The nonprofit creative writing and tutoring center 826 Seattle is breaking off from the national 826 organization founded by author Dave Eggers and fearlessly charting a new course with a new name.
The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas will greatly expand its mission and programs, but headquarters remains behind the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. at 8414 Greenwood Ave. N.
826 Seattle has worked with more than 20,000 children during the last 10 years. The plan for the new Bureau is to open new locations through the city and hopefully beyond, beginning with White Center, to reach thousands more children between the ages of 6 and 18. All programs are free; the organization is supported solely by donations.
“Seattle is an amazing place. We are proud of the work we do here, helping all kinds of kids develop into confident future leaders through the power of expressing and sharing their own ideas and stories. People who can share their own stories and listen to others are not only more effective in their academic and work lives but are also kinder and more understanding people. Our work is to create the next generation of skilled, empathetic leaders,” said Teri Hein, Executive Director of Fearless Ideas and founder of 826 Seattle. “We have huge goals and if the past ten years are any indication, every reason to believe we can reach them. We want to grow deeper roots into our neighborhood of Greenwood, expand into new neighborhoods, create more opportunities to broadcast our students’ work throughout the region and, together with our whole extended team, serve the greater Seattle area while we are making Seattle greater.”
“I know of no organization, academic or otherwise, that is as effective at showing kids that writing brilliant sentences can be nearly as adventurous as walking on the moon,” said iconic Northwest author and long-time board member Tom Robbins.
The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas is a corps of youth and adults, staff and volunteers, families and local citizens who believe that the power of words, well-written and well-spoken, can open doors to important opportunities. Our tutoring, writing, and publishing programs prepare young people, ages 6 to 18, for a successful future by developing strong writing skills, championing diverse communication styles, and motivating young people to share their stories. Programs at each Fearless Ideas center reach into the surrounding neighborhood to involve adults and businesses in helping youth become engaged citizens and confident leaders. All programs are free and open to families from any socio-economic background.
Click here for a PDF of their four-page FAQs about the change. And The Stranger has a great story detailing the change.
