Kona began her 826 journey as a volunteer at the 826 Valencia Tenderloin Center and later led its Podcasting Field Trip program. In 2019, she transitioned into a new role at 826 National as a Network Support Manager, supporting all nine of our chapters across the country. Over the past seven years, her leadership and contributions have been invaluable in shaping our Network into what it is today. Learn what it’s like to work at 826 National through Kona’s perspective, and read more about her biggest accomplishments across the Network below!

826 National is currently seeking applicants for a Network Community & Learning Manager. If you’re interested, please look over our updated job description here.

Q: What brought you to 826 National, and the work behind 826?

K: Before joining 826 National, I was part of the first Programs team at 826 Valencia’s Tenderloin Center. In that role, I had the honor of working closely with so many teams—Volunteer Engagement, Stores, Design, Development and Communications, Operations, and others—who helped make the magic happen every day.

That experience gave me a deep appreciation for all the behind-the-scenes work that makes student-facing programming possible. I saw how much expertise, ownership, creativity, and care each person brought to their role, and how important it was for teams to stay connected to one another in order to serve students well.

As a chapter staff member, I also attended Staff Development Conferences, where I had the chance to meet incredible people from across the 826 Network. I was struck by how talented, generous, and welcoming 826 staff members are, and how much there was to learn from one another. When this position opened at 826 National, I was excited by the opportunity to get to know more of those people across the country, to support their work, and to help create more opportunities for connection and shared learning across the Network.

Q: What’s one achievement you’ve made here that you’re particularly proud of?

K: The Chapter Exchange Program has been a highlight for me every year. Through the program, staff members across the 826 Network have the opportunity to visit another chapter for up to three days, learn from their peers, and bring new ideas and practices back home.

There is so much valuable learning that is difficult to capture virtually, or through a spreadsheet, toolkit, or program recap. Just as we know students learn deeply side by side with caring adults, adults also learn powerfully by being side by side with one another—when immersed in a program, event, writing center, or community space. The Chapter Exchange Program offers an annual opportunity for that kind of learning.

Over the years, we’ve seen former visitors become hosts, former hosts become visitors, and staff members who once supported a visit from behind the scenes go on to visit another chapter themselves. We’ve also seen visitors learn not only from their hosts, but from fellow visitors who happened to be there at the same time. One visitor shared that by the end of their exchange, they, their fellow visitor, and their host had all become genuine friends they could reach out to about anything. That captures what I love most about the program.

I’m especially grateful for every host and hosting chapter that has put such thought and care into creating meaningful visit experiences over the years—this program would not be possible without them!

Q: What is your favorite memory here at 826 National?

K: Staff Development Conference holds a lot of favorite memories for me. For several years, it was our major internal professional development gathering, bringing staff from across the 826 Network together to learn, connect, and share what was happening at their chapters and in their communities.

One part I especially loved was developing the Chapter Highlights portion of the conference. Each chapter had the opportunity to recap their year and shine a spotlight on a local project or practice they were excited to share with the rest of the Network. We created both informal, science fair-style displays that attendees could browse throughout the event, and more formal presentations where chapters could discuss a project in depth with the full group.

Those sessions sparked so many rich conversations during the conference and long after it ended. Staff members were able to see what their peers were trying, ask questions, adapt ideas, and find inspiration in work happening across the country. Hearing the buzz of conversation in the halls was electric!

While Network learning is taking new shapes going forward, I’m hopeful that the seeds of relationships, curiosity, and cross-chapter inspiration that were planted at past Staff Development Conferences will continue to grow in virtual spaces ahead.

Q: What is something you’re going to miss about 826 National?

K: I’m going to miss the people most of all. 826 attracts people who are deeply creative, thoughtful, funny, and committed—not only to students, but to one another and to the communities they serve. Whether it’s former theater kids, indoor kids, astrology kids, or none of the above, I’ll miss everyone: our team culture, our inside jokes, our supportive and celebratory Slack culture, and (most especially?) our color-coded spreadsheets. 

