Superheroes, mermaids, and magic

By Julia Bach

Former volunteer Julia Bach writes about some of her time at 826 MSP. She joined 826 MSP as a tutor in our After-School Writing Lab, and later returned in 2022 to interview some of our young authors. To enquire about volunteering with 826 MSP, visit https://www.826msp.org/volunteers.

Superheroes, how to be a good sibling, and the endless adventures that could happen at MSP 826 after dark are all topics young writers explore in the after-school writing sessions. 

As a recent transplant to South Minneapolis, the first thing that struck me about MSP 826 was the large blue walls, the octopus tentacles and the mermaids reading books and wearing hijabs. What was this seemingly magical building with awesome decorations on the outside? What happened inside?

Now, nearly three years later, I’ve had the privilege of volunteering as an afterschool tutor, joining remote book launches, and listening to insightful student comments during Justice, Equity and Dialogues. Emanating from this space is a sense of belonging, creativity, and fun. 

Throughout March 2022, I returned to the magical oceanic world on East 22nd street to ask the writers what stories they chose to tell and get a sense of how they felt about the process. 826 is a busy place; sitting on the floor and recording our conversations the students generously shared their time and insight in between homework, Apples to Apples, and Writing Bingo. 

I was reminded that MSP 826 is a special place where the students like the writing prompts. “They’re fun. And something I wouldn’t expect.” They can describe their utopia and compose ice cream themed songs. One day’s prompt leads to another bought of inspiration, “It’s just that it gives me a lot of ideas.”

One author proudly read “How to be a Good Brother” aloud to me. He shared five rules about being a good and conscientious sibling:

I be nice to my siblings.

We play together

I be nice in a car

I listen to them

I talk with them.

He then confessed, with a giggle (and possibly a smile under his mask), “Yeah, that's all fake! I don’t be nice in the car. We don’t play nicely. Sometimes we play nicely. But sometimes we don't. I be nice to my siblings. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. I listen to them. Sometimes I don't, sometimes I do. I talk with them.”

What was unquestionable, was the joy, pride, and sense of accomplishment this young writer felt.

Sitting on the carpet at MSP 826 with these authors and hearing them read their work aloud was a gift.