WITH US

The story of

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 1

CHAPTER 510

9/21/15 11:51 AM

Chapter 1:

WHY WERE HERE

We believe that every Oakland student deserves to
excel in literacy and writing. Reading proficiency by
third grade is the most important predictor of high
school graduation and career success. In Oakland

More than

80% of low-income children miss this crucial milestone


92% of all children of color in Oakland eligible for receiving school lunch
in grades K-3 have reading scores that lag
These

85% behind their counterparts

85% are not proficient in core areas used to measure kindergarten readiness

academics, self-care and motor skills, self-regulation, and social expression

2
6% of Latino students and 36% of African American students are
proficient in third-grade reading, compared to

77% of White students

Latino students graduation rate in Oakland fell markedly

in 2014 to

54.4%, down from 59.3%

And though the graduation rate for African American students rose slightly
last year, it still remains at just

57.2%, more than 10 points

below the state average for African American students

We believe the practice of writing with

one-on-one attention is key to reading
proficiency and improved selfconfidence.
Photo by Margaret Miller
1

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 2-1

9/21/15 11:51 AM

WHAT IF AN ARTIST
RULED THE WORLD

by Fiona, Hayden, Kalian, Kate, Josie, Alex

SI UN ARTISTA
DIRIGIERA EL MUNDO

por Fiona, Hayden, Kalian, Kate, Josie, Alex

It would be amazing

Sera asombroso

We would hear lots of music and poetry

The world would be a more colorful and better place
(except if Justin Bieber ruled)

Escucharamos mucha msica y poesa

El mundo sera ms coloreado, y mucho mejor
(menos si el artista fuese Justin Bieber)

There would be a lot of paper scraps on the sidewalk

Habra bastantes pedazos de papel sobre la banqueta

The world would be as tearful and simple

as a painting by Jacob Lawrence

El mundo sera tan lacrimoso y sencillo

como una pintura de Jacob Lawrence

The wind would sound as beautiful

as Billie Holidays voice

El viento sonara tan bello

como la voz de Billie Holiday

Jazz music would fill the streets

Msica de jazz llenara las calles

The birds would blast as strong

as Louis Armstrongs horn

Los pjaros estallaran una cancin tan fuerte

como la trompeta de Louis Armstrong

There would be designs on every building

about the Great Migration

Habra diseos sobre cada edificio

representando la Gran Migracin

It would be

Sera

Marvelous
Fantastic
Fabulous
Artistic
Creative
Colorful
Exquisite

Maravilloso
Fantstico
Fabuloso
Artstico
Creativo
Coloreado
Exquisito
Poem from What if an Artist Ruled the World, CHAPTER 510 PUBLICATIONS, 2015
2nd/3rd grade students from North Oakland Community Charter School
Photo by Shelby Ashbaugh
2

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 2-3

9/21/15 11:52 AM

Chapter 2:

WHERE WEVE BEEN

Chapter 510 was founded by a group of Oakland residents who, inspired by
826 Valencia, wanted to create Oaklands own literacy project focused on
supporting teachers and developing creative and expository writing skills
forstudents.
We launched core services based on community input. Teachers, librarians,
parents, literacy activists, and children told us what they needed: improve
high-school students writing skills, promote youth voices, and provide
creative writing workshops and publishing opportunities for Oakland youth.

Since 2013, Chapter 510 has

Partnered with 3 Oakland schools

North Oakland Community Charter School

Acorn Woodland Elementary School

MetWest High School

Supported 12 OUSD classroom teachers

at a minimum of 10 weeks

for up to 4 years

Served 300+ Students

Logged 2,000 volunteer hours
Published 100 students in 6 books,
2 of them translated into Spanish
Distributed 1,000 copies of 5 printed poems throughout
Oakland via 510 Journal, our public poetry project
A
 dministered 25 summer camp
scholarships for high-school students
Hosted 2 week-long writing summer camps
S upported 27 Oakland-based artists
Hired 2 full-time staff members
Signed 1 lease on a physical space:
the home of our future writing center
Photos by Rick DElia
4

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 4-5

9/21/15 11:52 AM

BUDGET TO BUILD
By the summer

Rent (3,000 sq ft)
of 2017, Chapter
510 will open Architecture and design services
Build out
the first ever
Furniture and fixtures
independent
writing center
Writing, bookmaking,
publishing equipment
in Oakland
Reading library collection
for low-income

Storefront
inventory investment
youth and

Administrative furniture,
their

fixtures, and workstations
families.

