Category: News
Introducing our new Executive Director!
After an extensive and rigorous search led by the 826 New Orleans Board of Directors, we are proud to announce that Brooke Pickett has accepted the position of Executive Director and began last Friday, June 21, 2019. A native of Louisiana, Brooke brings robust and multifaceted experience in the arts, nonprofits, fundraising, marketing and operations. Read on to learn more about our new ED!
Name: Brooke Pickett
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Job Title: Executive Director
Hometown: I don’t actually have a hometown! I moved all my life – though I’ve lived in New Orleans longer than anywhere else. I was always a little jealous of people with hometowns!
——
What brought you to 826 New Orleans?
I have always believed that artists and writers are an integral part of any healthy community. The opportunity to support the next generation of writers and thinkers is a dream come true for me.
What are you most excited for as our new Executive Director?
I really look forward to promoting the publications of our young authors. The two most recent books released from the Young Writers Council are important reads for all ages.
What was your favorite book as a kid, and why?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. My mom and I read it a lot- I remember thinking then how much the author understood children’s feelings and thoughts, and gave voice to a child’s frustrations.
What are you up to outside of your work with us?
Lots! I’m a visual artist, sometimes a fabric maker, and an avid gardener. I also enjoy trying to keep up with my husband on my bike.
If you were a ghost for a day, where would you most like to haunt?
Tough one! Either the main branch of the New Orleans library, or the newly expanded sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
—
Brooke earned an M.F.A. in Painting from the University of Albany, State University of New York in 2005 and a B.A. in both Painting and Literature from the Louisiana State University in 2002. She was an artist in residence at Hotel Pupik, Schrattenberg, Austria in 2009 and at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts in 2007. From 2008-2010, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont.
Brooke was the founder and director of Central City Artist Project, a non-profit residency program in New Orleans that created opportunities for artists to produce work informed by the community and its residents.
She joins our team after 9 years as the Attractions Director of Operations and the Director of Marketing at Mardi Gras World.
We’re so excited to have her leading our team.
Welcome, Brooke!
We’re Hiring!
Do you have a passion for youth writing? Want to learn about nonprofit management? 826 New Orleans is currently looking for dedicated individuals to join our team! Click the positions to learn more and how to apply.
Internships:
826 New Orleans Program Intern
AmeriCorps VISTA positions:
2017-2018 Annual Report
In the 2017-2018 school year, 826 New Orleans served 1,453 students.
We published 6 books written by young people.
Our students connected with a national audience through their publications and literary events.
We celebrated five years of our beloved Pizza Poetry program.
We opened a brand new Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward, where we launched our After School Program, hosted writing workshops, held meetings of the Young Writers’ Council, and more.
Read on in our Annual Report for more highlights from this memorable year, and our vision for the future of 826 New Orleans.
The next chapter for our organization depends on raising the crucial funds needed for us to grow our team, allowing 826 New Orleans to broaden and deepen our impact.
The upcoming year is bound to be our most exciting yet. Join us in making it possible by making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the voices of young writers.
Thank you.
How does the rest of our story go? You can decide this #GivingTuesday
Our friends over at NOVAC created this video of the grand opening of our new Youth Writing Center on August 26th (826 Day!) The video features some shots of the space, including our writing lab and Haunting Supply Co. storefront. They also facilitated a whimsical tale of a family and a hungry dragon by having guests of the event add a new line to the story.
Be a part of our story this #GivingTuesday
Make a gift and watch us grow.
What’s the story you want to tell?
$25 would support the needs of our afterschool programming by offering our students new supplies like paper, pencils, and paint. Students grades 1-3 join us four days a week for homework help, creative writing, arts and crafts, games and more.
Bring this story to life – donate $25.
$50 would help us print five publications written by our afterschool students. Our afterschool students work on their writing projects twice a week – about anything from ghost stories to food reviews. They all get to become published authors.
Bring this story to life – donate $50
$100 supports our most ambitious project of the year: our Young Authors Book Project. Partnering with 70 students in the 11th grade at G. W. Carver High School, students are choosing a local hero – whether it be their mom or a politician – to write and publish a book about.