I’ll also miss the everyday generosity of this Network—the way a question asked from one corner of the country is met with resources, stories, and encouragement from every other corner. And of course, I’ll miss being surrounded by young people’s words every day: poignant, hilarious, surprising, and a constant reminder of why this work matters. 

Q: What advice do you have for interested candidates? What disposition should they bring to their work and what expectations should they have of this position (and working with 826 National in general).

K:  Come in curious and ready to listen. The people drawn to work at 826 are brilliant, passionate, creative, and deeply committed to young writers. This role offers a unique opportunity to get to know staff members across the country, understand what they’re building in their local communities, and think carefully about how 826 National can help them do their best work. 

A big part of the role is creating and holding spaces for chapter staff to discuss what’s working, what’s challenging, what’s emerging, and what might be useful to share more broadly. Inspiration and innovation can show up in any conversation, whether it’s a cohort call, a chapter visit, a resource request, or a quick check-in with a colleague. 

This position also asks you to be a bridge between the work happening on the ground at chapters and the work happening at National. That means translating ideas across contexts, building systems that support connection, and staying grounded in the real experiences of staff and students across the Network. Expect to learn something new from your colleagues every single day.

If you’re interested in becoming 826 National’s next Network Community & Learning Manager, please look over our updated job description here.

“Within these pages, you’ll meet a scientist and ant alien duo who ‘saved the world, and continued to be friends’ while bringing insect justice to Earth; taco superheroes with a ‘taco truck . . . as fast as a rocket’; and sisters who survive a 2125 regime and change their destiny with ‘one press of the button.’ These stories invite us into worlds of wonder, struggle, courage, and hope.”

—Tony Weaver, Jr., author, educator, and storyteller

No Ordinary Dreamer is now available for pre-order coming this August 2026!  

Featuring wondrous worlds, visions of the future, and heroic reflections, this anthology showcases the work of extraordinary young authors in grades 5–12 from across the country with a special foreword from author, educator, and storyteller Tony Weaver, Jr.!

Receive 20% off your copy with code: 826DREAMER

In this book, anything is possible.

You’ll dive into incredible new worlds—including an endless ocean planet where one glowing lighthouse may be the only thing keeping the darkness away. You’ll meet Bob, a chef and SUPA-HERO who believes “all villains are just hangry people.” You’ll encounter scientists and ant-aliens fighting insect injustice, kids standing up to bullies, strangers becoming unlikely allies, and young people discovering courage they didn’t know they had. These stories and poems won’t just transport you to fantastical new places—they might change the way you see your own world, too.
Science fiction opens doors. It asks: What if?

What if kindness could change the future? What if ordinary people became heroes? What if imagining a better world was the first step toward building one?

These young writers are dreaming up new planets, strange technologies, and unforgettable adventures—but they’re also exploring hope, courage, justice, and belonging along the way.

“This is no ordinary book. It’s not just a collection of superhero and science fiction stories; it’s a portal that takes you straight into our thoughts and feelings. It’s a book about fighting challenges in young people’s lives, about the healing that comes afterward, and about finding yourself in the process.”

–The 826 National Student Advisory Board:

Aisosa Erhamwonyi, Grade 11, 826NYC⁠
Athena Caasi, Grade 9, 826NYC⁠
Benjamin Risher, Grade 8, 826DC⁠
Emma Fisher, Grade 8, 826DC⁠
Everton Morrison, Grade 8, 826DC⁠
Katherine George, Grade 8, 826DC⁠
Rowan Yordy, Grade 12, 826michigan⁠
Taylor Tropez, Grade 12, 826 New Orleans⁠
Ziad El Jundi, Grade 10, 826NYC⁠
Zola Lucas, Grade 9, 826DC⁠

In the fall of 2025, 826 National partnered with Tony Weaver, Jr., acclaimed author of Weirdo, to create “Write Your Power,” an 826 Digital lesson exploring world-building, character development, speculative fiction, and poetry offering students an avenue to storytell. Hundreds of young writers accepted the challenge, crafting fantastical worlds, unlikely superheroes, and powerful journeys of self-discovery and the result was the inspiring body of work we announce today, No Ordinary Dreamer. 

