copywriter/creative director for nonprofit organizations.
Gloria Lenhart, Mission Center & Tenderloin Center Field Trips 
Gloria loves San Francisco the way only an East Coast transplant can. She arrived in San Francisco just in time for the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. When she’s not helping with field trips at 826, you can find her leading walking tours around the city for San Francisco City Guides. In 2014, she launched the City Explorer San Francisco app offering downloadable tours of SF neighborhoods for smartphones and tablets. Find sunken ships in the financial district, explore hidden gardens downtown, and more. Proceeds from the app benefit 826 Valencia.
Kate Marsh, Mission Center & Tenderloin Center Field Trips
Kate came to 826 because of the flexible schedule and her interest in creative writing, but stayed for the community of volunteers and the unique programs. She says: “The book-making field trip is a fun, special, collaborative experience – always a highlight of my week. Watching a unique story come together in a few hours and seeing the pride of ownership on the kids faces when their ideas show up on the page is incredibly rewarding.”
Tim R., General Curmudgeon-ing
Tim studied architecture, apparel, and graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design, and you can guess in which of these fields he has degrees. He has been a tutor, volunteer designer, and “snack lady” with 826 Valencia since 2010, and the rest is history. He speaks a bunch of languages and has lived, traveled, and studied in colder, far-flung climates. The sunny Mission is now his home, where he loves the Muni J-line, free-ish yoga, and mandated composting. His design alter-ego is Subject-Object.net, through which he has also produced retail goods, focusing on the informational, the anecdotal, and the PBS in all of us. Some of those “Objects” have found their way into the Pirate Supply Store, where he now also works part-time.”
Vilasini Roy, Mission Center Field Trips
Vilasini started volunteering at 826 Valencia as a way to connect to a new city & country, and was hooked after their very first shift. “The field trips are a shot of magic and creative writing to my week. I never stop being amazed by the spectacular creativity of elementary schoolers.” A writer & editor who has lived in India, Sweden, and Germany, Vilasini loves finding ways in which creative outlets – art, writing, and food to name a few – create identity and connect people from all over.
Patrice Scinta, Mission Center Evening Tutoring
Patrice is a science teacher who is currently working outside of the classroom writing curriculum. She started tutoring at 826 Valencia because she wanted to continue to support students, and has been grateful for the opportunity to work with them week after week. Her favorite part of the program is seeing students grow and build skills over several years.
Annica Stitch, Tenderloin Center After-school Workshops 
Annica started volunteering at 826 LA before moving up to the Bay Area. She loves being involved in her community and having the opportunity to facilitate creative projects, and is especially grateful that she gets to learn from students and other volunteers. When asked about one of her favorite tutoring memories, she said: “I remember being at the 826 Mar Vista location during the Write On! camp when I paired up with a student who didn’t want to speak or participate at all. I watched how an intern interacted with the student. The intern was asking the student yes or no questions. “Do you like pizza?” The student shook her head no. “Do you like hot dogs?” She shook her head no. “Do you like breathing?” The student started shaking her head no, stopped midway, and cracked the biggest smile. It really showed me what an asset it is to have a streak of humor in what we do. My advice to new volunteers is to be yourself, and to always ask for help.”
Ernest Yip, Mission Bay After school tutoring 
Ernest is an after-school tutor at the Mission Bay Center. He thoroughly enjoys helping the students, many of whom come from diverse backgrounds, with their creative writing, math, and sometimes even Chinese homework. Sharing knowledge with young minds is not a one-way street, though, so often he finds himself wowed and inspired by the amazing creativity of the students he works with.