Inspiring Kids To Become Better Readers, Writers and Students

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Library of Congress has just honored 826DC with its first-ever Literacy Award, recognizing organizations working to address illiteracy in America. It's one of 8 non-profit tutoring centers nationally with the name taken from its first location 826 Valencia Street, founded by writer Dave Eggers, in San Francisco.

While most programs are in storefronts, in DC, where 2,000 students are served, it's at the Museum of Unnatural History where skeletons and iguanas are part of the scene, exciting the kids who are inspired to be better readers, writers and students through after school tutoring, bookmaking, and in-school writing and publishing workshops, collaborating with teachers.

The children have been introduced to African American role models to whom they can relate, writers that look like them and inspire motivation, which makes the case that inspiration is a great beginning to learning.

Read more in The Washington Post.