$90,000.00
$70,000.00
$225,000.00
$25,500.00
$24,400.00
$15,000.00
$50,000.00
$11,000.00

Total $510,900.00

Chapter 3:

THE CENTER(FOLD)
Chapter 510s writing center will expand our current model into a
physical, student-led writing and making ecosystem. Students will have
multiple access points and levels of engagement: from reading in our
student-curated library, writing with volunteer tutors and teaching artists,
bookmaking with professional equipment and supplies, and, for our older
students, designing and publishing student books to be sold in our retail
space and in bookstores throughout Oakland.
6

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 6-8

9/21/15 11:52 AM

Chapter 4:

YEAR ONE: July 2015-June 2016

WHERE
WERE GOING
Over the next two years, in partnership with OUSD and the
Oakland Public Library, our programs will be a catalyst for change
inaddressing literacy issues in Oakland.

Our free K-12 programming

will continue to include

YEAR TWO: July 2016-June 2017

Move into Parcel Projects, 2301 Telegraph Ave.: a 1,800 sq ft space for
program and organizational administration, events, and fundraising

Determine final theme for retail and design for writing center and
admin space

C
 ontinue to make and think around the question, How do we
build an inclusive and inspiring writing center with and for Oakland
Youth? by hosting (Book)Maker Nights with community members
and forming a Youth Advisory Board to guide us through the
student-led design process

Complete fundraising efforts for MAKE | BELIEVE ($510,000 raised/

510 days goal reached)

Apply to become a 501(c)(3)

2017: open youth writing center

Hire a fulltime Director of Programs

Hire a fulltime Volunteer Coordinator

Youth internships, summer camps, and advisory board opportunities

for high-school students

Continue our MAKE | BELIEVE capital campaign

In-school writing and bookmaking workshops for K-5

And once our center is built, we will add

Free writing, bookmaking, and publishing workshops for
K-12students in Oakland
After school and drop-in tutoring for K-12
Literary field-trips for OUSD classrooms
Professional training in publishing
platforms, seeing a book from concept
to completion, for high-school students
Access to free books in
multiple languages
Space to perform
and celebrate within
a community
of young writers

16/17 Budget

In-school mentoring and tutoring at MetWest High School

15/16 Budget

Revenue

Contributed Income

Revenue

Foundations $190,000

Corporations $221,000

Contributed Income

Foundations $124,500

Corporations $145,000

Individual $150,450

Total Contributed Income

Earned Income

Book Royalties

$419,950

Earned Income

Book Royalties

Total Earned Income

$12,000

Event Income

$15,000

Total Income

$4,500

Event Income

$5,000

Total Income

$429,450

Programs $245,367
Writing Center Build

$31,000

General/Admin $48,405
Fundraising/Marketing $100,476
Total Expenses

$425,248

$745,000

Expenses

Expenses

$2,000

Retail $10,000

$500

Total Earned Income

$706,000

Retail $4,000

Total Contributed Income

Individual $220,000
Government $75,000

Government $0

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 9-9

October 2016: break ground on our center

Programs $337,813
Writing Center Build

$139,600

General/Admin $165,850
Fundraising/Marketing $99,213

Total Expenses

$742,476

Change in Net Assets

$2,524

9/21/15 11:52 AM

WHISPERS FROM THE EDGE

OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

by Jessica, Marci, and Lila

The moon dust is saying in a spooky voice I can see you.

The green cockroaches say I am hungry in a growly voice.
The ants say nothing.
Flies cant fly. They are stuck in goo.
Far, far away. Soooo beautiful.
Were watching, listening, to you.
The cold wind gods of the planets
dance in a circle singing songs.

From Whispers from the Edge of the Solar System, Pop-up book, 2015
2nd/3rd grade students from North Oakland Community Charter School
10
10

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 10-11

11

9/21/15 11:52 AM

Chapter 5:

WHERE YOU
ENTER OUR STORY
We believe that we have the vision, the talent,
the momentum, and the spirit to build our organization
and our writing center, but we need you to help us
(under)write the next chapter.
DONATE
BELIEVE in Chapter 510, MAKE a pledge to become a founding MAKE BELIEVER.
We are looking for foundations, individuals, and select corporations to help
support our mission.

Three Dimensionalists | $75,000

(over the next three years)

* All who give $510

Builders | $5,100 +
Foundationalists | $1,500+

and above will have

their names engraved
into the foundation
of our future home.

Ground Breakers | $510* +

Visionaries | $255 +
Believe Makers | $151 +

DONORS

Janet Heller, Founder/CEO

Tavia Stewart-Streit , Co-Founder/COO
Margaret Miller, Volunteer Coordinator

Abundance Foundation
Frances Hellman and Warren Breslau
Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman
Anonymous Fund at
the East Bay Community Foundation
Rogers Family Foundation
Lampert Family Foundation
City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program

ADVISORY BOARD
Adriana Taranta, Artist
Aimee Eng, OUSD School Board
Carrie Leilam Love, Dignity and Power Now
Dawn Hawk, Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Erica L. Webb, Writer
Jeff Pearlstein, Solespace
Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media
Jon Eldan, Attorney
Kira Brunner Don, Oakland Book Festival
Mariah Landers, Alameda County Office of Education
Marvin K. White, Writer
Shawna Wolverton, Salesforce

