This month we’re excited to share about Errol, a volunteer who is near and dear to our hearts!
Where are you from? Born and raised here in New Orleans
What first brought you to 826 New Orleans?
The program director is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.
(Though if you need a less creepy answer: I really like the work you guys are doing with the writing programs for the kids)
What keeps you coming back?
The kids are amazing.
The staff is great.
The events are so much fun.
I really love it there.
What are some skills you have that help you out at 826 New Orleans? I’m the chief nerd consultant and electronic problem solver. Also I’m great at checking names off on lists when we have guests. Also my most important job, keep the program director happy.
What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us?
Being a nerd for a living! I work in IT
Also doing cool things like night swan rides in city park.
Favorite book/ author?
I’m all over the place but (shocker) I’m reading a lot of sci-fi right now.
Favorite snack?
Snack, I dunno. But food in general is always gonna be shrimp.
Favorite thing about New Orleans?
It’s the best city in the world, with amazing food, people, and music. There’s too much great stuff to name but if im picking one thing….
Congrats to Chris Staudinger, our January Volunteer of the Month! Chris started volunteering with Big Class two years ago on the bilingual book project, Lo Inolvidable, at Grace King High School. Since then, Chris is been a steady force in Big Class’s Writers’ Room at Sylvanie Williams. In the past month, Chris diligently helped students write letters in response to the 2016 election for our upcoming book. Thanks for all your hard work, Chris!
What first brought you to Big Class? One of my friends, and then my mom, both heard about Big Class and told me I should look into volunteering since I was struggling to keep up with my writing. I liked how it was a double community of kid writers and adult writers. What keeps you coming back? I come back because I want to see what the kids will write. I’m pretty envious of how kids can be like firehoses with their creativity and very random. I also like the challenge of encouraging kids who aren’t as free flowing with their writing to realize they’ve got valuable things to say. What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? On a different level, prompts often elicit painful or traumatic memories in students’ lives, and those are delicate moments. It can be difficult to imagine what kids sometimes go through at really young ages here in New Orleans. It’s also difficult to know how to guide those moments into writing, but when it works, I think writing can be an invaluable outlet. One of my skills is that I understand how difficult it can be to put even the simplest thought onto paper, so I am hopefully a patient teacher for that reason. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? The biggest challenge for me is letting myself be led by the kids’ natural material, rather than trying to lead them towards my own conclusions of what good writing might be. It’s fun to watch Ashley work with the kids in the Writers’ Room for that reason. She can take some of the kids’ most random-seeming responses and engage with them to spark more and more weird material. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind one of them if you can. My first project with big class was the superhero comic book Lo Inolvidable with high school students at Grace King. The students wrote about a time in their lives when they had gone above and beyond and shown some kind of super power, which I think is a brilliant and empowering prompt that we all could probably use. Most of these kids had recently moved to New Orleans from Central America, and they had amazing stories. Many of their drawings were incredible too. One young woman cried when she read her story at the book release, if I remember correctly. It’s a good book! What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? Outside of Big Class, I work at the Contemporary Arts Center, guide kayak trips in the swamp, write, and march with a color guard team called the Flaming Flagettes.
Congrats to our December Volunteer of the Month, Fall Programming Intern Tawanda Cummings! Tawanda has been interning with Big Class every Monday and Wednesday this fall. She is the teaching assistant for the Big Class in Residence Program at Eisenhower Academy of Global Studies, where she assists with the 7/8 grade Newspaper class and the 3rd and 6th grade Bookmaking classes. She also helps out at the office, using her writing skills to craft communication and outreach for Big Class. Thanks for a great semester, Tawanda!
What first brought you to Big Class? I heard about Big Class in 2012, when I was a senior in high school. I decided to finally try and get more involved this year. I just really liked that Big Class is doing writing workshops and programs for kids who usually don’t have access to that sort of thing. What keeps you coming back? I like seeing the progression of the organization, even though I come to the office once or twice a week, it’s like every time I come in something new is happening. Also, the students that I come in contact with by volunteering on Mondays. I enjoy seeing their progression and interest in writing and brainstorming and creating something unique of their own that’s an actual representation of their own experiences and way of life. What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? My writing skills have come in handy for sure. I can write for a variety of different purposes, and I’ve used them to write newsletters, emails, worksheets, etc. Another skill that helps me is my organization skills. It always helps to be able to break tasks down into smaller, bite-sized pieces. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? I’ve really had to try and ask more questions instead of being as timid as I usually am. It’s been hard for me to come out of my shell, but at Big Class, I really have chances to throw aside any anxiousness and just put myself out there more. Instead of wasting time overthinking, I just stop and believe in myself. The environment (welcoming staff, small office) at Big Class really helps me to get into mood that’s comfortable enough for me to really do my thing. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind one of them if you can. I think that A Dark and Stormy Night was a great project. I really got to see everything that goes into planning from the beginning, so I’m glad I could help. I’m particularly proud of my A Dark and Stormy Night newsletter series. What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? When I’m not interning, I have class and I work. But for fun, I have a list of restaurants I want to go and a list of places I want to visit in the city. I also write and I love concerts.
