The Department of Make Believe: Top Secret Grand Opening | Oakland

Submitted by the Event Organizer

The Department of Make Believe will host a real-world Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Extravaganza at 2301 Telegraph Ave. from 5 – 9 pm on December 4, 2015.

Fling open the doors to imagination with the Department of Make Believe, an interactive storefront and center of magical bureaucracy. So dot your Qs, cross your eyes, fill out subsets 1A – the square root of infinity in coffee stain (BLACK or BLUE only), and stop by the Department of Make Believe. They’ve got a number, a spot in line, and a set of fort-making sheets waiting for you.

According to the statistic-loving clerks from the Division of Creative Data Analysis (DCDA): ”Approximately 100% of humans (real and imaginary) don’t get their recommended daily dose of make believe.” But with your help, that’s about to change.

They’ve got the space. Now they need to raise $50,000 to bring in the programming and resources necessary to make it a Writing Sanctuary where all of Oakland’s youth can dream, write, and play. Throughout December and January, Chapter 510 is running an Indiegogo campaign with the Department of Make Believe as their headquarters. Stop by the store to donate and claim unique rewards, or just shop – all proceeds from the Department of Make Believe support Chapter 510. Buy such fantastical items as portable wishing wells or licenses to dream and support Oakland youth, since all proceeds from the Department go to Chapter 510, a volunteer-powered organization that provides in-school tutoring, creative and expository writing workshops, and publishing opportunities for K-12 students.

Chapter 510 is a volunteer-powered organization that provides in-school tutoring, creative and expository writing workshops, and publishing opportunities for K-12 students in Oakland. It was founded by a group of Oakland residents who, inspired by 826 Valencia, wanted to create Oakland’s own literacy project focused on supporting teachers and developing writing skills for students. Over the next two years, they will continue to build a writing center and community space at 2301 Telegraph: a dynamic resource for all students, families, teachers, and volunteers.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.