Tackling the education crisis during COVID-19: 826 in The San Francisco Chronicle

826 Valencia was recently featured in The San Francisco Chronicle in a piece about the effect of COVID-19 on the Bay Area’s education system. The article explains the impact of the pandemic on the populations that 826 serves, and how the organization is using its resources to support students, families, and teachers during this unprecedented time.

Author Scott Thomas Anderson writes, “When the stay-at-home order for COVID-19 closed school campuses across San Francisco in early March — with Gov. Gavin Newsom speculating they’ll open again in July — 826 Valencia started gauging the challenges.

‘Some of the families don’t have Wi-Fi, others don’t have computers, and there are students who have never used Zoom or Google Classroom before,’ [Executive Director Bita] Nazarian said. ‘Most of our tutoring right now isn’t focused on writing; it’s about helping them navigate the barriers so they can access their education…’

Chelsea Rodriguez is a high school junior who discovered 826 Valencia five years ago. She said she hopes people will consider supporting the donation-driven nonprofit as it carries on its work through the pandemic.

‘Honestly, if it wasn’t for 826, I wouldn’t be writing in the first place,’ Chelsea said. ‘And it’s given me a lot of confidence to put myself out there. It’s played a big part of who I am now.’ ”

 

To read the full article, visit the Chronicle’s website here.