Good Insight is pleased to share that 826DC appointed Robyn Lingo as the organization’s Executive Director, following an extensive search led by Good Insight. Lingo begins her new role in August.

“Robyn’s demonstrated wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to both our mission and our students will ensure students leave 826DC as better writers whose voices are heard across the District.” said Miah Daughtery, who served as Board Chair during the search.

“Robyn is an enthusiastic advocate for young people, a thoughtful leader, and is brimming with ideas,” said Susan Gerock, current Board Chair. “We’re lucky to have her join us at 826DC and can’t wait for you to meet her.”

As Executive Director, Lingo will expand and deepen 826DC’s offerings to ensure that young people throughout DC have a lasting, positive relationship with writing and creativity that catalyzes their ability to step into their fullest possibility.

“I was drawn to 826DC’s mission of using writing as a vehicle for youth empowerment and am thrilled to continue my life’s work, supporting young people to learn, to thrive, to create and dream, and to lead,” said Lingo. “I am eager to join the team of writers and educators who bring the joy and power of the written word to so many young people.”

About Robyn Lingo 

With more than 15 years of executive leadership in nonprofit management, Robyn Lingo has developed programming and collaborative partnerships that provide authentic spaces for youth to investigate, affect, and change the world around them. 

Lingo joins 826DC from Mikva Challenge. As Chief of Strategy and Impact, she guided the organization’s two chapter sites, in DC and Illinois, to embed youth voice and civic leadership throughout the city and state. Prior to this role, Lingo was the founding Executive Director for Mikva Challenge DC, growing the initial pilot program to a citywide organization serving more than 1,200 young people.

Lingo was previously the Deputy Director at For Love of Children, Program Director of the DC office of The Posse Foundation, and an Academic Case Manager with Project NorthStar. Through her work with the KIPP Foundation and the Children’s Defense Fund, she has worked on a national scale, providing curriculum, resources, training and support to local affiliates to develop and improve their educational and youth programming.

Throughout her career, Lingo has prioritized sharing learning and lessons with the wider field and serving as an advocate for youth. She was part of the Equity Lab’s founding cohort of Seeding Disruption, a member of Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s transition committee, and served on EW Stokes Public Charter School’s Board of Directors and Posse DC’s Leadership Council.  

A native of the Washington, DC area, Lingo earned a BA from Grinnell College in American Studies and an M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Social Justice Education.

About 826DC

826DC is a nonprofit arts education organization that helps Washington, DC students build their writing skills, share what matters to them, and forge a lifelong relationship with writing. 826DC offers free writing and publishing programs for students ages 6-18, supporting young people with their creative and expository writing skills and helping teachers inspire their students to write.

826DC works with more than 2,000 students each year in classrooms and community spaces across all eight wards, as well as in a dedicated writing center in DC’s Columbia Heights neighborhood.

826DC is one of nine chapters in the 826 National network, founded in 2002 in San Francisco by educator Nínive Calegari and author Dave Eggers. Through digital resources and in-person programs, the 826 network serves close to 350,000 students each year. Learn more at 826DC.org.