About us
Young people write the future at 826NYC. Our programs unleash imagination, build core skills, and uplift the voices of our young authors.
Our Mission
Our mission is to encourage the exploration of endless possibilities through the power of writing. Undefined by circumstance, our students build the skills to boldly write their own paths forward. We support new and exciting approaches to writing and inspire student engagement. And we foster generations of creative writers and thinkers, who together will define a better future.
Core Values
We write a better tomorrow, today.
We write a path forward, committing to a future where diverse young people’s voices are heard, their stories are shared, and a culture of lifelong learning helps us all thrive. And we’re building it every day.
We celebrate diversity and respect differences.
Our work is rooted in our diverse community and centers on ideals of justice and liberation. Our lives and the world are better when we have representation and contributions from every corner of NYC.
We believe that there’s no such thing as a final draft.
We strive to create the best versions of our writing, and the best versions of ourselves. We are comfortable with change, embrace the unknown, and adapt to new challenges.
We are creative & curious, perpetual knowledge seekers.
We build the muscles of imagination to tell new and better stories every day. We believe it’s never too late to embrace new ideas and try on new forms of self-expression, and to bring joy to our work.
We provide the page, youth provide the stories.
We build our programs around the understanding that our young people are brilliant, capable, and ambitious. We hold space for students to be their most authentic selves, from brainstorm to publication.
We expand the bookshelf.
We are our students’ biggest fans, and we believe they deserve a spot on your bookshelf. We defy the literary gatekeepers, celebrate the diverse voices of NYC youth, and believe in the importance of their stories.
Why 826NYC?
Creative writing is under-represented in schools. Educators report that they do not receive enough training in teaching writing in general, let alone creative writing. At 826NYC we believe writing is the other side of the literacy coin. Creative writing doesn’t just spark imagination, self-growth, and empowerment. It also creates engagement in reading.
We believe that writing is power. When young people can express themselves in writing, whether it is fantastical tales of talking turkeys or true stories of social injustice, they are writing the future.
Our Staff
Helping a new generation of young students become young Writers.
Rebecca Darugar
Executive Director
Rebecca Darugar
Executive Director
Rebecca Darugar is a nonprofit leader and educator, with an extensive career in New York City-based nonprofits. Rebecca joined the 826NYC team in 2013 as its Programs & Volunteer Coordinator, later becoming the Director of Education and eventually the Executive Director. Rebecca previously held positions at The Opportunity Network, GO Project, and the New York Public Library. They have a background in education and youth development, working both in the classroom and in out-of-school-time programming. They also have experience leading organizational change through strategic planning and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Scripps College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Southern California.
Naomi Solomon
Director of Education
Naomi Solomon
Director of Education
Naomi Solomon joined the 826NYC team as Director of Education in December 2020, after several years of intermittent workshop volunteering and cape-making. Prior to her current role at 826NYC, she spent 10 years working in NYC youth development organizations that amplify youth creativity and leadership, including roles at Mouse, Girls Write Now, Global Kids, and Posse New York. Naomi holds a BA in Literature and an MA in Youth Studies, and is passionate about public education, youth leadership, good books, and Oxford commas. Email Naomi at naomi@826nyc.org. — Photo by Aslan Chalom
Danny Kim
Volunteer and Programs Manager
Danny Kim
Volunteer and Programs Manager
Danny joined the 826NYC team as the Volunteer and Programs Manager in June 2023. Prior to joining the team, he worked with youth to develop their leadership and craft their voices through media and film projects as a part of organizations like Global Action Project, Tribeca Film Institute, and BRIC Arts Media. Danny received a BA in Comparative Literature from the University of Washington and an MA in Media Studies from The New School. He has a passion for storytelling in many different forms, including experimental filmmaking, multimedia performance, and intergenerational oral history.
Summer Medina
Senior Volunteer and Programs Coordinator
Summer Medina
Senior Volunteer and Programs Coordinator
Summer Medina has worked in non-profit and education over the last decade. She joined 826NYC in 2019 as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and served as Community Engagement Strategist for two years before transitioning to their current role as Senior Volunteer & Programs Coordinator. This includes running part of Write After School and Teen Writers’ Collective! She received her BA at CUNY Queens College in English & Media Studies, and earned their MFA in Creative Writing from Stony Brook University. She is currently writing two novels, and probably their third book of poetry.
Email Summer at summer@826nyc.org. — Photo by Aslan Chalom.
Amani Nephew
Programs Coordinator
Amani Nephew
Programs Coordinator
Amani joined the team at 826NYC as the Programs Coordinator in August 2022. After relocating from South Florida in 2017, she spent 5 years working for the non-profit CAMBA. Most recently, she was the Internship Developer for the Learning to Work Program at Brooklyn Bridge Academy High School. She holds a BA in English from Florida International University. With a love of drawing and art design, she plans to go back to school for graphic design and hopefully step into animation. In her free time you can find her diving into anything arts and crafts related, or demolishing the stage with her Karaoke skills. Email Amani at amani@826nyc.org.
Chris Eckert
Store and Operations Manager
Chris Eckert
Store and Operations Manager
Chris joined 826NYC as Store Manager in 2016, after a decade of volunteering in the store, in the education programs, and in the capacity of someone who was willing to blow up 200 balloons or get hit in the head with a steel chair for a student’s film. When he is not managing BSSCo. he tutors, writes, and strives to straddle the fine line between curating and hoarding regarding a personal library. Those are his actual glasses. Photo by Aslan Chalom.
Stella Raffle-Wax
Senior Store & Communications Associate
Stella Raffle-Wax
Senior Store & Communications Associate
Stella Raffle-Wax is a Brooklyn native who grew up going to the Superhero Supply Store. She started at 826NYC as a volunteer during the virtual school year, joined the staff in 2021, and now works as the Senior Store and Communications Associate. She holds a BA in Politics & Human Rights from Marymount Manhattan College, and has previously worked in Youth Development as a staff member at URJ Crane Lake Camp. She’s eaten the Ben & Jerry’s Vermonster twice, and in her spare time, you’ll find her tending to her farm in Stardew Valley, or adventuring as a gnome bard in her Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Hunter Julo
Store Associate
Hunter Julo
Store Associate
Hunter joined 826NYC as a Store Associate in February of 2024. They are a writer, editor, and barista from Kansas City currently based in Brooklyn. Prior to working at 826NYC, Hunter graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in Creative Writing where they studied creative nonfiction, fiction, and playwriting. Aside from writing, Hunter is passionate about vintage clothing, good coffee, and Moonstruck (1987). They can often be found listening to live music, at the movie theater, or completing a New York Times crossword puzzle.
826 Founders
Dave Eggers
Nínive Calegari
826NYC Founders
Scott Seeley
Joan Kim
Board of Directors
President
David Tuffy
Vice President
Ted Wolff
Secretary
Christian Rongavilla
Treasurer
Richard Kando
Members
Michael Colagiovanni
Liza Demby
Jamal Edwards
Michelle McGovern
Aransas Savas
Danielle Sinay
Andrew Sparkler
David Trahan
Sam Valenti IV
Kathryn Yontef
826 Network