Celebrate 74 young authors with us as they remind us that writing is power: the power to imagine new worlds, challenge limitations, and shape the future they are already creating.

Laura Brief, M.A., Ed.M., CEO, 826 National Youth Writing, and Miah Daughtery, Ed.D., educator, researcher, literary expert, and vice chair of 826 National’s board made the case that the country’s current literacy and mental health crises have a shared solution: writing. 

They presented clear evidence—both research and experiential—that the U.S. literacy crisis is not just about declining reading scores but about the systemic neglect of writing, especially for marginalized students. 

“Here’s the truth about literacy in America: we talk about and assess reading endlessly, but we’ve stopped asking if students can write. The last national scored writing assessment was in 2011. That data indicated a serious problem: 9 out of 10 Black and Hispanic twelfth graders did not write at grade-level proficiency. Does anyone think writing has gotten better?” Miah Daughtery, Ed.D., educator, researcher and literacy expert asked. 

At the same time, reading scores have fallen to their lowest levels in three decades. Just 31% of eighth graders and 26% of twelfth graders read at or above proficiency. We’ve built an education system that treats writing, the act of producing language, of shaping thought, as an afterthought. To reverse course on the nation’s literacy crisis, we must remember that writing is as important as reading. And that each is the key to the other.

Writing also remains an overlooked force for change in the youth mental health crisis, despite its proven ability to serve as a tool for both prevention and intervention. Today, one in five children in the United States struggles with a mental-health challenge, but only 20% receive supportive care. The suicide rate for children of color is nearly twice that of their peers. And 40% of teens report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

“If the literacy crisis is partially about whose stories are told, the mental health crisis is about what happens when young people can’t tell theirs. When young people don’t see their own stories reflected back, they start to question if their stories matter. We talk about mental health as if our only tool is the counselor’s office, but mental health support can also take place on the page,” Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National Youth Writing emphasized.

To scale writing as a mental health intervention, 826 National launched the Write to Thrive Fund, providing grants, educator training, and research support to embed writing into schools and youth programs. It is first of kind to invest in writing as prevention and to aim to bring these proven benefits to scale.

Demand far exceeded expectations: organizations serving nearly 1 million students, with the majority from low-income and historically underserved communities, applied. Most applicants already believe in writing’s impact but lack resources to implement programs. By investing in writing, the Write to Thrive initiative seeks to simultaneously address literacy inequity and youth mental health, giving students both the skills and the language to understand themselves and be heard. 

A pilot cohort across six diverse sites—urban, rural, tribal, and alternative education settings, is already underway:

• Southern Indian Health Council – A tribal health center serving Native youth along the California-Arizona border, where wellness is understood as inseparable from culture and community.
• COR Inc – A nonprofit embedding the program directly into 12th-grade English classes at a Title I high school in Atlanta with a 5% grade-level reading proficiency rate. 
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas – A large-scale urban afterschool system serving hundreds of young people across the city.
• YouthBuild Philadelphia – A re-engagement school serving young adults ages 17-20 who have left traditional high school, where writing becomes a tool for processing experience and imagining a future.
• 826 MSP in Minneapolis, running weekly writing workshops for 6th and 7th graders during what their team calls ‘a crucial time’ for students navigating community tensions and uncertainty.
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Smith, Arkansas – A rural community where access to writing programs has been nearly nonexistent.

Each site will serve between 100 and 500 students through Write to Thrive, implementing 826’s tailored, SEL-integrated curriculum across eight consecutive instructional sessions—supported by facilitator training, research embedded from the start, and the funding to bring it to life.

More than 50 partners, community members, funders, and youth-serving professionals attended 826 National’s public event, representing public schools, universities, nonprofits, foundations, and mental health and policy organizations from across the country seeking solutions. 

