Chapter 510 & the Dept. of Make / Believe

Chapter 510 & the Dept. of Make / Believe Chapter 510 connects youth to the power of their stories. We provide a safe space for youth to bravely write, centering Black, brown and q***r voices.

MISSION
Chapter 510 is a made-in-Oakland youth writing, bookmaking & publishing center. Our teaching artists and volunteers work side by side with educators to provide a safe space and supportive community so Black, brown, and q***r youth ages 8-19 can bravely write. VISION
We want every young person in Oakland to write with confidence and joy. WHY WE EXIST
We believe that writing is an act of lib

eration. When young people write and get published, they transform themselves and their communities, succeeding in school, work, and life. WHAT WE DO
Through writing programs at our center and within Oakland public schools, we help young people improve their writing craft, confidence, and competency at every stage. Our programs include free writing and bookmaking workshops, field trip opportunities for OUSD educators, in-school book projects, youth publishing opportunities, and First Friday literary events. Chapter 510 currently works with over 1,000 students per year and publish over 20 beautifully made books written by Oakland youth each year.

TWO DAYS MORE DAYS TO ENTER CHAPTER 510’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SWEEPSTAKES! 🚨Win incredible prizes, including two 3-day pass...
06/24/2026

TWO DAYS MORE DAYS TO ENTER CHAPTER 510’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SWEEPSTAKES! 🚨

Win incredible prizes, including two 3-day passes to this year’s SOLD OUT Outside Lands Festival, all while helping keep transformative writing programs free and low-cost for hundreds of Oakland youth each year.

Other sweepstakes prizes include:

🏀 A signed Steph Curry Golden State Warriors jersey
🏀 Golden State Valkyries swag, including a signed Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton photo
💆‍♀️ A one-night stay with breakfast at The Claremont Hotel & Resort
🎧 An Apple swag bag

✨ And even more exciting prizes!

The more you give, the more entries you receive and the greater your chances of winning. But of course, gifts of all sizes make a difference!

The sweepstakes runs through June 25, 2026.

⏰ This is the final week, so don’t wait. Enter today through the link in our bio!

06/23/2026

EPISODE 3 of our I HEAR YOU podcast series is out now!

Isabella’s episode explores the contrast and correlation among different demographics and their access to green space. Listen to her discussion with Marilyn Chin from Swan’s co-housing and Michael Moran from East Bay Regional Park District.

When listening and learning more we invite you to think about this: Some people don’t prioritize green spaces, while some aren’t able to. How are you able to prioritize green spaces?

Isabella Esperanza Estrada is 15 years old and attends Millennium High School. She is an avid worldbuilder, artist, and Dungeons and Dragons player.

Her favorite part of the program was people watching, recording interviews, and learning about the interviewees. An aspect of mental health that is important to her is being introspective to figure out why certain things are the way they are.

Visit https://www.chapter510.org/ihearyou and listen to the full story.

A special thanks to Hopelab for their support of SOUNDSPACE, which is also working to ground our students' work in their research and resources around equity-centered solutions that improve the health and well-being of Black, Brown, and Q***r young people

We would also like to thank our funders OFCY (Oakland Fund for Children and Youth), Miranda Lux Foundation, Port of Oakland, and Kaiser Permanente for supporting this year’s podcast.

THE WORLD CUP HAS BEGUN!🌎⚽As we watch and celebrate a sport that is beloved around the world – connecting people from al...
06/23/2026

THE WORLD CUP HAS BEGUN!🌎⚽

As we watch and celebrate a sport that is beloved around the world – connecting people from all walks of life, we’re reminded of community both on and off the field.

This poem, PLAYING FÚTBOL by young author Sebastian Lorenzo Elias from our latest anthology WHEN THE STARS BLOOM IN OAKLAND captures the beauty of the game and the sense of belonging it fosters. ✨

“Oakland needs us. Us means you and me — busy, tired, distracted us. The call is loud, I hope you hear it.” - Mike Armst...
06/18/2026

“Oakland needs us. Us means you and me — busy, tired, distracted us. The call is loud, I hope you hear it.” - Mike Armstrong

Mike served on Chapter 510’s board from 2020-2026. During his tenure, we opened our new Writing Center and doubled our budget and board size. As he terms off the board, the Chapter 510 community is full of gratitude for his contributions. “Mike has been an incredible leader. He embodies the best of Oakland,” shared Dorothy Lazard, Chapter 510 Board Secretary, writer, and historian.