Whether you’re a brand-new or well-seasoned Big Class volunteer, mark your calendars with these upcoming dates!
Volunteer Orientation: Sunday, August 14th from 2-4pm at 532 Louisa St. Fill out an application here to sign up!
Back-to-school info session for returning volunteers: Wednesday, August 10th at 6pm at 532 Louisa St. We’ll outline volunteer opportunities for the upcoming year, and update everyone on our plans for the future and our new youth writing center (coming Summer 2017!)
Congrats to our August volunteer of the month, Joey Oakley! Joey was a Tuesday volunteer at Akili Aftercare last year, and continually shared his own passion for writing with students. Read our interview with Joey:
What first brought you to Big Class? My friend Kurston mentioned Big Class to me, just when I was looking for a way to participate more in my community. The mission of Big Class made so much sense that it was automatic! What keeps you coming back? The kids themselves. Literally. They clamor for your help. You become pals. To see them so excited about something so academic, such a passport–how could you not? What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? Not so much anything literary, as much as embracing your role as simply a nudger of the kids as their own conduit. Example: Kid has nothing today. ‘What were you just thinking about?’ –Oh, just The Mermaid Vampire Who Electrocutes Sharks on a Planet that is half cotton candy half unicorns… What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? Rather than biggest challenge I’ll say biggest thing you can enable (re: above)–just help them get their own stuff out. Sound it out. Spell it out. Tap the paper and go, My god! That sounds important (that, for example, the dragon has fiery purple metallic scales)! We better know that, right? That’s honestly all you need to do. The kids are an endless font of creativity. You just prod them. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind one of them if you can. There was a collaboration two students were working on that resembled a cross between Pokemon and Harry Potter. It was incredible. It flowed, it had suspense, style… I couldn’t believe how old these students were (fifth grade). And, well–as above, I didn’t facilitate anything other than asking them to clarify details, what came next, etc–they already knew it all. What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? I’m currently finishing editing a novel.
Congrats to our June Volunteer of the Month, Olivia! Read our interview with Olivia here:
What first brought you to Big Class? I’m part of a group called Wildseeds: The New Orleans Octavia Butler Emergent Strategy Collective (phew!), a Black feminist collective which, among many other things, hosts book clubs and writing workshops inspired by the work of visionary speculative fiction writers of color like the late, great Octavia Butler. My friend Mwende joined the staff of Big Class and put out a call to the Wildseeds looking for volunteers. I’m a writer by passion as well as trade, and I love nothing more than hanging out with young people (the most visionary creators of all!). I worked in schools, outdoor schools, after-school and summer programs all through my teens and 20s, though it had been several years since I’d done anything in that arena besides play with my nieces’ and friends’ many children. I also freelance, so not only do I have a fairly flexible work schedule, I also spend virtually all my work time alone with my laptop. A mid-afternoon volunteer gig once a week, in a space filled with life, creativity, fun surprises, and the wild, wise voices of young folks was a perfect fit. What keeps you coming back? No two days, or groups of kids, at Open Studio are ever alike! The more open format of the program, and the shifting combinations of kids who make their way there day to day, really do allow for a measure of playfulness, freedom, and “emergent strategy” based on the needs of individual kids and the group at any given hour. Ms. Raven and Ms. Mwende do such a phenomenal job of creating a safe, fun “container” for whatever energies and intentions the young folks might be bringing into the space that day, and channeling those into creative practice. Every week I look forward to seeing which kids will be present, how they’ll interact with one another, and what will come out of their brilliant, whizzing brains next! What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? Listening is a huge one. It’s probably the skill that serves me best in life. It also helps that I love doing it, especially with young folks: asking them questions, hearing what they come up with, detecting when their imaginations are taking them someplace different than I’ve been compelled to guide them, and letting that happen. Just listening, and being present and flexible to what young folks might need from me, is a really important tool. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? I travel a bit for work, and I’ve hated to have to miss a week of Open Studio here and there. Also, I don’t know if I’d still be Volunteer of the Month if the deciding factor was kids’ actual output of finished written work when they’re with me! When I’m with kids, we tend to get caught up in “imagination loops” and not all of what we talk about ends up on the page on that particular day, though I do believe those musing sessions are a key part of the creative process! That’s what I tell myself, and them, at least. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind them if you can. Honestly, every project is great. From trading haikus with one kid to revising an epic fantasy tome with another, to an eye-opening weekend video project with some of the older girls that took me back to being on the brink of teenage — it has been such a privilege to work with the kids on everything we’ve gotten the chance to work on together. Also, I live to watch them read their published work, and support one another as emcees and audience members. They radiate with pride — and as someone who’s had the honor of having her words in print fairly frequently, that never goes away! What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? You can find me at home or in a café with aforementioned laptop, editing and writing stuff about HIV and other health and justice issues; with a pencil and notebook, jotting down ideas and aimless prose; biking around town, skirting potholes; trying to get comfortable driving a car (just got my license five months ago, for the first time in my life!); gazing at the bayou, waiting for a fish to jump (they really do that!); or dreaming up interesting ways to cook greens.