Margins to Microphones: Writing as a Path to Education and Emotional Equity advocated for writing not as enrichment but as essential infrastructure.

To access the event recording click here. 

To invest in the Write to Thrive Fund click here.

For media inquiries, please contact Heidi Lepe at heidi@826national.org

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826 National is the largest youth writing network in the United States, amplifying the impact of writing and publishing centers across the country, along with the words of young writers. We serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success. The 826 Network serves approximately 903,000 students with free writing programs and resources across nine chapters in major U.S. cities—Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—and through 826 Digital. Our online platform, 826 Digital, supports over 23,000 educators nationwide with teaching tools and professional support. Visit 826national.org to learn more about our writing movement.

SAN FRANCISCO – 826 National announces the inaugural cohort of organizations selected for the Write to Thrive Fund, a national initiative designed to strengthen youth well-being by using writing as a preventative mental health and wellness tool. The inaugural cohort will serve approximately 1,500 young people across multiple systems including education, health, and afterschool programming.

The inaugural Write to Thrive grantees include:

• Southern Indian Health Council — A Tribal health organization serving Native youth along the California–Arizona border, embedding writing within a holistic community wellness and youth development framework.
• COR Inc — A nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia, operating within a Title I high school model and integrating writing into a school-based mental health and wellness ecosystem.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas — A large-scale urban afterschool system within the national Boys & Girls Clubs network, serving young people across Dallas, Texas.
• YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School — A re-engagement education model serving opportunity youth, where writing supports identity reconstruction, voice, and future orientation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 826 MSP — Serving young people across Minneapolis, embedding writing as a space for reflection, voice, and belonging.

Grounded in two decades of practice and emerging research, Write to Thrive is based on the idea that writing can help young people develop core social-emotional skills linked to mental health and long-term well-being. When young people feel supported and seen, writing offers a practical way to express emotion, reflect on experience, and imagine new possibilities.

Together, these sites represent the range of contexts in which young people can meaningfully turn to writing as a tool for care and growth.

“This cohort allows us to move beyond belief and toward evidence,” said Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National. “We know writing helps young people process emotions, build confidence, and strengthen their sense of self. Write to Thrive is about understanding how that happens across different settings, and how educators and facilitators can reliably bring those benefits to young people in their care.”

Through Write to Thrive, participating organizations receive a $20,000 grant along with access to 826 National’s writing-and-SEL curriculum, facilitator training, and implementation support.

Interest in the pilot underscores the urgency of this work. With limited seed funding, 826 National received nearly 400 applications from organizations nationwide representing more than a million young people in education, health, and community-based youth systems.

826 National’s initiative reveals a critical demand for preventive tools that educators and youth workers can use in everyday settings. Visit 826 National’s Write to Thrive Fund page to learn more and support this work.

Upon request by the media, interviews are available with Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National. For inquiries, please contact Heidi Lepe at heidi@826national.org.

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826 National is the largest youth writing network in the United States, amplifying the impact of writing and publishing centers across the country, along with the words of young writers. We serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success. The 826 Network serves approximately 903,000 students with free writing programs and resources across nine chapters in major U.S. cities—Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—and through 826 Digital. Our online platform, 826 Digital, supports over 23,000 educators nationwide with teaching tools and professional support. Visit 826national.org to learn more about our writing movement. 

So many young people are moving through their days holding questions and worries that feel bigger than they are. They are taking in fear they didn’t create, uncertainty they can’t resolve, and changes they don’t control—while still being asked to show up to school, to keep learning, to keep going.

They carry a lot. And too often, there are few places to set that weight down.

When the world feels unsteady, young people need spaces where their words are invited in—welcomed, taken seriously, and held with care. Places where they can name what they notice, what they fear, what they long for, and imagine something better—cities made of skittles, and pink clouds that can carry a tune, even.

There is a particular kind of safety that comes from being heard.

And a particular kind of relief that comes with the act of imagining.

This is why the work of listening—really listening—matters so much, especially right now.

