You might have heard by now: This year marks our 10th anniversary!
When looking for highlights, we could bookmark dozens of pages from this first chapter of Ink history. But we had to narrow it down.
Drumroll please… 10 moments from the past 10 years that we’re extra proud of and set the scene for what’s to come. And we’re not done. Big things are still to come - will you invest in the next chapter of 916 Ink?
Top 10 in 10
#1 Published Our First Book
From our launch, we knew publishing young authors in real books was key. In 2013 we published our first professionally printed anthology of student work. Ten years later, we are humbled to have 212 books in our library. That’s 4,598 young writers who have seen their names in print and know their voices matter.
#2 Explored New Venues
Early workshops took place in collaboration with the Sacramento Public Library and The Salvation Army. In 2013, we partnered with our first school sites to reach more young writers. Since then, we have shown that the Find Your Voice program works in a diverse array of settings.
#3 Opened the Imaginarium
In 2015, 916 Ink opened its whimsical creative writing palace, the Imaginarium, as part of the Maple Neighborhood Center initiative led by La Familia Counseling Center. This special space gave us an anchor and a permanent home to inspire hundreds of young writers.
#4 Prioritized System-Involved Youth
In 2013, we partnered with Sacramento County Office of Education to begin programming in youth corrections facilities. Since then, we have expanded this work to other facilities throughout the state. By publishing these young writers, we show them their stories have value and that people want to hear what they have to say.
#5 Created New Environments for Emerging Writers
In 2016, we began holding summer camps and after-school programming in the Imaginarium. More recently we launched Author’s Lab, for returning students who wish to deepen their writing skills, and Write Your Way, a series of genre workshops to delve into the mechanics of specific types of writing.
#6 Took Our Show on the Road
Our earliest workshops focused in Sacramento County, but we’ve increasingly had opportunities to expand our horizons. While Sacramento remains our home base, we are thrilled to reach more youth by connecting with young writers throughout the state. In addition to our deep Sacramento roots, we’ve now held programs in Yolo, Contra Costa, Solano, and San Joaquin Counties. In early 2022, we’ll be hosting our first workshop series in Ventura County!
#7 Pivoted During the Pandemic
When shelter-in-place orders began in March 2020, we knew that young people would continue to need the safe space, the academic enrichment, and the social-emotional development offered by 916 Ink’s workshops. We spent one week regrouping and then shifted our programs online. Since then, we have served hundreds of students through virtual programming and will continue to host online workshops moving forward.
#8 Launched Read On!
In 2020, we started a new story for 916 Ink with a reading tutoring program, called Read On! This program began as a pilot program, with two schools and a handful of students, and is rapidly growing.an make all the difference.
#9 Served 4,500 Young People
In 2021, we reached a milestone of 4,500 young people who have gone through a 916 Ink creative writing workshop or reading tutoring program. Overwhelmingly, our student writers tell us that 916 Ink helps them feel more confident, their reading and writing skills have improved, and they have a new love for the written word.
#10 We’ve Leveled Up
From an all-volunteer crew, hand-stapled zines, and a shoestring budget, we are thrilled to now have 23 staff, 200+ publications, and a budget that’s about to pass the $1 million mark. We’re proud of how we’ve grown in such a short time, while always remaining true to the vision and inspiration of our original founders.
