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San Francisco, CA

Huelga! Student-led Literary and Arts Magazine

Grant Amount

$7,220

Year Awarded

2025-2026

Project Coordinator

Anand Vedawala

Grant Type

Team

Local Association

United Educators San Francisco

Focus Area

Arts, Media, and Culture

About the Project

The Huelga! Student-led Literary and Arts Magazine is a schoolwide project at César Chávez Elementary that empowers students to share their voices through writing, art, and photography centered on the themes of freedom, community, home, and justice. Open to all grade levels and language abilities, the project is led by a literary club of 4th and 5th graders who oversee editing, layout, and publication. Submissions are accepted in English and Spanish and include written, drawn, and photographed work, ensuring accessibility and creative expression for all students. The project includes zine-making, bookbinding workshops, a field trip to the San Francisco Center for the Book, and culminates in a schoolwide magazine release celebration. By uplifting student narratives and fostering collaboration, advocacy, and cultural pride, Huelga! builds literacy, leadership, and community connections while promoting equity and inclusion.

Meet the Project Coordinator

Anand Vedawala

Anand Vedawala is a kindergarten teacher at César Chávez Elementary School in San Francisco. As part of the school's Union Building Committee (UBC), Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), and by participating in Faith in Action events, he has seen the urgency of centering student and family voices, especially in supporting unhoused families. Additionally, Vedawala is the executive director of San Francisco Zine Fest, which has been a great inspiration for him to coordinate a student-led literary club and zine at his school site.

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