Adults, please keep stepping in. Hold space. Listen closely. Stay present with the young people in your lives, even when doing so feels uncertain or tender. Right now, young people are reaching for community, nourishment, and a future that feels more humane.

826 National Board Member and Poet, Amanda Gorman shares,

“Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried”

We see this truth in students’ writing every day. A seed planted with care. Tended patiently. Already sprouting. A reminder that even in difficult moments, young people are hoping and hurting and growing and trying.

As you continue showing up—preparing lessons, volunteering in your communities, supporting your local 826 chapter, and sustaining this writing movement—thank you for making room for students’ stories, questions, and mixed feelings. And to the fifth-grade writer who shared her Seed of Encouragement: thank you for reminding us what care can grow.

With community and care,

Laura Brief

CEO, 826 National Youth Writing

Kayla will lead all the research functions, and Chris will lead our efforts to cultivate educator communities of practice through 826 Digital and teacher professional development. Both will help to represent 826’s pedagogy nationally as voices for transformative writing education.

We invite you to take a moment to get to know them a little more as they begin their journey at 826 National!

Kayla Good, Ph.D, Director of Research

Kayla brings eight years of experience designing and leading research programs at the intersection of education and psychology. She graduated with her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Stanford University, where she led projects exploring how different aspects of learning contexts— for example, how teachers frame their feedback or  the extent to which students are concerned  about appearing smart to others —shape students’ motivation and resilience. Kayla is a strong believer in the idea that research and data can tell powerful stories, ones that have the potential to drive real-world change. Guided by this belief, she communicates insights and recommendations from her research through outlets such as Scientific American to reach key stakeholders like teachers and parents. As the Director of Research, Kayla is excited to help lead the charge in finding and telling the stories that demonstrate and amplify our students’ (and 826’s!) impact. 

“At 826, it feels like the question isn’t just, ‘How many students are we reaching?’ but is ‘Are we reaching the students who need these resources most?’ I strongly believe that every student deserves access to engaging, fun, evidence-based writing education. I feel grateful to be a part of an organization that focuses on ensuring that access, especially for students who have been historically and systemically excluded from receiving it.”

-Kayla Good, Ph.D.

W. Chris Lee, Ph.D., Director of Learning and Innovation

Chris joins 826 National with over fifteen years of experience in learning, program evaluation, and implementation strategy across non-profit, K-12 public, and higher education settings. Chris is originally from Atlanta, GA, where he began his career as an Economics Teacher before relocating to Austin, TX to complete his Ph.D. in Education Policy & Planning at The University of Texas. Chris also earned a Master’s in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education from Kennesaw State University. The majority of Chris’ research and work experiences have focused on the equitable implementation of educational policies and programs, with an emphasis on school choice. Chris relocated to the Bay Area after graduate school and joined the San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent’s Office, where he served as a Research & Evaluation Manager for the African American Achievement & Leadership Initiative, and Senior Manager of Strategy, Research, and Evaluation at the Public Education Enrichment Fund during his nine-year tenure. As Chris shares, “increasing equitable access to and success with high-quality instruction, programs, and community resources for marginalized students and their families has been the guiding light of Chris’s career, and I look forward to advancing this essential and impactful work at 826 National.”

“I’m elated to explore, develop, and iteratively refine systems, practices, and resources that increase teacher efficacy and students’ access to quality writing supports. 826 National is a leader in this field, and I’m eager to contribute to existing and emergent efforts to enrich the learning experiences and materials that students and educators have access to in the service of improving academic, professional, and social conditions and outcomes.”

-W. Chris Lee, Ph.D,

We’re deeply grateful for their commitment and leadership. Together, Chris and Kayla will help us continue uplifting youth voices and ensuring students everywhere have access to the power and joy of writing. Please join us in welcoming them!

The Write to Thrive Fund will equip organizations with 826 National’s writing and social and emotional learning curriculum and training, strengthening their capacity to use writing as a preventative tool. These efforts will add to 826’s decades-long work in the field. As a leading national expert, 826 has shown this model to be tested and true: Structured writing can reduce stress, improve mood, and build cognitive flexibility. Students who write regularly report greater resilience, stronger social and emotional skills, and deeper engagement in school.

