SPARK Mentoring Program
What is SPARK?
SPARK is a unique transformative peer mentoring program that brings together youth from high-risk settings and college students.
Our Core Values
- See youth as Sacred
- Embrace Vulnerability
- Non-judgmental community
- Fellowship
The Problem
Challenging youth and educators often find themselves in a struggle for survival and are unable to resolve differences. Their cries are too often ignored while the crises in their lives continue to grow. Many of these youth are ending up in the Juvenile Justice System where judges have few options that are aimed at helping them get back to school and live productive lives. Too many educators do not have the training or experience required to bring healing and hope to their lives.
What We Do
Spark unites struggling youth with college students in a campus classroom for 10 weeks where we:
- Create a safe place for everyone to be themselves
- Listen to each other
- Engage in fun activities
- Build trust through team building
- Practice vulnerability
- Eat
Outcomes
- Healing traumas
- Inspiring hope for a better and brighter future
- Dissolving labels and discovering their identity
- Discover the transformative power of nonjudgmental peer-mentoring
- College students become passionate about working with challenging youth
- College students rediscover their calling
- Forming deep and lasting relationships