Welcome to 826 MSP

Dear friends,

Since our founding in 2009, we’ve provided platforms and support for thousands of Twin Cities young authors. They’ve written poems about the plants and animals of our great state, advice for space travel, narratives about navigating new cultures, and much much more. Throughout it all, they’ve had an experience all authors dream of: seeing their brilliant work published and shared with their community. 

That’s what we’ve been about as Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute, and what we’ll continue to champion as we begin our next chapter (official on August 26, 8/26 Day!) as 826 MSP.

From the beginning, we’ve been inspired by 826’s international movement for youth voices. Over the last 17 years, 826 has created nine official chapters, inspired over 50 organizations internationally, and published thousands of young writers. 826 Network students have seen their words printed in The New York Times and brought to life by Cartoon Network animations. They have written college essays at the White House, shared the mainstage with literary luminaries at the Kennedy Center, and have introduced President Barack Obama at the Obama Foundation Summit. 826 Network alumni are now acclaimed authors, college graduates, and emerging leaders at their local 826 Network chapters.

Becoming 826 MSP coincides with our 10 year anniversary, and our celebration of one year in our new youth writing center in South Minneapolis. We will be celebrating with a big party at our center on Saturday, August 24 (2 days before 8/26 day), from 3–7 p.m. complete with food, writing workshops, student readings, and the chance to shop our retail oceanographic outlet to pick up our newest student publications and 826 MSP swag. Whether you have been a part of our journey for years, or are new friends ready to dive in deeper, come out and learn about this next chapter and how you can be involved. 

To our old and dear friends—we could not have gotten here without your support. And we hope you’ll join us in this next stage of our journey, as writers, families, volunteers, donors, partners, and more. 826 MSP would not be here without you, and it cannot continue without your unwavering belief in the power of Twin Cities youth voices.

The voices of the young authors of the Twin Cities have so much to teach our country and our world, and they now have the platform to do so. Our future is to be noticed. Welcome to 826 MSP.

Here’s to writing the next chapter,

The 826 MSP Crew

*Learn more about 826 National

*Learn more about our sister chapters: 826 Boston, 826CHI, 826DC, 826LA, 826 Michigan, 826 New Orleans, 826NYC, 826 Valencia

*RSVP for our celebration