August 2026

Progress Newsletter

Last school year Westlake Middle School brought Chapter 510 to their school to teach their 7th grade students about innovative creative writing and publishing, as well as provide book arts workshops, through PVF's Visiting Artist in the Classroom Resource Grant Program.

Chapter 510 is an organization aimed at connecting youth to the power of their stories. They provide a safe space for youth to “bravely write,” by centering Black, brown, and queer voices. Through writing workshops and programs rooted in the belief that all children are “radiant children,” Chapter 510 helps ground students in creativity and allows them to find joy and power in writing.

Chapter 510 served fourteen Designated English Language Development 7th grade students, who participated in interactive, hands-on book arts classes once a week for nine months. Pairing book arts with creative writing gave students a kinesthetic, tactile experience. Balancing composition with creativity took students out of their “tired end-of-school day brains,” helped them feel more connected, confident, and motivated, and built a genuine sense of accomplishment.

Through memoir and poetry, students created work deeply rooted in identity, reflection, and personal experiences. Chapter 510’s approach honored six different students’ home languages represented in the classroom. For the culminating celebration, each student created a hand-made zine to highlight their newly-learned bookmaking skills and closed the year with an in-class reading of their finalized projects.

Students participate in workshops (also pictured below) alongside Chapter 510 visiting artists

Through the dedication of the visiting artist teachers, students were able to share their stories and write with confidence and joy. The transformative impact of this program is best seen through this poem by one of the student participants:

     “I am from Hong Kong

     From Vitasoy soy milk cartons and Maxim’s smiling mooncake tins.

     I am from the cluttered old tenement on Hong Kong island,

     narrow, warm, steeped in running soy sauce.

     I am from Nathah road banyans

     Roots coiled in stone walls, holding old stories

     I am from lantern parades and mahjong nights.

     From A-ma and the Chen family.

     I’m from the Down dim sum and endless tea.

     From “mind the stairs” and “typhoon’s coming.”

     I’m from no fixed faith, just joss paper for ancestors, bows to Tin HAU.

     I’m from Kowloon City, Chaozhou roots, wonton noodles and braised goose.

     From grandpa rowing at dawn,

     From selling fish at central market

     The worn red taxi keychain scratched by my sister and me.

     In our Hong Kong box, by our ban photo.

     It holds our laughter and bond.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Chapter 510 and their impressive impact. For the past decade, Chapter 510 has connected over 6,500 young people in Oakland to the power of their stories—publishing over 100 youth-penned books.

They've led writing workshops in every Oakland neighborhood, created multiple sanctuaries for creativity where young people are centered and celebrated, and built lifetime relationships with families, children, artists, teachers, donors, and activists. 

In addition to supporting schools like Westlake Middle School through PVF Visiting Artists in the Classroom Resource Grants, Chapter 510 hosts other opportunities that align with their mission. Chapter 510 offers free or low cost writing workshops for young writers ages 8-18, and prioritizes registration to underserved youth and families. Students are also paired with caring writing mentors from their community who help each young writer get from first draft to publication.

Chapter 510's space is also the home to workshops, readings, and creative gatherings for their community partners. They have a calendar of events and workshops for people to write, create, and connect with Oakland’s vibrant community. Past events have included backpacks with school supplies giveaways, after-school workshops, a creative mentorship program designed for Black girls and gender expansive youth in Oakland, and many more.

Chapter 510 plans to continue uplifting people and prioritizing access to safe and supportive spaces for Black, brown, and queer young people to bravely write and creatively express themselves. To rally support and share the deep impact of this work, members of the Chapter 510 community shared what the organization means to them:

“Chapter 510 demonstrates the best of us."

-- Poet, playwright, screenwriter, and educator Chinaka Hodge

“You are welcome here."

-- Tiffany Golden, a teaching artist, author, and illustrator

“The only way the world is going to be nicer is if kids are writing about justice and freedom.”

-- Chapter 510 alum Eric Yanet-Canchola

PVF is honored to help support schools like Westlake Middle School and programs like Chapter 510 as they create access to spaces for young people to learn and artistically express themselves.

At the close of the 2025-2026 school year, the Childress Family Foundation Scholarship Committee selected six outstanding graduating seniors at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California to receive college scholarships of up to $10,000, recognizing the hard work they put in as student athletes and supporting their continuing education.

For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Josh Childress Scholarship recipients are: Kennedy Dimmy, Spencer Cummins, Daleyna Le, David Perez, Kendyl Gutierrez, and Miles Mitchell. Pictured with Josh Childress (center) above.

“Being a student athlete means so much more than playing a sport. A student athlete signifies discipline, leadership and commitment. Playing basketball all four years of high school taught me that in order to be a student athlete you have to work hard on and off the court. You have to be attentive in everything you do, and you have to hold yourself accountable.” – Kennedy Dimmy