826 Valencia

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826 Valencia All of our programs are offered free of charge to students, schools, and families. Right. Like peg legs. Like dental floss for ogres.

826 Valencia is a nonprofit organization in San Francisco dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 6 to 18 with their writing skills, helping teachers get their students excited about writing, and cultivating wonder. 826 Valencia is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages six to eighteen with their writing skills, and to helping teachers get their students excited about writing. Our work is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can be made when trained and caring volunteers work one-on-one with students and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

826 Valencia comprises two writing centers—our flagship location in the Mission District and a new center in the Tenderloin neighborhood—and three satellite classrooms at nearby schools. We also have a Pirate Supply Store at our location on Valencia St., offering wares for the working buccaneer. And at our Tenderloin Center you can visit King Carl's Emporium, with its selection of supplies curated by explorers of worlds both real and imaginary. Both stores also sell our publications of our students' writing, and the proceeds from the store go straight to our free programs. Check out 826valencia.org if you're interested in volunteering, donating, or participating in our programs!

Something beautiful, inspiring, and—of course—whimsical has made a splash right outside our Tenderloin Center! 🐙 ✨ Our n...
10/14/2026

Something beautiful, inspiring, and—of course—whimsical has made a splash right outside our Tenderloin Center! 🐙 ✨ Our new mural brings our students’ brilliant ideas for the Tenderloin to life, with a few peculiar sea creatures swimming alongside their words. 🐡

At 826 Valencia, we have a bold vision to collaborate with other youth-serving organizations to transform the Tenderloin into a youth safety zone for the 3,500 young people who live there. The ideas in this mural offer a glimpse of what’s possible when young people are given the opportunity to use their voices to shape their communities.

🎨 This project was made possible through a creative collaboration with the City and County of San Francisco - Government Planning Department, New Bohemia Signs, and Office, our longtime pro bono design partner of 25 years!

Next time you’re in the Tenderloin, stop by our Center at 180 Golden Gate Ave. to marvel at our youth’s vision for the neighborhood’s future! 🌉

📸: Stefan Gruenwedel
Alt text: Images of the mural outside the 826 Valencia Tenderloin Center; students standing beside their work and performing.

It’s s-book-y season! 🏴‍☠️ 📚 Our students love writing spooky stories, and to prove it, your October Book of the Month ...
10/10/2026

It’s s-book-y season! 🏴‍☠️ 📚 Our students love writing spooky stories, and to prove it, your October Book of the Month brings you Staring Into Their Shivering Souls, a collection of writing from our Bessie Carmichael elementary students (grades 3–5). This publication features all the frights sure to haunt the high seas: ghosts, ghouls, and no Wi-Fi.

Even the saltiest sailor will get shivers from these titles:

🍕 🕸️ The abandoned pizzeria
🤦‍♀️ The Night Three Kids Made a Big Mistake
🍿 👻 Spooky Story (excerpt above!)
🐈‍⬛ My Sister Is a Cat
👹 The Annoying Monster
🛜 ❌ No More Wi-Fi

Get your copy here: https://bit.ly/4rXYyj9

🖌️ Book cover illustration by Lucy Gosline-Ratliff
🎨 Layout design by Tony Manalo
Alt text: Image of the Staring Into Their Shivering Souls book cover and a student excerpt that includes the line: “The problem with my story was that they did not think it was good, so they wanted a refund, but I said, ‘No refund!’”

This October, 826 Valencia and Dolores Park Cafe are partnering to celebrate young authors across the city. 🌉 For every ...
10/08/2026

This October, 826 Valencia and Dolores Park Cafe are partnering to celebrate young authors across the city. 🌉 For every Salty Pirate salted caramel latte sold, Dolores Park Cafe will donate $1 to 826 Valencia, championing student voice and helping SF’s young writers to build confidence and pride in their work.

Next time you’re in the Mission, stop by Dolores Park Cafe for a Salty Pirate, ☕️ and pick up a student publication at the 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store! 📚

✍️ PS You can also find writing prompts at Dolores Park Cafe. Share your writing and tag us for a chance to get featured in our stories!
Alt text: Images of 826 Valencia writing prompts at Dolores Park Cafe, featuring a specialty latte and the promotional poster for the partnership between 826 Valencia and Dolores Park Cafe.

October is , a time to celebrate books, storytelling, and the power of self-expression. 📚 ✨ At 826 Valencia, our studen...
10/07/2026

October is , a time to celebrate books, storytelling, and the power of self-expression. 📚 ✨ At 826 Valencia, our students are not only writers, but also published authors! These young storytellers take pride in seeing their work published in beautiful books they can hold in their hands. 📖

This month, we're honored to share their stories with the world during Lit Crawl (Litquake) at our Quarterly Release Party on October 24, from 5 to 6 pm, at our Pirate Supply Store. Join us to get a copy of our annual anthology and see our brilliant students perform their work! 🎤 RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4z3ccUD

📸: Kathy Raffel
Alt text: Image of an 826 Valencia student and staff member at the release of their publication; the student is proudly holding their book, and next to them is a colorful poster for a book titled Shadow of the Ocean.

