826LA Youth Writing Programs
826LA and The Time Travel Mart – Echo Park, 1714 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
About
826LA Youth Writing Programs offers workshops, tutoring, and one-on-one writing support where students work on writing stories based on prompts. The program also includes after school tutoring, homework help, evening and weekend workshops, in-school programs, field trips, assistance with student publications, college access, help for English language learners, and support with college and scholarship applications.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: After school tutoring from Monday to Thursday
• Price: Programs are free for students; workshops, tutoring, and field trips are described as free, and 826LA partners with schools throughout the city to provide free programs
826LA is dedicated to unlocking and cultivating the creative power of writing for students ages 6 to 18, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. 826LA is celebrating 20 years of storytelling, creativity, and community. The organization serves over 7,000 students across Los Angeles each year and operates two vibrant writing labs that include Time Travel Marts in Echo Park and Mar Vista. Publishing student works is a key component of the program, and the Black Writers Initiative, launched in 2022, has a stated goal to increase the number of Black and African American students in programming by 550 over three years.
826LA partners with schools throughout the city to provide free programs, and volunteers, donors, and partners support these programs. Angelenos volunteer more than 15,000 hours at 826LA each year, and the volunteer corps includes writers, artists, and professionals. 826LA provides one-on-one attention in overcrowded LAUSD classrooms by bringing trained volunteers in to support students.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Jaime Balboa; Chief of Staff Diego Quevedo; Director of Education Shani Foster; Director of Development Christie Thomas; Associate Director of Community Engagement Mateo Acosta; Programs & Operations Managers Pedro Estrada (Echo Park) and Mike Dunbar (Mar Vista); Store and General Operations Manager for the Time Travel Marts in Echo Park and Mar Vista, Carinne Kemp; Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Alma Carrillo; Senior Manager of Volunteer Innovation and Assessment Trevor Crown; Development Manager Cole Montgomery; Institutional Giving Manager Katie Feige; Senior Writers’ Room Program Coordinator at Roosevelt High School, Wendy Beltran; Writers’ Room Program Coordinator at Manual Arts High School, Marco Beltran; Senior Community Relations Coordinator Ariadne Makridakis Arroyo; Tutoring Program Coordinator Arisdeysi Cruz; Senior Civic Engagement Coordinator Ariana Ponce Olivares; Creative Engagement Specialist Wilson Swain; In-Schools and Tutoring Program Coordinator Julia Malinow; Store Associate Caz Shen; and Field Trips and Operations Coordinator Gabriela Romero.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: After school tutoring from Monday to Thursday
• Price: Programs are free for students; workshops, tutoring, and field trips are described as free, and 826LA partners with schools throughout the city to provide free programs
826LA is dedicated to unlocking and cultivating the creative power of writing for students ages 6 to 18, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. 826LA is celebrating 20 years of storytelling, creativity, and community. The organization serves over 7,000 students across Los Angeles each year and operates two vibrant writing labs that include Time Travel Marts in Echo Park and Mar Vista. Publishing student works is a key component of the program, and the Black Writers Initiative, launched in 2022, has a stated goal to increase the number of Black and African American students in programming by 550 over three years.
826LA partners with schools throughout the city to provide free programs, and volunteers, donors, and partners support these programs. Angelenos volunteer more than 15,000 hours at 826LA each year, and the volunteer corps includes writers, artists, and professionals. 826LA provides one-on-one attention in overcrowded LAUSD classrooms by bringing trained volunteers in to support students.
The leadership team includes Executive Director Jaime Balboa; Chief of Staff Diego Quevedo; Director of Education Shani Foster; Director of Development Christie Thomas; Associate Director of Community Engagement Mateo Acosta; Programs & Operations Managers Pedro Estrada (Echo Park) and Mike Dunbar (Mar Vista); Store and General Operations Manager for the Time Travel Marts in Echo Park and Mar Vista, Carinne Kemp; Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships and Communications Alma Carrillo; Senior Manager of Volunteer Innovation and Assessment Trevor Crown; Development Manager Cole Montgomery; Institutional Giving Manager Katie Feige; Senior Writers’ Room Program Coordinator at Roosevelt High School, Wendy Beltran; Writers’ Room Program Coordinator at Manual Arts High School, Marco Beltran; Senior Community Relations Coordinator Ariadne Makridakis Arroyo; Tutoring Program Coordinator Arisdeysi Cruz; Senior Civic Engagement Coordinator Ariana Ponce Olivares; Creative Engagement Specialist Wilson Swain; In-Schools and Tutoring Program Coordinator Julia Malinow; Store Associate Caz Shen; and Field Trips and Operations Coordinator Gabriela Romero.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
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