Kira co-founded 826DC, an organization that offers free programming including creative writing workshops, student publications, after-school tutoring, and field trips to K-12 students in the nation's capital.
The organization was first established as an official non-profit under the name Capitol Letters Writing Center (CLWC). Volunteers held workshops and tutoring sessions in public libraries and book stores. In 2010, it officially became 826DC and opened a physical space in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Kira helped build that organization from being run entirely by volunteers with no budget, to its current size with six full-time staff members and a budget exceeding $800,000, serving thousands of students annually.
For years, she ran the annual peer-to-peer fundraiser (Moustache-a-Thon and Paddlestar Galactica) which raises over $50,000/year with minimal overhead.
She presented a TEDxDupontCircle talk in 2012 with then executive director, Joe Callahan, titled “Without 'u' it's just volnteering" that discusses the fun and importance of volunteering with a focus on 826DC.
The organization was first established as an official non-profit under the name Capitol Letters Writing Center (CLWC). Volunteers held workshops and tutoring sessions in public libraries and book stores. In 2010, it officially became 826DC and opened a physical space in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Kira helped build that organization from being run entirely by volunteers with no budget, to its current size with six full-time staff members and a budget exceeding $800,000, serving thousands of students annually.
For years, she ran the annual peer-to-peer fundraiser (Moustache-a-Thon and Paddlestar Galactica) which raises over $50,000/year with minimal overhead.
She presented a TEDxDupontCircle talk in 2012 with then executive director, Joe Callahan, titled “Without 'u' it's just volnteering" that discusses the fun and importance of volunteering with a focus on 826DC.
Photo from Cave Opening Day at the Museum of Unnatural History at 826DC. Photo by Nevin Martell.