Bring this story to life – donate $100
$250 allows one student to be a part of the Young Writers’ Council (YWC) for an entire semester. The YWC, a group of local high schoolers, tackle two book projects a year – from its idea conception to writing and reviewing submissions to editing and publishing.
Bring this story to life – donate $250
_______________________________________________
There’s a lot more to our story left to tell. Will you help us?
We’re Hiring! Apply to be our next Executive Director.
826 New Orleans is seeking a brilliant, tenacious, creative, humorous, resourceful, and inspired leader with a ferocious commitment to young people, who knows how to manage a team and resources with flair and finesse, to lead our next chapter. See the PDF job description here, or read on. You can find a letter from our outgoing Executive Director and our Board of Directors here.
Executive Director Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY
826 New Orleans (formerly Big Class) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating and supporting the voices of New Orleans’ writers ages 6-18 through creative collaborations with schools and communities. We offer free writing programs and publishing opportunities at our Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward and in schools across the city. Our staff and volunteers help students improve their literacy skills, become published authors, and understand the power of their voices on and off the page. Since 2010 we’ve served over 4,000 students and created over 100 publications of student work with the help of over 400 volunteers.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for 826 New Orleans’s operations and strategic plan. The successful candidate will combine a proven track record in nonprofit and/or education leadership with an understanding of 826 New Orleans’s mission and program offerings to improve and expand the organization’s impact across the city.
After major growth in recent years, opening our Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward and joining the acclaimed 826 Network, 826 New Orleans is in a strong and steady position with a progressing strategic plan, a talented staff, an engaged board, and well-established funding and community relationships.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy
- Work with the 826 New Orleans board to develop, implement, and track the progress of a strategic plan for the organization and lead a forward-thinking approach to its staff, leadership, and the entire organization.
- Report to the 826 New Orleans board of directors on programming, fundraising, finances, events, publications, personnel, strategic planning, and other matters; enlist their support as needed.
- Work with 826 National to coordinate the work of 826 New Orleans with the other 826 chapters; represent 826 New Orleans at 826 National meetings, executive director meetings, staff conferences, and other convenings.
- Expand the value of 826 New Orleans’s resources for the benefit of underserved youth across Greater New Orleans.
Fundraising and Financial Management
- Ensure prudent fiscal management of 826 New Orleans, including establishment of salaries, management of expenses, strategic financial planning, and preparation of monthly financial reports and annual budgets.
- Partner with Development Director to create and implement 826 New Orleans fundraising strategy, including grant applications, corporate and private philanthropy, individual donations, and special events.
- Successfully and directly ask individual and other funders for financial gifts; Cultivate and support donors through every stage of a gift; Deliver authentic gratitude, timely information, and individualized attention to donors in our community of supporters.
Programming
- Partner with Program Director to establish robust educational objectives, and works to achieve them, in support of New Orleans youth and guided by organizational guidelines and 826 National chapter standards.
- Partner with Program Director to oversee all programming, including after-school, in-school projects, field trips, and workshops, including ensuring daily excellence and quality practices, and collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
Marketing/PR/Communications
- Represent 826 New Orleans and its mission to students, families, funders, volunteers, the educational community, and the media.
- Guide all external relations and collaborations, including website, annual fundraising appeals, and public relations; serve as spokesperson for media appearances and other public speaking opportunities; handle crisis communications.
- Develop and maintain relationships with education and community leaders that will facilitate programming growth.
Operations/Supervision
- Direct and support staff, interns, and volunteers, to pursue 826 New Orleans’s educational mission, in alignment with its values.
- Supervise the staff’s work in the areas of programming, volunteer recruitment and supervision, development, publications, and special events.
- Develop 826 New Orleans’s culture as a learning organization, providing consistent professional development plans, learning opportunities, regular feedback, advice, and performance reviews.
- Manage all legal and operational issues, including contracts, employment matters, technology, leases and building management, publication and other agreements, and oversight of retail operations.
- Serve as chief organizational signatory.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Charismatic and inspirational leader and collaborator, who has led healthy, dynamic organizations through growth stages.
- Significant leadership experience in the worlds of education, youth development, and/or the arts.
- Strong and diverse network of connections throughout Greater New Orleans.