Josiah, a thirteen-year-old student from 826michigan, shares: “I’ve been journaling about my feelings and how everything is feeling because it’s always been hard for me to put that into words. Writing made me feel better . . .  It clears my head but also fills it with the things I want it to be filled with.”

“Today’s youth mental health landscape requires community-based organizations to consider the mental health needs of the young members engaged in their programs. Nonprofit leaders play a critical role in helping young people manage complex emotions and thrive. Providing youth with preventative interventions like writing can help. However, building initiatives to protect youth emotional well-being is hard work and calls for resources and support. 826 National’s Write to Thrive Fund is providing this support.”
—Erlinda Delacruz, Director of Community Programs, The Jed Foundation

The Write to Thrive Fund will prioritize applications from organizations in rural, urban, and tribal communities serving the needs of low-income, BIPOC, and/or English Language Learner (ELL) students in grades 4–12. 

Full guidelines and eligibility details for the Write to Thrive Fund are available here.

To learn more about 826 National, subscribe to the newsletter here.

Upon request by the media, interviews are available with Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National. For inquiries, please contact Heidi Lepe at heidi@826national.org.

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826 National is the largest youth writing network in the United States, amplifying the impact of writing and publishing centers across the country, along with the words of young writers. We serve as an international proof point for writing as a tool for young people to ignite and channel their creativity, explore identity, advocate for themselves and their community, and achieve academic and professional success. The 826 Network serves approximately 903,000 students with free writing programs and resources across nine chapters in major U.S. cities—Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.—and through 826 Digital. Our online platform, 826 Digital, supports over 23,000 educators nationwide with teaching tools and professional support. Visit 826national.org to learn more about our writing movement. 

This opportunity invites students across the country in grades 5 through 12 to write and submit their work to this anthology–whether filled with bold new worlds, extravagant superpowers, unlikely heroes, or unforgettable villains. This is a chance for young people to imagine the future through the lens of science fiction and step into their creative freedom.

Why This Theme, Why Now

In a world where young people are facing unprecedented uncertainty, environmental collapse, social injustice, and political division, the importance of science fiction and fantasy has never been more urgent—or more powerful—than now. 826 National and the network-wide team see this genre not just as a creative escape, but as a radical tool for hope, agency, and transformation—inviting students to dream up new worlds beyond the broken systems before us.

Through writing, students can:

• Imagine change before it exists—as Ursula K. Le Guin described, science fiction is a “thought experiment” that reveals both dangers and possibilities.
• Critique today’s world through metaphor, as Octavia Butler’s Parable series does with themes of survival and justice.
• Build worlds where they belong, free of oppressive systems, in the tradition of Afrofuturism, Indigenous futurisms, and queer speculative fiction.
• Practice empathy and agency by asking: what if things could be different here, in our world—and what role could I play in shaping it?
• Feel the joy and wonder of invention: new languages, impossible technologies, galaxies waiting to be explored.

This anthology theme invites students to harness their power transforming both themselves and the world they are leading because we believe the future is in their hands.

Taking inspiration from Tony’s 826 Digital lesson, “Write Your Power,” students can explore prompts that focus on world-building, character development, speculative fiction, and poetry. All lessons and student handouts are available in English and Spanish and include revision strategies to support students as they get ready to submit their work.

Submission Details

Educator Submission Form
EDUCATORS: after your students write (and revise!) their pieces, you can submit work for multiple students at once using our Educator Submission Form.

Student and Families Submission Form
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES: students also have the option to submit their own work directly using this form, available in Spanish as well. Parent/guardian permission is required for all students under the age of eighteen.

All submissions are due by December 5, 2025.

At 826 National Youth Writing, we believe writing is a lifeline. Beyond school assignments, writing is a mental health intervention proven to help young people express emotions, reorganize brain patterns, and build resilience.