Congrats to Kesha, our May Volunteer of the Month! Read our interview with Kesha here:
What first brought you to Big Class? I first heard about Big Class from a community board notice looking for volunteers to write with children. As I was already tutoring in the neighborhood, I was initially interested in the Open Studio. Once I heard about the scope of Big Class, it was a creative endeavor to teach my own workshops, as well as to become involved in the Volunteer Leadership Krewe. What keeps you coming back? Big Class allows children to explore their own voices and to value them. By writing about their identities, experiences, cultures and imagination, their individuality emerges. They can then bring those authentic voices back into their classrooms and communities. What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? Facilitating writing workshops with the New York Writers Coalition for 9 years was a learning experience. Writing with all different ages and groups of people, valuing their voices, and publishing their work was a privilege, and a lot of that experience serves me well in my Big Classes. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? As even the simplest writing prompts can elicit powerful writing around social justice, politics or culture, I have found that I can always be surprised by the depth of ideas. Being prepared to positively engage, encourage, and consistently ask children to write more is a key strategy. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind them if you can. I love being able to use photography and art along with writing to create exciting projects. In our Water Writers class at Sylvanie Williams College Prep, 5th and 6th graders examined water from the Mississippi River and wrote about their experiences with it, positively and negatively. They also imagined New Orleans in the future and painted those visions with watercolors and water from the Mississippi. What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? When I am not in the Writers Room, I am hosting international writers, artists, musicians and researchers and exposing them to cultural experiences here in the city. I also enjoy sharing successful poems and books from Big Class writers with them so the word can spread around the world!
Congrats to our April Volunteer of the Month, Maria Delgado! Read our interview with Maria here:
What first brought you to Big Class? I went to a Big Class Poetry reading at Maple Street Books last year and really enjoyed myself. Then I found myself looking for a way to get to work with New Orleans youth outside of a school setting and talked to Ashley Teamer about volunteering. What keeps you coming back? Since my first day volunteering I haven’t gone much more than a day without thinking about the Big Class kids. They’re brilliant, funny, and wonderful company. What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? Not everyone can speak to kids without patronizing them and I’m grateful that the Big Class environment values and encourages realness and sincerity with the Big Classmates. I really enjoy relating to the kids. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? The biggest challenge is hearing from the kids about the challenges that schools in New Orleans face because of limited resources and the national emphasis on standardized testing. It’s apparent the stress that teachers and administrators face and it’s very apparent how it affects the kids’ daily school experience (and in turn, their home lives). What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind them if you can. I have gotten to illustrate two young authors’ stories at Akili Academy and I spend Monday Afternoons at Open Studio. Raven and Mwende have really made Mondays special. Because the kids seem to have myriad of emotions on Mondays Mwende started calling it “Moody Monday” and giving the kids’ writing prompts focused on their feelings at that moment. It’s been really cool getting to witness the kids express their inner emotional lives as well as their amazing imaginations. We also started doing group stretching before snack and writing time which has been really useful in all of us getting and staying present. What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? When I’m not at Big Class I’m a cook at Pagoda Cafe, read, shop at thrift stores, and play in 2 bands, TV-MA and Special Interest.
Congrats to our March Volunteer of the Month, Grace Hunter! Read our interview with Grace here:
What first brought you to Big Class? I heard about Big Class from people at 826 Valencia in San Francisco What keeps you coming back? The stories keep me coming back! I look forward to hearing or reading all about what happened in someone’s beautiful brain that day. The students’ process their worlds in such phenomenally creative ways. What are some skills you have that help you out at Big Class? Listening intently has served me well at Big Class, being a solid sounding board for any and all ideas seems to be the most useful skill I have to offer. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced at Big Class? The biggest challenge that I have had to deal with while volunteering for Big Class has been my own time management! Sometimes I get so excited as kids talk through their days it detracts from the time that needs to be spent putting those words down onto the page. What are some great projects you’ve helped with? Tell us the story behind them if you can. Some of my favorite projects have come out of the Big Class workshops. I was particularly a fan of Monster Lab. One of the students from Akili showed up. Sometimes shifting the social setting of a classroom can lend to more engagement with the assignment. At the workshop, I was blown away by how many details Jacob crammed into his story. Everything from a glowing red eye to a harrowing backstory that made me sympathize with his spooky monster. The project produced pages of scary and fascinating monster tales and I was so happy to be a part of it. What are you up to when you’re not volunteering with us? Big Class is the best part of my week–who knew Tuesdays and Thursdays were something to look forward to! On the days in between, I am fixing my house, reading comics, and kayaking around the murky water.