- Ability to balance multiple, conflicting priorities with patience.
- Community builder who works to build support systems in which everyone can thrive.
- Outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Proven record as a successful fundraiser who generates innovative ideas to help meet or exceed fundraising goals.
- Experience working with many different cultures and constituents, including donors, partners, families, teachers, youth, volunteers, and staff.
- Creative, resourceful problem-solver who knows how to access and apply community expertise for the good of the organization.
- Passionate about writing and creativity, and its crucial role in social and racial justice, as demonstrated through previous work and/or volunteer efforts.
- Works to cultivate a sense of possibility that allows for creativity, joy, humor, and weirdness.
TIME FRAME
This is a full-time, exempt position.
SALARY
Salary for this full-time position is $65,000, negotiable with commensurate experience. Benefits include health care, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
826 New Orleans is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 826 New Orleans does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, political orientation, disability, veteran status, or gender identity or expression.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to the 826 New Orleans Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@826neworleans.org.
The position will be open until filled.
Youth Monument Proposals Featured on Buzzfeed!
“Was Ruby Bridges old when she fought racism? No, she was not. She was a kid.” https://t.co/DolliOms92
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) July 7, 2018
London, Coby, Aakhirah, and Lukas’s pieces from Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans went viral on Twitter thanks to the wonderful author Daniel José Older. Buzzfeed covered the excitement, which you can read all about here.
Shout out to our partners at Homer Plessy Community School and to Cartoon Network and Teaching Tolerance for supporting this special project.
#BigClassBestTen: Write Your Way In
On November 11th, Big Class and the Upward Bound program came together to support college-bound high school juniors and seniors in writing their college admissions essays.
Thank you to the students, volunteers, Upward Bound, and UNO for making the first Write Your Way In a success!
#BigClassBestTen: The Young Writers Council
In 2017, Big Class launched an exciting new program: The Young Writers Council (YWC), a citywide collective of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who identify as writers, artists and/or community changemakers.
The 2017-2018 Young Writers’ Council
In the fall semester, members of the YWC served as the editorial board and contribute to The Good Troublemakers publication, a Big Class project focusing on New Orleanian students’ thoughts and feelings on school.
Also in the fall, the YWC participated in writing workshops, site visits, and interviews with local writers, activists and community members.
In the spring, in addition to site visits and workshops, members will collectively publish a book.
Thank you to Big Class Program Manager Shannelle Millks for all her hard work establishing and mentoring the YWC, and to the 2017-2018 YWC for all their amazing work thus far and to come!
#BigClassBestTen: Writers’ Room Redesign
The Small Center for Collaborative Design partnered with Big Class to renovate the Writers’ Room in students’ own vision.
The Writers’ Room at Sylvanie Williams College Prep is a dedicated space for pre-K through 8th grade students to attend writing clubs, get feedback on their work, and collaborate with volunteers and other students. In 2017, students from the Tulane School of Architecture’s Small Center and Sylvanie students worked together to reimagine the Writers’ Room into a space that is inviting, dynamic, and encourages writing.
On May 11th, we held a celebration in the redesigned Writers’ Room with Sylvanie students, our Small Center collaborators, educators, and community members. The beautiful room reflects Sylvanie students’ own visions for the space while supporting our programmatic needs and fosters a creative, literary spirit.
Revisit our Q&A with Professor Emilie Taylor and a few students from the Design Build class:
In what ways do you think this project affected students to be better architects and members of the design community?
ET: For many of our students this is the first time they are working with a client, which is a big moment for them – it’s also the first time they have a budget, first time making something with tools, and often the first time their design ideas are being built and having real-world consequences. So there’s a lot to learn and a lot of pushing against comfort zones in that bundle. The students have to learn quickly how to communicate, collaborate, and be creative problem solvers. My hope is that the engagement with Big Class staff and their students as well as discussions about design process and access to design that are happening throughout the semester make the students think more critically about what they do, who they do it for, and how they each can be a force for good and design equity in their corner of the world.
Tell us a little bit about the creative process for this project. What did you learn by visiting the Writers’ Room, and how did you determine the final design?