This LGBTQ+ History Month, we're celebrating the people who have shaped San Francisco's history—and the young writers ke...
10/01/2026

This LGBTQ+ History Month, we're celebrating the people who have shaped San Francisco's history—and the young writers keeping their stories alive. 🏳️‍🌈 ✍️

Our latest issue from Mission Magazine (Spring 2026, Issue 17) is filled with biographical essays penned by our Mission High students, who immersed themselves in the exciting challenge presented by the San Francisco Historical Society's Seventh Annual Fracchia Prize writing competition. 🌉 With the city's rich tapestry of history as their backdrop, students delved into research, uncovering the inspiring stories of individuals and groups who valiantly stood against injustices to pave the way for a safer, more inclusive San Francisco.

In Sylvester: The Fight for Equality, Dannis S., age 18, explores the life and legacy of San Francisco music icon Sylvester, and how his joy, self-expression, and advocacy helped inspire generations of LGBTQ+ artists. Swipe to read excerpts from their research. 💫
Alt text: 826 Valencia poster featuring student writing in celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month. One excerpt reads: “Because of his success in music, Sylvester inspired change by showing everybody how small acts like singing a song can have a big impact and inspire future generations to fight for what they think is right.”

We’re excited to celebrate a year of student writing on every page 🗒️ and every stage 🎤 in San Francisco 🌉 with the rele...
09/29/2026

We’re excited to celebrate a year of student writing on every page 🗒️ and every stage 🎤 in San Francisco 🌉 with the release of The 826 Valencia Quarterly, volume 34! 🥳 On October 24, we’re launching our publication in collaboration with Lit Crawl (hosted by ).

Mark your calendars and join us for student performances from 5 to 6 pm at our Mission Center. This event is free to the public. 🎟️ RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4z3ccUD

📸: Malcolm Eaton
🎨: Kaylani Juanita
Alt text: Promotional poster for the 826 Valencia Quarterly Release Party with an image of a student rehearsing on stage and the illustrated 826 Valencia Quarterly, volume 34, book cover.

Thank you for visiting our Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trip, Children's Day School! 😍
09/29/2026

Thank you for visiting our Storytelling & Bookmaking Field Trip, Children's Day School! 😍

Thirst Draft, a writing event for everyone, is back at the 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store on October 7! Join us at 6 p...
09/28/2026

Thirst Draft, a writing event for everyone, is back at the 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store on October 7! Join us at 6 pm for another evening of storytelling. ✍️ Show up, get the prompt, and spend time writing alone or with friends. After the writing portion, you can sign up to read your piece on stage or just stick around for fun and support. 🎤 This event is free and open to all 21+ with a suggested donation of $10–$20 to benefit 826 Valencia's writing programs. Snacks and sundries will be available for purchase, and all proceeds will go directly to 826 Valencia. 🏴‍☠️ Bring your own beverage!
Alt text: Promotional poster for Thirst Draft & 826 Valencia event, with an image of a reader performing on stage.

Shake off your writer’s block and join us at Southern Pacific Brewing Co on Tuesday, October 20, for our Writer’s Block ...
09/22/2026

Shake off your writer’s block and join us at Southern Pacific Brewing Co on Tuesday, October 20, for our Writer’s Block Party, a celebration of youth voice and the neighborhoods that make San Francisco wonderful. 🌉

You invest $40 (or more!) in helping young people thrive, and we’ll provide:

🍷 Unlimited free b**r and w**e
📚 Free books
🤫 Silent auction
🎁 Surprises

Thank you to our sponsors, Chronicle Books, Monkeybrains, Heroshop SF, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, the San Francisco Giants, House Family Vineyards, SnapFiesta, The Center for Creative Exploration, Sucka Free Collective, ODC School, The Chapel, City Arts & Lectures, Cal Surplus, Tipsy Putt, Roxie Theater, Holey Moley Golf Club, Satori Studios, Barry's, Dandelion Chocolate, Do the Bay, Black Heart Tattoo, Mission Bowling Club, Bay Area RPG, In the Dark SF, Club Fugazi, and Gamescape SF for their contributions to this event.

This is a 21+ event. 🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4cZhZSA
Alt text: Promotional poster for the Writer’s Block Party featuring an illustration of the Golden Gate Bridge, with its suspension cables depicted as the open pages of books and a sun setting between the towers.

09/19/2026

September 19 is (Don’t) Talk Like a Pirate Day! ☠️ Attached to each of our Writing Labs, there’s a store offering supplies for all kinds of imaginative worlds, and these sales support our programs. Our students are frequent explorers of our stores, and recently, one of them walked us through his imaginary, unexpected, but wholly necessary back-to-school picks from our Pirate Supply Store. If you stop by the store this weekend, we dare you *not* to talk like a pirate! 🏴‍☠️
Alt text: Video of 826 Valencia student showing his favorite Pirate Store supplies for a school in a pirate ship.

Address

826 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA
94110

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 6pm
Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+14156425905

Website

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