In 2014, author Dave Eggers took the stage at Conte Forum to address members of the newly-arrived Boston College Class of 2018 at their First Year Academic Convocation. His dystopian novel The Circle had been shared reading for the class prior to the event.
An editor, publisher, and social entrepreneur, in addition to a best-selling writer, Eggers is also co-founder of 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students ages 6–18 improve their expository and creative writing skills at seven chapters across the United States.
Eggers' appearance at First Year Convocation solidified a flourishing relationship between Boston College and the 826 Boston chapter. Since then, 38 BC students from the University's pioneering PULSE program for service learning have worked at 826 Boston, which offers free programs that serve more than 3,500 students.
Last year, said Cooney Family Director of PULSE Meghan Sweeney, PULSE was honored by 826 Boston with its "Study in Service" Award, for helping the chapter to successfully launch a satellite writing program.
Now its 15th year, 826 National was featured on 'CBS This Morning' on January 28. The segment included scenes of PULSE program volunteers at 826 Boston including Olivia Sorenson '20, shown tutoring a student above, and sophomores Thomas Duff and Christian Moro. (Scenes run from 4:17-4:34).
Founded in 1970, the mission of BC's PULSE program is to educate students about social injustice by putting them into direct contact with marginalized populations and social change organizations and by encouraging discussion on classic and contemporary works of philosophy and theology. The program has served as a model for schools across the country.
—University Communications