Camille: In visiting the Writer’s Room, I learned a lot about the general mood of the class, like what the kids are interested in, what sort of things they would like to see in a space and what sort of things they wouldn’t enjoy. The Big Class kids that we interacted with were a funny, creative, and sometimes crazy bunch, and talking with them made me think they would enjoy a playful, vibrant space.
Paula: Visiting the school gave us the chance to talk to the teachers and the students about what they would like to see in the space and get some one to one feedback. This preliminary studies helped us narrow down to a few key needs and wants for the space which we carried through to the final product.
What were your favorite parts of working on this project?
Camille: I had a lot of favorite parts of this project. One thing that was great was working with an actual client, and having my first experience with a client be such an easy, collaborative one. Big Class was awesome, they were communicative and excited and I think that having this being my first interaction with a real client was a really positive experience. Building off of that, not only was it awesome to have that interaction, it was also awesome to be able to make something for someone and watch them see a little dream realized. Seeing the reaction of our final design felt really, really good, it felt like we had done our job and served Big Class well, and I can’t wait to see what the kids think.
Our biggest thanks to the Small Center for all their hard work and our beautiful finished Writers’ Room!
In the News: History Between These Folds in the National Association of Black Journalists
By Daja Henry
NABJ Monitor
August 12, 2017
Carver High student Kiara Geiger (’18) autographs a copy of “History Between These Folds.” (Mya Ebanks/Big Class)
New Orleans, also known as the “Big Easy,” is a cultural hub that attracts millions of tourists each year. But growing up in New Orleans can be far from easy.
Big Class, a nonprofit that focuses on students’ self-expression, is lending a hand to the city’s youth. The organization partners with local schools to encourage students to find positive ways to express themselves through writing and art.
This year, Big Class is working with the eleventh grade students of George Washington Carver High School, located in a neighborhood where residents are still recovering from the damage of Hurricane Katrina. As part of Big Class’ Young Authors’ Book Project, students wrote History Between These Folds, a collection of personal essays.
Read more here.
Introducing our new Executive Director!
After an extensive and rigorous search led by the 826 New Orleans Board of Directors, we are proud to announce that Brooke Pickett has accepted the position of Executive Director and began last Friday, June 21, 2019. A native of Louisiana, Brooke brings robust and multifaceted experience in the arts, nonprofits, fundraising, marketing and operations. Read on to learn more about our new ED!
Name: Brooke Pickett
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Job Title: Executive Director
Hometown: I don’t actually have a hometown! I moved all my life – though I’ve lived in New Orleans longer than anywhere else. I was always a little jealous of people with hometowns!
——
What brought you to 826 New Orleans?
I have always believed that artists and writers are an integral part of any healthy community. The opportunity to support the next generation of writers and thinkers is a dream come true for me.
What are you most excited for as our new Executive Director?
I really look forward to promoting the publications of our young authors. The two most recent books released from the Young Writers Council are important reads for all ages.
What was your favorite book as a kid, and why?
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. My mom and I read it a lot- I remember thinking then how much the author understood children’s feelings and thoughts, and gave voice to a child’s frustrations.
What are you up to outside of your work with us?
Lots! I’m a visual artist, sometimes a fabric maker, and an avid gardener. I also enjoy trying to keep up with my husband on my bike.
If you were a ghost for a day, where would you most like to haunt?
Tough one! Either the main branch of the New Orleans library, or the newly expanded sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
—
Brooke earned an M.F.A. in Painting from the University of Albany, State University of New York in 2005 and a B.A. in both Painting and Literature from the Louisiana State University in 2002. She was an artist in residence at Hotel Pupik, Schrattenberg, Austria in 2009 and at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts in 2007. From 2008-2010, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Painting at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont.
Brooke was the founder and director of Central City Artist Project, a non-profit residency program in New Orleans that created opportunities for artists to produce work informed by the community and its residents.
She joins our team after 9 years as the Attractions Director of Operations and the Director of Marketing at Mardi Gras World.
We’re so excited to have her leading our team.
Welcome, Brooke!
We’re Hiring!
Do you have a passion for youth writing? Want to learn about nonprofit management? 826 New Orleans is currently looking for dedicated individuals to join our team! Click the positions to learn more and how to apply.
