826 Valencia is dedicated to supporting under-resourced students with their writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. We achieve this through unique, free programs that are fun, inspire imagination and wonder, and ignite a love of learning through special projects in the classroom, writing workshops, after-school & evening tutoring, field trips, and summer programs.

After 13 years of free writing, tutoring, and publishing programs at our flagship site in San Francisco’s Mission District, we have expanded to the Tenderloin neighborhood, an area with the second-highest rate of food stamp use in the city and home to 3,000 children. The neighborhood has a bounty of services available, but none that specifically focus on writing.

We've created a wondrous, magical space that inspires creativity and gives kids a safe place to learn. In classic 826 style, the center will be fronted by King Carl’s Emporium, a weird and whimsical store featuring souvenirs gathered by a traveling royal pufferfish. Through this community gateway, students will discover a place where they can build the writing skills that are fundamental to their success in school and beyond.