Board Member Openings
ID: 826 MSP’s youth writing center is pictured from the street-view, with this text on top: “Board member openings at 826 MSP!”
826 MSP is looking for new board members to join our team. Interested in educational equity and creative writing opportunities for the next generation of Twin Cities writers? Check out the full position description below (or download here) and share widely.
Board and Committee Member Description
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.826MSP.org
Address: 1915 E. 22nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone Number: 612-259-8562
Twitter: https://twitter.com/826msp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/826MSP/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/826msp/
Background:
OUR MISSION: 826 MSP’s mission is to empower underserved K–12 students to think creatively, write effectively, and succeed academically alongside a community of caring volunteers.
CHALLENGE: Systemic racism is highly entrenched in our societies and educational institutions, and, as a result, there is inequitable access to education, or an “opportunity gap” between BIPOC students and their White peers. Minnesota's opportunity gap is one of the worst in the nation, and this disparity has major implications for Minnesota’s youth and families and for the future of our community.
OUR SOLUTION: 826 MSP empowers diverse communities of K-12 writers in the Twin Cities with free in-school and out-of-school academic and leadership support, writing enrichment, and publishing opportunities. As part of an ecosystem of organizations working to dismantle the systemic racism which perpetuates opportunity gaps, 826 MSP empowers historically marginalized youth to find and fine-tune their voices as writers, artists, and leaders. We are the ninth chapter of the acclaimed 826 National network of youth writing centers, allowing us to amplify the voices of Twin Cities youth on a national scale and collaborate with writing communities across the United States.
PROGRAMS AND IMPACT: Since opening in 2009, we have served more than 10,000 young authors in schools, on-site at our youth writing center, at community-based sites, and through distance learning. All of our programs are free of charge and include:
After-School Writing Lab
● Open Monday-Thursday in-person or virtually for help on K-12 homework and creative writing which leads to publication
● Connects volunteer tutors one-to-one or one-to-some for individualized tutoring and support
● Two chapbooks of creative writing from ASWL’s young authors published annually
Young Authors’ Book Project
● 826 MSP partners with a different school annually to professionally publish a student anthology.
● A local author works with the class during the writing process and writes the book’s foreword.
● Volunteers work in small groups, twice a week throughout the school year.
● “My students are becoming more fluent writers with increased skills in mechanics and vocabulary. The best thing they get from this is a real love of writing.” -YABP Partner Teacher
Writers’ Room at South High School in Minneapolis
● Students and faculty receive dedicated writing support from 826 MSP staff and volunteers through in-class tutoring, drop-in writing consultations, and the hosting of workshops, events, and author visits.
● This is a responsive space, pivoting in the 19-20 school year to become 100% virtual and to provide healing spaces for students in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.
Young Authors’ Council
● This is a paid publishing, leadership, and advisory opportunity for students in grades 6 - 12.
● Selected students will write creatively, serve as an editorial board for an annual publication, and connect with literary talent, civic leaders, and 826 MSP board members.
Field Trips and Distance Learning Supports
● We offer in-person and virtual Storytelling and Bookmaking Field Trips for students in grades 2-5 and Zines for Social Change field trips for students in grade 6 - 8. These are opportunities for students to get excited about writing and leave with their own published book.
● After piloting our virtual “Outdoors Outspoken” environmental justice themed-curriculum in the summer of 2020, we are prepared to partner with middle schools in the 20-21 school year for dynamic school-day curriculum enhancements featuring BIPOC guest speakers, creative and academic-writing components, to be completed 100% virtually.
Annual budget: approximately $550,000
Board of Directors information:
Number of members currently: 10 with a maximum of 15
Meeting time and frequency: Full board meets roughly every two months on the first Thursdays of Feb, April, June, Sept, Oct and Dec. The September meeting is a retreat held on the second Saturday of the month. Committees meet in-between full board meetings.
Meeting location: Virtually during COVID-19 pandemic, otherwise in-person at various locations through the Twin Cities.
Skills and experience desired in board candidates:
826 MSP is seeking candidates with a passion for the mission and the following skills and experience:
● Strong community relationships and a willingness to be an ambassador to build public awareness and support for the organization.
● Financial expertise to support the organization develop systems and processes to support decision-making.
● Education and programming experience to support with evaluation and strengthening outcomes.
● Fundraising strategy and implementation experience to help the Board’s Development Committee establish effective funding sources and relationships.
● Willingness and experience in serving in board leadership positions (officers and chairs).
● Willingness and experience in working with students of color and anti-racist educational practices.
● Past experience on a non-profit board or committee (desired).
Commitments:
826 MSP asks its board and committee members to support our work through:
● Enthusiasm and dedication regarding 826 MSP’s mission.
● Participation and attendance in meetings with no more than two absences annually.
● Act as an ambassador of 826 MSP and its mission.
● Participate in at least one Board committee (Governance, Development, Finance, or Impact). Committees meet 4-8 times a year between board meetings.
● Engage in fundraising activities, to include activities like event planning, donor cultivation, building individual donor base.
● Give a meaningful annual gift (this gift can also be split into monthly installments by becoming a part of our sustaining donor program- “the cuttlefish society”).
● Complete regular review of the organization's financial documents and provide input on long-term financial growth.
● Board: Partner with Executive Director and evaluate Executive Director’s performance annually.
● Attendance at at least one program or event each year to directly engage in 826 MSP’s mission.
● Commit to 5-10 hours per month of board, committee work, and event participation.
● Commitment to a two-year term which is renewable for two additional terms.
826 commits to supporting board members through:
● Effectively using board member resources and assets (time, energy, experience, and expertise).
● Providing necessary, relevant, and/or useful organizational information and access needed to perform board member responsibilities.
● Providing orientation and education about the roles and practices of board members.
● Providing directors & officers liability insurance coverage.
Interested candidates should apply at this form:
Questions can be directed to board chair Al Onkka at aonkka@auroraconsult.com.