What’s your favorite book and who is your favorite author?
¿Cuál es tu libro favorito y quién es tu autor favorito?
I don't have a favorite single book but my favorite series is Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland, who is also my favorite author.
Do you have any special hobbies or talents?
¿Tienes pasatiempos especiales o talentos?
I like to write, which is no surprise considering I'm writer of the month. I also in my spare time take photos of gummy worms in weird places, which is probably special.
What is your favorite thing about writing?
¿Cuál es tu cosa favorita a cerca de la escritura?
That is a tough one. I think my favorite thing about it is creating characters. There's so much freedom behind it and I consider it one of the first steps you need to take before getting started writing a story.
What’s your favorite memory of 826CHI?
¿Cuál es tu recuerdo favorito de 826CHI?
Probably the chatbook party. Chapbook? Chatbook? Chackbook? (Whatever that's called.) It felt really weird to me to actually have some of my work published and I really enjoyed hearing my friends in 826CHI read their work.
What is your favorite piece that you've written at 826CHI?
My favorite piece I've written would probably be Silver String, which was based on a time my cat had a ribbon around her neck that no one had put there.
Do you have writing advice for other students?
¿Tienes consejos de escritura para los otros alumnos?
Be sure you know your characters personalities before starting. I've learned from experience deciding that as you go often falls flat.
What do you want to do when you’re an adult?
¿Que quieres hacer cuando seas grande?
I want to have a book shop where my cats get to roam around it. That'd be my day job while I write books.
What’s something else you want the world to know about you?
¿Que es otra cosa quieres que el mundo sepa de ti?
I have been writing since 3rd grade.
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
¿Si podrías a cualquier parte del mundo mañana, donde irias?
Honestly, Disney World. That's a cool place.
Our 826 Day event on the roof of Ace Hotel Chicago was a beautiful celebration of our community from our donors to our students and everyone in between (pictured above is 826CHI supporter TASHA’s performance). Our book P.S. You Sound Like Someone I Can Trust was available in the hotel’s suites, Ace Hotel Chicago has hosted our annual love-themed print show featuring work by local artists inspired by our students writing on love, and their Senior Sales Manager, Tenasha Wilcoxon, spoke to our students in After-School Tutoring & Writing’s Speakers & Snacks series about what it’s like to work at a hotel.
The partnership between East Village Youth Program and 826CHI is a yearly collaboration to help students achieve their goal of being accepted into their college of choice and for many to be the first in their family to attend college. This fall, 826CHI staff and 12 volunteers worked with 13 high school seniors on their personal statements for college applications. The partnership continues in the Spring when 826CHI and volunteers will return to EVYP to support students as they apply for scholarships.
