Open-enrollment program dates are UP! Wee-Write in Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Ypsilanti! After-school Writing Labs and Teen Leadership Labs in Washtenaw County! We've got fun, creative, transformative, free writing and literacy programs for all ages.

Head on over to our website and check 'em out!

Make Your Own Flip Book! Print out the images above, staple, flip back and forth, feel the joy. You'll be able to read the pieces they're obviously so excited to show you this spring when we release Detroit Navigator: A Kids’ Eye View of the Best People, Places, and Things in the City

We probably don't need to tell you it's a hard time financially for nonprofits like ours. Heading into this year's end-of-year fundraising campaign, we were nervous. We've been, quite frankly, working around the clock to ensure funding for our literary arts and education nonprofit in this uncertain economic moment, and we weren't sure if our community could handle another ask.

We set our goal at $21,000. It felt like a stretch. We just asked you for money in the spring! And in August! And in September!

Friends . . . FRIENDS.

As of this moment, we—that's right, WE, all of us together—have brought in $46,683. You blew our goal so far out of the water it, like, can't even see the sea anymore!

THANK YOU. Your support during this tumultuous time for small nonprofits like ours means so much. We are grateful, and honored, and we take your support very, very seriously.

Hi! It's your old pal, Amy Sumerton. You may remember me from my role as program director of 826michigan from 2005–2019 and communications and development manager from 2022–now. Somehow, I find myself writing for a second time that I'll be leaving 826michigan's staff. And it's much harder this time!

When I left in 2019, I felt that I'd given all I could to 826michigan, and that it was time for me to do something else and for 826 to get some fresher talent. Six months later, the pandemic hit and everything changed. Two years after that, I was offered a role here in communications and development, and I realized that I had more to learn from 826michigan, and more to give.

The team currently at 826michigan is one of the best, strongest, most creative, most supportive, most focused and dedicated that I've ever worked with (at 826michigan or anywhere else!). I cannot overstate how wonderful each and every one of these humans is (and how very fortunate our brilliant students are to have them working tirelessly for them).

As many of you know, I've been working a "side-gig" at the Ann Arbor Observer since 2021. Long story short, I've been offered a job as deputy editor of the publication. This new role combines my very favorite things—reading, writing, and editing—and, under the magazine's new editor-in-chief, hopes for what the Observer does (and could do) match my own. 

Bittersweet is not even the word for it. Imagine being at your favorite place, working with the best people, learning how to do so many new things, being endlessly inspired by the tenacity and creativity and bravery of thousands of K–12 students—and then having someone basically plop your dream job, somewhere else, right in your lap.

So I’ve accepted the offer with both great excitement and great sadness (Megan Shuchman will attest to the fact that I wept openly when I told her).

I turn 50 in a couple of months (don't ask me how this happened, I'm not entirely sure), and it's not lost on me that I was 28 when I got offered the job here. Somehow I'll be entering my fourth decade of life with 826 (I'm a writer, not a math expert). I married an 826 volunteer on 8/26 (2010). This place is part of me, and it always will be. I look forward to joining you as an 826 supporter, a sustaining donor, and a volunteer. I will still be in it with you, just via a different role.

We'll be posting the job very soon, so keep your eyes on your inboxes and send your best and brightest our way. I'm preemptively excited for this new staffer; they'll get to work with the greatest team in the most joyful, soul-sustaining work.

Your pal,

Amy

Top right: Amy's "graduation" party in 2019. Above: Denise, Amy, Megan, and Kinyel excitedly attend orientation at Eastern Michigan last fall 2025.

From Megan Shuchman, our executive director:

I cannot overstate how much we will miss working daily with Amy. She is the rarest combination of talents: An amazing writer, a topnotch editor, a deeply talented artist, a wonderful communicator, a deep lover of writing and reading, an amazing party planner, a true finder of joy in so many of the seemingly small aspects of what we do. While we are deeply sorry to no longer have her at 826, we acknowledge how perfect this new role is for her, and how very smart the Observer is for stealing her making her an offer she couldn't refuse. 😀 If you'd like to contribute a virtual message of congratulations to Amy, please email me and I will share details. Also feel free to message Amy directly. Thanks!

We'll never stop asking you to support our important, transformative work! Your donation keeps us on the path to our goal of reaching 25,000 new K-12 writers with our programs by 2030.

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