Internships:
826 New Orleans Program Intern
AmeriCorps VISTA positions:
2017-2018 Annual Report
In the 2017-2018 school year, 826 New Orleans served 1,453 students.
We published 6 books written by young people.
Our students connected with a national audience through their publications and literary events.
We celebrated five years of our beloved Pizza Poetry program.
We opened a brand new Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward, where we launched our After School Program, hosted writing workshops, held meetings of the Young Writers’ Council, and more.
Read on in our Annual Report for more highlights from this memorable year, and our vision for the future of 826 New Orleans.
The next chapter for our organization depends on raising the crucial funds needed for us to grow our team, allowing 826 New Orleans to broaden and deepen our impact.
The upcoming year is bound to be our most exciting yet. Join us in making it possible by making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the voices of young writers.
Thank you.
How does the rest of our story go? You can decide this #GivingTuesday
Our friends over at NOVAC created this video of the grand opening of our new Youth Writing Center on August 26th (826 Day!) The video features some shots of the space, including our writing lab and Haunting Supply Co. storefront. They also facilitated a whimsical tale of a family and a hungry dragon by having guests of the event add a new line to the story.
Be a part of our story this #GivingTuesday
Make a gift and watch us grow.
What’s the story you want to tell?
$25 would support the needs of our afterschool programming by offering our students new supplies like paper, pencils, and paint. Students grades 1-3 join us four days a week for homework help, creative writing, arts and crafts, games and more.
Bring this story to life – donate $25.
$50 would help us print five publications written by our afterschool students. Our afterschool students work on their writing projects twice a week – about anything from ghost stories to food reviews. They all get to become published authors.
Bring this story to life – donate $50
$100 supports our most ambitious project of the year: our Young Authors Book Project. Partnering with 70 students in the 11th grade at G. W. Carver High School, students are choosing a local hero – whether it be their mom or a politician – to write and publish a book about.
Bring this story to life – donate $100
$250 allows one student to be a part of the Young Writers’ Council (YWC) for an entire semester. The YWC, a group of local high schoolers, tackle two book projects a year – from its idea conception to writing and reviewing submissions to editing and publishing.
Bring this story to life – donate $250
_______________________________________________
There’s a lot more to our story left to tell. Will you help us?
We’re Hiring! Apply to be our next Executive Director.
826 New Orleans is seeking a brilliant, tenacious, creative, humorous, resourceful, and inspired leader with a ferocious commitment to young people, who knows how to manage a team and resources with flair and finesse, to lead our next chapter. See the PDF job description here, or read on. You can find a letter from our outgoing Executive Director and our Board of Directors here.
Executive Director Job Description
POSITION SUMMARY
826 New Orleans (formerly Big Class) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating and supporting the voices of New Orleans’ writers ages 6-18 through creative collaborations with schools and communities. We offer free writing programs and publishing opportunities at our Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward and in schools across the city. Our staff and volunteers help students improve their literacy skills, become published authors, and understand the power of their voices on and off the page. Since 2010 we’ve served over 4,000 students and created over 100 publications of student work with the help of over 400 volunteers.
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director has overall responsibility for 826 New Orleans’s operations and strategic plan. The successful candidate will combine a proven track record in nonprofit and/or education leadership with an understanding of 826 New Orleans’s mission and program offerings to improve and expand the organization’s impact across the city.
After major growth in recent years, opening our Youth Writing Center in the 7th Ward and joining the acclaimed 826 Network, 826 New Orleans is in a strong and steady position with a progressing strategic plan, a talented staff, an engaged board, and well-established funding and community relationships.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy
- Work with the 826 New Orleans board to develop, implement, and track the progress of a strategic plan for the organization and lead a forward-thinking approach to its staff, leadership, and the entire organization.
- Report to the 826 New Orleans board of directors on programming, fundraising, finances, events, publications, personnel, strategic planning, and other matters; enlist their support as needed.
- Work with 826 National to coordinate the work of 826 New Orleans with the other 826 chapters; represent 826 New Orleans at 826 National meetings, executive director meetings, staff conferences, and other convenings.
