San Francisco, CA – We received notice that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has terminated our grant. This decision comes alongside renewed efforts by the current administration to eliminate the NEA agency entirely. These actions are disheartening, but not surprising. In times of political restlessness, uncertainty, and cultural pressure, the arts—and especially youth voices—are often the first to be targeted and silenced.
“The termination of federal grant funding from the NEA is a profound setback—not just for 826 National, but for the literary arts world at large. At a time when young people’s voices are urgently needed, these cuts threaten to quiet their stories and vision for our shared future. 826 National remains unwavering in our mission to ensure that writing education is free and accessible to students from historically underserved communities. We call on our community to stand with us in affirming what we know to be true: writing is a right, a necessity, and the voices of all young people belong at the center of our national narrative.” — Laura Brief, CEO, 826 National Youth Writing
Our country now more than ever, needs the arts, needs the voices of our youth leading us with belonging and civic imagination. Federal entities may turn their backs on the literary arts, but we will not. With your partnership, this movement endures—and so do the voices of the next generation.
For media inquiries, please contact Heidi Lepe at 805-267-9479 or 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 U.S., along with the words of thousands 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. Currently the 826 Network has nine chapters in nine major US cities: Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, Washington DC, with approximately 775,000 students accessing free programs and resources provided by chapters and 826 Digital. Visit 826national.org to learn more about our writing movement.