Spark addresses the dropout crisis by re-engaging at-risk 7th and 8th grade 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. At Spark, an apprenticeship is a 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 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.
Ben Allen, Los Angeles Managing Director
Mentor: Brenda Shockley, Community Build