- Expand the value of 826 New Orleans’s resources for the benefit of underserved youth across Greater New Orleans.
Fundraising and Financial Management
- Ensure prudent fiscal management of 826 New Orleans, including establishment of salaries, management of expenses, strategic financial planning, and preparation of monthly financial reports and annual budgets.
- Partner with Development Director to create and implement 826 New Orleans fundraising strategy, including grant applications, corporate and private philanthropy, individual donations, and special events.
- Successfully and directly ask individual and other funders for financial gifts; Cultivate and support donors through every stage of a gift; Deliver authentic gratitude, timely information, and individualized attention to donors in our community of supporters.
Programming
- Partner with Program Director to establish robust educational objectives, and works to achieve them, in support of New Orleans youth and guided by organizational guidelines and 826 National chapter standards.
- Partner with Program Director to oversee all programming, including after-school, in-school projects, field trips, and workshops, including ensuring daily excellence and quality practices, and collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
Marketing/PR/Communications
- Represent 826 New Orleans and its mission to students, families, funders, volunteers, the educational community, and the media.
- Guide all external relations and collaborations, including website, annual fundraising appeals, and public relations; serve as spokesperson for media appearances and other public speaking opportunities; handle crisis communications.
- Develop and maintain relationships with education and community leaders that will facilitate programming growth.
Operations/Supervision
- Direct and support staff, interns, and volunteers, to pursue 826 New Orleans’s educational mission, in alignment with its values.
- Supervise the staff’s work in the areas of programming, volunteer recruitment and supervision, development, publications, and special events.
- Develop 826 New Orleans’s culture as a learning organization, providing consistent professional development plans, learning opportunities, regular feedback, advice, and performance reviews.
- Manage all legal and operational issues, including contracts, employment matters, technology, leases and building management, publication and other agreements, and oversight of retail operations.
- Serve as chief organizational signatory.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Charismatic and inspirational leader and collaborator, who has led healthy, dynamic organizations through growth stages.
- Significant leadership experience in the worlds of education, youth development, and/or the arts.
- Strong and diverse network of connections throughout Greater New Orleans.
- Ability to balance multiple, conflicting priorities with patience.
- Community builder who works to build support systems in which everyone can thrive.
- Outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Proven record as a successful fundraiser who generates innovative ideas to help meet or exceed fundraising goals.
- Experience working with many different cultures and constituents, including donors, partners, families, teachers, youth, volunteers, and staff.
- Creative, resourceful problem-solver who knows how to access and apply community expertise for the good of the organization.
- Passionate about writing and creativity, and its crucial role in social and racial justice, as demonstrated through previous work and/or volunteer efforts.
- Works to cultivate a sense of possibility that allows for creativity, joy, humor, and weirdness.
TIME FRAME
This is a full-time, exempt position.
SALARY
Salary for this full-time position is $65,000, negotiable with commensurate experience. Benefits include health care, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
826 New Orleans is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce. People of color are strongly encouraged to apply. 826 New Orleans does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, political orientation, disability, veteran status, or gender identity or expression.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to the 826 New Orleans Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@826neworleans.org.
The position will be open until filled.
Youth Monument Proposals Featured on Buzzfeed!
“Was Ruby Bridges old when she fought racism? No, she was not. She was a kid.” https://t.co/DolliOms92
— wikipedia brown (@eveewing) July 7, 2018
London, Coby, Aakhirah, and Lukas’s pieces from Courageous, Eccentric, Diverse: New Monuments for New Orleans went viral on Twitter thanks to the wonderful author Daniel José Older. Buzzfeed covered the excitement, which you can read all about here.
Shout out to our partners at Homer Plessy Community School and to Cartoon Network and Teaching Tolerance for supporting this special project.
#BigClassBestTen: Write Your Way In
On November 11th, Big Class and the Upward Bound program came together to support college-bound high school juniors and seniors in writing their college admissions essays.
Thank you to the students, volunteers, Upward Bound, and UNO for making the first Write Your Way In a success!
#BigClassBestTen: The Young Writers Council
In 2017, Big Class launched an exciting new program: The Young Writers Council (YWC), a citywide collective of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who identify as writers, artists and/or community changemakers.
