An endeavor to bring a writing center to Oak Cliff<\/p>\n

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The University of North Texas at Dallas, Big Thought, For Oak Cliff, The Writer\u2019s Garret, SMU MADI, Deep Vellum Publishing,<\/span> and Paul Quinn College are working to bring an <\/span><\/span>826 writing center to Dallas<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>. It would be Texas\u2019s first official chapter of the nationwide community centers that tutor students in writing and publish their work.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Cynthia Perez, director of external relations and special events for UNT Dallas, is leading the effort to bring 826 to the city. She said the center will be a pivotal after-school resource that underserved kids need, but traditionally haven\u2019t been able to access.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhether it\u2019s for after-school programming, academically, socially, emotionally, it\u2019ll be transformational for students,\u201d Perez told the Dallas Morning News<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s not just tutoring kids and helping them with the writing, it\u2019s getting them to express themselves, to share their stories, to amplify their voices\u2014to empower them.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Allison Lee, director of program design at Big Thought, brings deep experience from her work with 826 in New York. She said one of the fundamental effects of an 826 chapter is that it brings together students from different parts of the city. \u201cKids are so grounded in their school. That tends to force them into the school being the only place to meet people,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIt helps people feel more connected to their city. Kids that would\u2019ve never been able to meet each other [are] able to meet and create friendships.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Perez said there\u2019s an extensive process to establish the writing center. The 826 Dallas Project must be an independent nonprofit with successful events and programming before it can become an official chapter. She said in two years, she hopes the project will be a fully recognized chapter and the writing center will be built and operational.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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One initiative that Perez hopes will prove the viability of 826 in Dallas is the Young Authors Book Project, which compiles students\u2019 poetry and personal essays. In <\/span><\/span>Faceless: Untold Side Effects of Culture, Race, and COVID-19<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/a>, students shared stories on topics including the plight of essential workers, the dread of staying home during the pandemic and racism. Featured writers are in ethnic studies courses at Dallas ISD\u2019s Trinidad Garza Early College High School, one of the 826 Dallas Project\u2019s partner schools.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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For Oak Cliff Executive Director Taylor Toynes said the center is a crucial component to the changes he sees in the southern Dallas neighborhood. \u201cOak Cliff is kind of going through a renaissance,\u201d he said, \u201cand what every good renaissance needs is great writers.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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826 Dallas Project kicked off its work with students last fall with its participation in The Great College Essay Project. According to the organization\u2019s website, they hosted two successful college essay workshops in which college-bound seniors worked one-on-one with volunteer tutors. These workshops served 114 students from six different high schools, with the support of more than fifty volunteers. They were supported by Project Lead Princess McDowell, whose collection of writing prompts \u201cLife in the Time of Coronavirus\u201d asked students to recognize how their world has changed in response to COVID-19.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The project\u2019s student editorial board organized every poem, short story, and journal entry into one compelling story. Students were the \u201csteering wheel, pedals, and fuel of the project\u201d from beginning to end. Last November, they raised their voices during a Texas Board of Education public hearing on ethnic studies courses. Their activism led to the courses getting approved statewide, and Faceless<\/em> is the first fruit of that labor. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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An initial investment was made by AT&T. \u201cNow, more than ever, AT&T is committed to finding new ways to empower young people to be change-makers, leaders, and innovators in their communities,\u201d said Mike Peterson, vice president, AT&T External Affairs in Dallas. \u201cWe are glad to partner with 826 National to expand their efforts in the Dallas community and help more young people access their rich portfolio of programs and content. We look forward to watching 826 grow here in our hometown, inspiring local young writers for generations to come.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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