Research shows that writing can reorganize neural pathways, freeing cognitive resources and reduce the mental load of unprocessed emotions. With supportive writing programs and spaces, students can untangle complicated feelings, confront self-doubt, and turn pain into story. For BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth, who often face systemic barriers to mental health support, writing offers a private space to process experiences, reclaim agency, and feel seen. Students gain confidence when they access writing as a tool—all critical ingredients for mental well-being and a skill they keep in their pocket for the rest of their lives.

Here are 5 Ways Writing Supports Youth Mental Health

1. Writing Provides Emotional Release and Coping Skills

Writing gives young people a safe outlet to name feelings that might otherwise stay bottled up. Journaling and expressive writing are proven to reduce stress and symptoms of depression by helping students process difficult emotions and rewrite negative self-talk. Programs like 826 see this every day, but the practice can happen anywhere young people are given time and space to write. A student in our program shares,

“I’ve been journaling about my feelings and how everything is feeling because it’s always been hard for me to put that into words. Writing made me feel better… it clears my head but also fills it with the things I want it to be filled with.”
— Josiah, 13 years old, 826michigan

2. Writing Strengthens Self-Understanding 

Reflective writing invites students to explore who they are and what they value. Nearly 94% of 826 students report that writing helps them better understand themselves. When students engage in the practice and see their stories published, they begin to believe they have something worth saying. 

Parents notice the change, too:

“Her increased comfort in sharing her thoughts has led her to become emotionally stronger, more open-minded, and confident. At a time when the world seems uncertain, Ayana has used writing to make sense of what is going on around her.”
— Sumaiya, parent of an 826NYC student

3. Writing Builds Empathy and Connection

Creative writing allows students to step into someone else’s shoes—whether that’s a fictional character or a classmate. This practice of perspective-taking builds empathy, a critical skill for forming healthy relationships and reducing isolation. In 826 programs, students improved their ability to express perspective by 5.3%, and 96% of educators observed growth in students’ social-emotional learning. Writing becomes more than self-expression—it’s a way to connect, understand, and feel understood.

4. Writing Creates Safe Spaces and Belonging

Belonging is a critical first step to counteracting the isolation many youth face. Before students can thrive academically or emotionally, they need to feel safe. Writing offers young people a safe way to share their voice and know it matters—whether in a classroom, after-school program, community space, or at home. These environments reduce isolation and build trust. In 826 programs, 93% of students report feeling safe and supported, but the principle is universal: when writing spaces honor student voices, belonging takes root.

5. Writing Fuels Agency and Hope

When students write, they don’t just process what has happened to them—they begin to imagine what could be. From a personal essay to a letter to an elected official, or a published anthology,  young people use their words to advocate, influence, and envision change. Writing as a practice of agency and imagination sustains hope, one of the strongest protective factors for mental health.

What Educators and Youth Advocates Can Do

You don’t have to run a writing center to make writing part of your approach to supporting mental health. Here are a few easy ways to start in your lesson planning and space:

• Integrate writing into daily practice with quick journaling or reflection prompts.
• Create safe, welcoming environments where students feel respected and ready to share ideas.
• Celebrate student work—display writing in classrooms, host reading events, or publish collections to boost confidence.
• Partner with local organizations like 826 to connect students with writing mentors and creative opportunities. Find an 826 chapter near you. Don’t have one? We have 826 Digital offering free writing resources and educator tools accessible as well!
• Advocate for funding and professional development that prioritize writing and SEL objectives in your school or program.

Youth mental health is one of the most urgent issues of our time, and writing can be part of the solution. Now is the time to reimagine writing itself—not just as a path to literacy, but as a path to mental health, civic engagement, joy, and creative expression. Now is the time to prioritize it. Imagine a room full of young people—pencils moving across pages, emotions being untangled, self-doubt giving way to self-expression. That’s not just a writing workshop. That’s transformation.

Join us in making writing a lifeline for every young person.

Access 826 National Youth Writing’s resource and educator tool on writing and mental health to learn more.