Thank you, Mortenson Family Foundation and Rabya Hassen, for joining us at 826 MSP’s 2024 Books for Breakfast and highlighting our students' incredible creativity and leadership! Hamza Mohammed’s powerful poem, “If I Was President,” embodies the heart of our mission: amplifying K-12 BIPOC voices through writing and storytelling. On this Give to the Max Day, your partnership fuels programs like the After-School Writing Lab and Young Authors' Council, ensuring our young authors thrive and lead. Together, we’re building a brighter future! #GiveToTheMax #826MSP #YouthVoices #BIPOCLeadership
Last week, our Community Relationship Officer Rabya Hassen had the pleasure of attending 826 MSP’s Books for Breakfast Event. The breakfast opened with a reading of the poem “If I Was President” by Hamza Mohammed, an eighth grade writer from Minneapolis who is a member of 826 MSP’s After-School Writing Lab and Youth Author’s council programs. 826 MSP is an arts education nonprofit whose mission is to amplify the voices, stories, and power of K-12 BIPOC students through writing, publishing, and leadership programs. We are excited to partner with 826 MSP and fund their deeply impactful programs. 826 MSP Programs include: 🖋️ After-School Writing Lab is a program focused on creative writing and homework help for students in elementary, middle, and high school. Students are not required to bring homework to the program, but homework tutoring is available to students who need it. In every session of the After-School Writing Lab, students will work on reading and creative writing, with time for skill-building activities in literacy and math. 📚 Young Authors’ Book Project: Teachers, volunteers, guest artists, and 826 staff support students in writing original works around a theme. Illustrators, designers, and publishers collaborate with students to create a professionally published anthology each year. 💡Young Authors’ Council: A paid, application-based program focused on youth-leadership skills building, mentorship, and writing enrichment for students in grades 7-12. ✏️ The Writers’ Room at South High School (Minneapolis): Students and faculty receive dedicated support from 826 staff and volunteers through in-class tutoring, writing consultations, workshops, events, and author visits. 🚌 Field Trips to 826 MSP: Available to elementary classes across the Twin Cities. Volunteers—including an illustrator—and staff work with youth to complete and publish a book within two hours. This work is not just about writing—it's about building confidence, amplifying voices, and creating a community where young people can thrive and lead.