Nissue #25: Bita Nazarian, Executive Director of 826 Valencia.
Whenever friends visit San Francisco, I always tell them to stop into The Pirate Store in the Mission. It’s a mini world of wonder and intrigue (for kids of all ages) where you can purchase buccaneer essentials like spyglasses, eye patches, loaded dice, and even doubloons. But the real treasures are the books by young authors displayed throughout and then, behind the curtain, where the non-profit 826 Valencia (founded by Nínive Calegari and Dave Eggers in 2002!) offers some of the best creative writing workshops and classes for under-resourced kids around the Bay Area.
With schools about to open and COVID-19 flaring up again, 826 and its national programs are more important than ever. Bita Nazarian has been the Executive Director of 826 Valencia for 8 years and was a middle school teacher and principal in the San Francisco Unified School District before that. I think she agreed to my interview because she will do anything to get the word out (literally and figuratively) about the awesomely wonderful services and stories coming out of 826 and beyond, and there’s absolutely nothing nefarious about that, Matey!
Nish: What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Bita: Right now, it has got to be going to a big old dance party, getting down to 90s hip hop, sipping Bacardi, and reliving my COVID-free twenties.
Nish: What was your worst job ever?
Bita: I did a brief stint of temporary data entry work one summer; I was so bad at it that no one ever called me to go back for a second day.
Nish: What was your first job ever?
Bita: I worked at Mrs. Fields Cookies as a baker and cashier. Baker was a stretch because all I did was open tubes and cut dough to put in the oven. My manager was always asleep in the supply closet, and I thought to myself “I can be a boss, no problem.”
Nish: What was your best job ever?
Bita: Being the Executive Director of 826 Valencia is the best job ever with the best people ever. It is essential to help students develop their writing and amplify their voices for the world to hear, and I feel passionate about making a positive impact on the world. And it is joyful, kind of zany, and loving.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Bita: Being too grouchy with people I love. I’m less grouchy with people I don’t like very much.
Nish: What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Bita: Not following through with what you say you are going to do, feels like lying.
Nish: What’s some advice you’d give to yourself at 23?
Bita: Go for it (whatever “it” is.)
Nish: What is your greatest extravagance?
Bita: I buy myself flowers every week.
Nish: You have exclusive dinner reservations for 4, excluding family and close friends, who are the 3 people (alive, dead, or imaginary) you’d invite?
Bita: Oprah, Jon Stewart, and Abraham Lincoln.
Nish: What is the theme song of your professional life?
Bita: The Imperial March, Star Wars (I worked in middle schools for about 20 years!)
Nish: What is your motto?
Bita: Be like water.
Nish: What is something you’re really excited about right now?
Bita: Hugging people hello again.
End Interview.
Fun Fact: Dave Pell, who I interviewed here, is also on the board of 826 Valencia.
The Commonwealth Club is another important non-profit, so make sure you read my interview with Gloria Duffy