Ann Wettrich, Elisa Baier, Emily Doskow, Erica Lorraine Webb,

Farleys East, Green Copy, Greg Harris, Hogs Apothecary,
JeffCampbell, Jeff Pearlstein, Jenn Guitart and Kevin Boyd, Joan
Sautter, Jodi Nishimura, Jon Eldan, Jonathan Darr, LornaGarano,
Nathaniel Swope, New Normal Brewing, PatSussman, Peter
Gruber, Peter Smith and Shannon Carey, PizzaMy Heart,
SueLevin, Susan Mernit, Tim Kim, +2 Anonymous Donors

VOLUNTEERS

Alvaro Villanueva
Anita Sgastegui
Anna Kingsley
Carrie Leilam Love
Chinaka Hodge
DJ Lady Fingaz
DJ Marc Stretch
DJ Max Kane
Elan Watson
Erica Lorraine Webb
Favianna Rodriguez
Francesca Paris
Freddy Gutierrez
James Gayles
Janet Heller

Adriana Taranta, Alec Dufurrena, Alex Uhlig, Ali Fenlon,

AliciaHerrick, Amelia Zimmerman, Anjali Emsellem,
AnnaKingsley, Astrid Mejia, Beautys Bagels, Beth Detwiler,
BrianVandeputte, Caitlyn OConnell, Carrie Leilam Love,
CoralTrevino-Araoz, Dawn Hawk, Don Sorsa, Ella Zalon,
EllenEvans, Emily Meredith, Erica Anderson, Erica Webb,
FaithHale, Freddy Gutierrez, Hannah Rubin, Hilary Flood,
JamieNemzer, JanetHeller, Jean Chu, Jess Geiner, Jonah
Taranta-Slack, Julia Cohen, JuliaLachman, Julie Plasencia,
Kathleen Miller, KaylaKeith, Keli Benko, Kelly Lynch,
KeriSchroeder, LaurenBundy, Laurie Loftus, Linda Puffer,
LynnSchwartz, Madison Brewer, Manhattan Murphy, Margaret
Miller, Mariah Landers, MaryaBrennan, MatthewGaertner,
Max Gibson, MayumiWagstaff-Blaise, Meagan Sullivan,
MeganSusman, Michaela Wang, Nan Eastep, Nicolas Salazar,
Perla YasmeenMelndez, Rebecca Woolston, ReiJackler,
SadieMcClendon, ScottRaynor, Shelby Ashbaugh,
ShelbyHolguin, Steve Frances, Tavia Stewart-Streit, Terri Keith

Kolepa Phy
Margaret Miller
Neon Brown
Obasi Davis
Olivia Hoffman
Patricia Killelea
Perla Yasmeen Melndez
Rei Jackler
Rick DElia
Robert Trujillo
Roger Kim
Rosario Sanchez
Schorl Brest van Kempen
Sophie Elkin
Stephanie Yun

PARTNERS

Make Believers | $51 +

You can give directly at https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/chapter510.
For larger donations, we graciously accept checks sent and made out to:
Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
1222 Preservation Park Way
Oakland, CA 94612
12

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 12-13

STAFF

CONTRIBUTING
ARTISTS

(Under)Writers | $100,000 +

Futurists | $15,000 +

CHAPTER 510S MAKE BELIEVERS

Acorn Woodland
ElementarySchool
Alameda County Office
ofEducation
Alliance for Young Writers
Big Class
California College
of the Arts
Green Copy Printing
MetWest High School
North Oakland Community
Charter School

Oakland Book Festival

Oakland Literacy Coalition
Oakland Museum
of California
Oakland Public Library
Parcel Projects
Philanthropic Ventures
Foundation
Rock Paper Scissors
Studio Grand
Youth Opportunity
Scholarships

13

photo by Elan Watson

9/21/15 11:52 AM

The students who write the poems youll read in Chapter 510s enlightened
collaboration with North Oakland Community Charter School, What ifan
Artist Ruled the World, demonstrate the best of us. These poets are like
theinhabitants of Oaklandfearless, hilarious, subtle, probing, surprising,
and deft. Theyre amazing. I cant wait until they rule the world.
Chinaka Hodge

I love poetry because I can express how I really feel, put it into words,
and BAM! its a poem.
Eden, 3rd Grade

I was on top of the world because I knew I did everything right. I know how
to use commas. I know all of these things, and that was all because of
Chapter 510. Kayla, 10th grade

Thank you for bringing Chapter 510 to MetWest. You transformed our
year. Truly.

Shannon Carey, veteran high-school teacher

Chapter 510 is a volunteer-powered organization that provides

in-school tutoring, creative and expository writing workshops,
and publishing opportunities for K-12 students in Oakland.

Chapter 510
Chapter510.org | 510Journal.org
2301 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612

MB-brochure-8-proof correx.indd 14

9/21/15 11:52 AM