Our Story
MISSION
Chapter 510 is a made-in-Oakland youth writing, bookmaking & publishing center. Our teaching artists and volunteers work side by side with educators to provide a safe space and supportive community so Black, brown, and queer youth ages 8-19 can bravely write.
VISION
We want every young person in Oakland to write with confidence and joy.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
We believe that writing is an act of liberation. Young people transform themselves and their communities when they write and get published, succeeding in work, school, and life.
INSPIRED BY
Chapter 510 & the Dept. of Make / Believe is and 826 National-inspired organization.
Our programs include free writing and bookmaking workshops, publishing opportunities, field trips for OUSD educators, and youth open mics and events.
Workshops take place after school and on weekends at our writing center at Swan’s market, in our Westlake Writers’ Room, and within other partner schools throughout Oakland.
We are proud to publish over 20 youth-penned books per year.
Our model has been inspired by the work of Zaretta Hammond and Studio Pathways. We believe that all children are radiant children. Once our learners are given the tools to write their own narratives in a supportive environment with a culturally responsive curriculum, they will write confidently and joyfully. Writing and publishing make the literary arts a power for change.
We value…
1. Youth. Chapter 510 provides programs for Oakland kids and teens ages 8-19. Our programs are made for youth and, when possible, led by youth. We provide opportunities for youth to lead, be celebrated, and to be recognized.
2. Long-term, In-depth Programming. Chapter 510 strives to build long-lasting, in-depth programs to form multi-year relationships with students, educators, volunteers, donors, and partners in order to create a lasting impact in our students’ lives.
3. Playful Imagination. We believe imagination is a source of power and possibility! We build creative spaces that are fun, beautiful, engaging, and imaginative.
4. Joy & Empathy. We believe that radical joy is a revolutionary act. We believe in a love-based and positive approach to teaching young people, seeing each student's strengths, and meeting each student where they are.
5. Oakland. We prioritize Oakland youth, schools, artists, and vendors. We’re here to build connections between Oakland’s diverse communities, individuals, and organizations around writing and publishing. As we grow, we will continue to listen to what Oakland youth, educators, and community members need in a safe and inspiring writing space. We will consider as many different perspectives as possible as we design and build our center and our programs.
JEDI = Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
We are committed to anti-racism and anti-racist education, and to publishing practices that are culturally responsive.
As an organization committed to encouraging youth in their creative expression, personal growth, and academic success, Chapter 510 recognizes the importance of diversity at all levels and in all aspects of our work. In order to build and maintain the safe, supportive environment in which great leaps of learning occur, we commit to inclusion. This means inclusion when it comes to our volunteer base, our Chapter 510 staff and board, our relationships with parents, teachers, schools, and (most importantly) when it comes to our students.
We understand that fostering a truly inclusive community is an ongoing process, and that there is no endpoint to this discussion and work. We value and encourage feedback from our community, and strive to be transparent and proactive in making this statement not only a living document, but one that inspires continual action and movement. By adopting this JEDI statement, the staff and board members of Chapter 510 pledge to ourselves and to each other that we will uphold these values. Together we make an active commitment to the vibrancy of a diverse Chapter 510 network, now and into the future.
School Partners
Community Partners