The 2017-2018 Young Writers’ Council
In the fall semester, members of the YWC served as the editorial board and contribute to The Good Troublemakers publication, a Big Class project focusing on New Orleanian students’ thoughts and feelings on school.
Also in the fall, the YWC participated in writing workshops, site visits, and interviews with local writers, activists and community members.
In the spring, in addition to site visits and workshops, members will collectively publish a book.
Thank you to Big Class Program Manager Shannelle Millks for all her hard work establishing and mentoring the YWC, and to the 2017-2018 YWC for all their amazing work thus far and to come!
#BigClassBestTen: Writers’ Room Redesign
The Small Center for Collaborative Design partnered with Big Class to renovate the Writers’ Room in students’ own vision.
The Writers’ Room at Sylvanie Williams College Prep is a dedicated space for pre-K through 8th grade students to attend writing clubs, get feedback on their work, and collaborate with volunteers and other students. In 2017, students from the Tulane School of Architecture’s Small Center and Sylvanie students worked together to reimagine the Writers’ Room into a space that is inviting, dynamic, and encourages writing.
On May 11th, we held a celebration in the redesigned Writers’ Room with Sylvanie students, our Small Center collaborators, educators, and community members. The beautiful room reflects Sylvanie students’ own visions for the space while supporting our programmatic needs and fosters a creative, literary spirit.
Revisit our Q&A with Professor Emilie Taylor and a few students from the Design Build class:
In what ways do you think this project affected students to be better architects and members of the design community?
ET: For many of our students this is the first time they are working with a client, which is a big moment for them – it’s also the first time they have a budget, first time making something with tools, and often the first time their design ideas are being built and having real-world consequences. So there’s a lot to learn and a lot of pushing against comfort zones in that bundle. The students have to learn quickly how to communicate, collaborate, and be creative problem solvers. My hope is that the engagement with Big Class staff and their students as well as discussions about design process and access to design that are happening throughout the semester make the students think more critically about what they do, who they do it for, and how they each can be a force for good and design equity in their corner of the world.
Tell us a little bit about the creative process for this project. What did you learn by visiting the Writers’ Room, and how did you determine the final design?
Camille: In visiting the Writer’s Room, I learned a lot about the general mood of the class, like what the kids are interested in, what sort of things they would like to see in a space and what sort of things they wouldn’t enjoy. The Big Class kids that we interacted with were a funny, creative, and sometimes crazy bunch, and talking with them made me think they would enjoy a playful, vibrant space.
Paula: Visiting the school gave us the chance to talk to the teachers and the students about what they would like to see in the space and get some one to one feedback. This preliminary studies helped us narrow down to a few key needs and wants for the space which we carried through to the final product.
What were your favorite parts of working on this project?
Camille: I had a lot of favorite parts of this project. One thing that was great was working with an actual client, and having my first experience with a client be such an easy, collaborative one. Big Class was awesome, they were communicative and excited and I think that having this being my first interaction with a real client was a really positive experience. Building off of that, not only was it awesome to have that interaction, it was also awesome to be able to make something for someone and watch them see a little dream realized. Seeing the reaction of our final design felt really, really good, it felt like we had done our job and served Big Class well, and I can’t wait to see what the kids think.
Our biggest thanks to the Small Center for all their hard work and our beautiful finished Writers’ Room!
In the News: History Between These Folds in the National Association of Black Journalists
By Daja Henry
NABJ Monitor
August 12, 2017
Carver High student Kiara Geiger (’18) autographs a copy of “History Between These Folds.” (Mya Ebanks/Big Class)
New Orleans, also known as the “Big Easy,” is a cultural hub that attracts millions of tourists each year. But growing up in New Orleans can be far from easy.
Big Class, a nonprofit that focuses on students’ self-expression, is lending a hand to the city’s youth. The organization partners with local schools to encourage students to find positive ways to express themselves through writing and art.
This year, Big Class is working with the eleventh grade students of George Washington Carver High School, located in a neighborhood where residents are still recovering from the damage of Hurricane Katrina. As part of Big Class’ Young Authors’ Book Project, students wrote History Between These Folds, a collection of personal essays.
Read more here.
