Join Us: A Literary Evening with a Cause

We hope you’ll join us on January 27 for our Annual Faculty Benefit Reading, the only MFA faculty group reading of the year.

We’re supporting an excellent cause: the important wok of 826DC—and we plan to have a good time doing it. 826DC is a nonprofit that supports students ages 6 to 18 with their writing, and helps teachers inspire their students to write.

Everyone is welcome at the benefit reading: current students, MFA applicants, and anyone who wants to check out our writing community.

What: The Annual Faculty Benefit Reading, a special night in our Visiting Writers Series, features the faculty in our MFA program—and raises funds for an amazing cause. The suggested donation is $5. Donations can also be made online.

Where: 826DC, in their brand new location on the Mezzanine level of the Tivoli Theater (across from their old location), 3333 14th St. NW, Suite M120. They’re a block away from the Columbia Heights Metro station, on the green and yellow lines.

When: January 27, 2016, 8:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.)

Who: A lineup of six accomplished MFA faculty members, listed alongside their most recent books:

-Kyle Dargan, author of the poetry collection Honest Engine

-Stephanie Grant, author of the novel Map of Ireland

-David Keplinger, author of the poetry collection The Most Natural Thing

-Rachel Louise Snyder, author of the novel What We’ve Lost Is Nothing

-Richard McCann, author of the linked short story collection Mother of Sorrows

-Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of the novel Balm

The Work of 826DC

We’re proud to support 826DC, a vital community resource for the District.

826DC is one of eight affiliates of 826 National, which was co-founded by author David Eggers and by veteran educator Ninive Calegari, with the goal of working alongside teachers and students on exciting, meaningful writing.

The staff at 826DC offers drop-in tutoring, field trips, after-school workshops, in-school tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications. They also collaborate with teachers to design workshops, project-based learning opportunities, and more.

Now in a new location, the organization also has a new storefront: Tivoli’s Astounding Magic Supply Co., where the magicians among us can pick up the essentials—capes, gloves, and far beyond.

Our Visiting Writers Series

While this particular reading highlights our own faculty, we’re also proud to mention writers on this year’s lineup, such as Claudia Rankine and Alexander Chee. The full schedule can be seen online.

Would you like to join our writing community? Learn more about the MFA creative writing program at American University.