Please consider a donation to Chapter 510 in honor of Mike for his service to Oakland’s youth and families. Thank you, Mike, for everything!

There’s still time to enter our 10th anniversary sweepstakes and win two 3-day passes to Outside Lands! The festival is ...
06/17/2026

There’s still time to enter our 10th anniversary sweepstakes and win two 3-day passes to Outside Lands! The festival is now sold out, so this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

This month Chapter 510 is running a sweepstakes for a chance to win some fantastic prizes that will help us continue to provide writing workshops for free or low cost for Oakland youth.

Other prizes include:

🏀 Signed Steph Curry Golden State Warriors Jersey

🏀 Golden State Valkyries Swag including Signed Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton Photo

💆‍♀️ One night including breakfast at The Claremont Hotel & Resort

🎧 An Apple Swag Bag

…and more!

The more you give, the more entries you will receive in the sweepstakes and the greater your chance of hearing your favorite artists live this summer in Golden Gate Park.

The sweepstakes runs from June 1–25, 2026.

Visit https://go.rallyup.com/chapter510/Campaign/Details to enter today!

06/15/2026

“It makes me so proud to know that this is a book, and it’s going to get published!” 📖✨

At Chapter 510, we connect young people to the power of their stories with an approach that is all about finding joy in writing. ✍🏽💛

Whether they’re writing about cherished family recipes, imagining new worlds, or examining and celebrating their own identities, young people at Chapter 510 are building essential lifelong skills and shaping the world we live in, one brave and brilliant book at a time. 🌱📚

Your support today makes it all possible. 💫🤍

Visit the link in our bio to donate today.

“ Poetry is the connector — the connector to meaning and the connector to the self..” - Chapter 510 Executive Director J...
06/12/2026

“ Poetry is the connector — the connector to meaning and the connector to the self..” - Chapter 510 Executive Director Janet Heller on KALW 💫

Our thanks to KALW’s Jeneé Darden for interviewing Janet and teaching artist Anjali Ensellem for SIGHTS AND SOUNDS last week! This conversation was a moving follow up to this year’s OUSD’s LitFest, where the 4th grade Chapter 510 poets of our latest anthology, WHEN THE STARS BLOOK IN OAKLAND, were also interviewed by Jeneé.

Tune in to hear a thoughtful discussion about Chapter 510’s history, our youth-centered teaching approach, and the journey behind the Young Oakland Poets Expedition. ✍️🌱

Visit the link in our bio to listen to the full recording!

Wanna work with Black, brown, and q***r youth to help connect them to the power of their stories and find the joy and po...
06/10/2026

Wanna work with Black, brown, and q***r youth to help connect them to the power of their stories and find the joy and power in writing? If this sounds like you, Chapter 510 is hiring a poet teaching artist to join our team!

We are seeking an experienced Poet Teaching Artist to be the lead teacher in residence for our Young Oakland Poets Expedition, a poetry writing and publishing program for fourth graders across Oakland Unified School District.

This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who have passion for and experience with poetry, literary arts education and youth.

Applications due by or before June 25th, 2026.

Visit our website to apply and learn more!

06/09/2026

EPISODE 2 of our SOUNDSPACE teen podcast series presents I HEAR YOU: Petrol, Hobbies and Mental Health. In this audio story Toussaint shares a window into how hobbies can positively affect one’s wellbeing in their daily life, paired with car enthusiasm. Listen to Toussaint’s interview with DJ Brididope.

As you listen, consider how you think a hobby could help you through your daily life?

Toussaint Valverde, 16, is a junior at Oakland Technical High School. He enjoys auto mechanics, working on motorcycles, art, urban exploration, and spends his free time with friends or relaxing at home.

His favorite part of the Chapter 510 program was recording audio for the story. For Toussaint, an important aspect of mental health is staying engaged in hobbies that help him navigate daily life.

Visit https://www.chapter510.org/ihearyou and listen to the full story.

A special thanks to Hopelab for their support of SOUNDSPACE, which is also working to ground our students' work in their research and resources around equity-centered solutions that improve the health and well-being of Black, Brown, and Q***r young people.

We would also like to thank our funders OFCY (Oakland Fund for Children and Youth), Miranda Lux Foundation, Port of Oakland, and Kaiser Permanente for supporting this year’s podcast.

Address

546 9th Street
Oakland, CA
94605

Opening Hours

12pm - 7pm

Website

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