826 Boston Volunteer Opportunities

826 Boston is a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization where students grades K-12 and beyond can share their stories, amplify their voices, and develop as leaders in school and in life. We invite you to join our community of more than 750 writing coaches, tutors, mentors, storytellers, editors, illustrators, and more!

Each one of our dedicated volunteers fuels 826 Boston’s free programming by offering individualized support for students in Boston Public Schools classrooms and in our Tutoring Center. We support a diverse range of students from the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, and Roxbury with an organizational commitment to DEI and anti-racism. We encourage tutors of all backgrounds to apply, and we especially seek volunteers who identify as Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and/or multi-lingual.

Please check our Volunteer Orientation Guide on our website for more information on how to sign up. Website link: https://826boston.org/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/

Our Volunteer Opportunities

• In-Schools Projects: Support special projects and class assignments at local schools in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain on weekday mornings and afternoons.
• After-School Tutoring and Evening Tutoring: Support students through tutoring, homework help, subject-specific support, and creative writing projects on weekday afternoons and evenings.
• Special Projects: Support the facilitation of a creative workshop, help students write and revise college essays, volunteer as an illustrator, designer, or photographer, and much more!

Our Volunteer Experience

• Get involved with Boston’s culturally rich communities and have fun while mentoring the next generation of writers.
• Work with students individually and in small groups to help them express their ideas creatively, confidently, and in their own voices in one of our imagination-inducing writing spaces.
• Volunteer once a week, once a month, or once a semester. Shifts can vary between one and three hours in the morning, afternoon, or evening, typically on Mondays through Thursdays.
• We provide support, coaching, tutoring techniques, and resources to help you keep growing and learning new skills.

Are you who we’re looking for?

If our opportunities spark joy for you, please learn more on our New Volunteer Orientation Guide and sign-up for training on the last tab. New Volunteer Orientation Guide Link: https://826boston.org/new-volunteer-orientation/

Our trainings will run from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, and will be the perfect time for potential volunteers to ask questions and learn more about the history and culture of 826 Boston.

• Please note that volunteers must be 16+ and complete a background check before working with students. We are currently running both in-person and virtual programming (virtual programming opportunities are limited)

Upcoming Information Sessions: