About

Spark is the only youth empowerment program in the country that addresses the dropout crisis by re-engaging at-risk students through hands-on, individualized apprenticeships.

These workplace-based apprenticeships—in professions each student has identified as a “dream job”—are complemented by a leadership curriculum, workshops, and field trips. The Spark experience creates a powerful sense of relevance for students, while providing the skills and confidence necessary to find success in school and in life.

Spark offers this program to 7th and 8th grade students, through summer and after-school programs, in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.

What is an Apprenticeship?
At Spark, an apprenticeship is a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity that makes a student's education come alive. After choosing their field, students work alongside a motivated and trained mentor in that profession. A student who dreams of becoming an architect, for example, would work alongside a professional at an architecture firm, both observing their work and completing a project together. The apprenticeship builds up to a Discovery Project, a final presentation where students choose one skill to teach back to their peers, family and community. The apprenticeship experience allows students to get a genuine taste of the work that most fascinates them, building motivation and confidence for their future personal and academic success.