As families prepare to send children back to school, bulletin boards get final touches, and pencils are freshly sharpened for another academic year, we at 826 National are taking a moment to pause—and to speak directly to the times we’re all living through.
Across the country, we’re watching real changes unfold in education: from the erosion of the Department of Education, to DEI efforts being dismantled, to funding for the arts and student support being cut back—or cut entirely. Most concerning of all, many students—especially those from historically marginalized communities—are returning to school not abuzz with the joy of learning, but filled with questions and fears about whether they and their loved ones will be seen, heard, or safe.
We see it.
We feel it.
And like many of you—we’re not okay with it.
After spending the summer listening to our incredible Network and convening with visionary leaders like Ruth Anne Buck, Principal Education and Political Consultant of Squadbuck, we came away with a clear message: our nation’s values are shifting—and not in a direction that protects or uplifts young people. Ruth Anne said it plainly: we cannot afford to be distracted by the noise. We must stay rooted in what matters most.
For us, that means staying rooted in our students. In their words. In their power. In their stories. Because when the world gets messy, young people write their way toward clarity. And when systems fail them, they write something new entirely.
Nicolle Grayson, Vice President of Communications at EdTrust, spoke to the very heart of this moment when she reflected back to us: “Every student deserves a classroom that is both a sanctuary and a studio—where their identities are protected, and their voices can soar.”
At 826, we couldn’t agree more. We proudly stand alongside educators, administrators, and school leaders across the country who are ready to protect students’ rights to imagine, create, and be heard. In a time when education feels uncertain, the student voice is our North Star.
Writing is one of the most courageous—and radical—acts a young person can take in times like these. Every story, every poem, every sentence written by a young person across 826 is not only becoming part of a growing archive—but a living testament to the power of their voice.
As we carry forward with clarity, purpose, and resolve, 826 will continue to fill the gaps left behind by a faltering system. We will listen, uplift, and champion every student brave enough to put pen to paper—remembering that the radical act of writing
preserves us,
strengthens us,
and carries us forward.
With imagination and determination,
Laura Brief
CEO, 826 National