Find Your Spark

We are so happy to announce that our "Find Your SPARK" podcast is now going to be featured on our new YouTube page as well as hosted on our website. Look for more interaction with our subscribers hosting a variety of mentoring related topics and guests. 

Check out the first one here and subscribe for updates on future podcasts.

In this episode, Chad and Mari explore the world of Autism with Sam Mitchell. Living with Autism himself, Sam has a thriving podcast that consistently takes us on a journey of his daily struggles, life-improving advice, and Self Empowering lessons. Join us as we embrace the empowering message of Sam.

In this episode, our host Nicole chats with "SPARKing Change" Intern, Angie about her experiences with our Leadership Program here. Through the internship, Angie is able to find things out about herself including her ability to be creative and learning about how people have different outlooks and perspectives, although we all live in the "center of our own mind". She also shares ideas for her "passion project" and why suicide prevention is the direction she wants to go.

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Chad and Ashley are joined by a very special guest, Michelle Chambers. Michelle was a participant in our Insight to Well-being program that SPARK runs in our local jail. Michelle was recently released and wanted to share her story on our podcast. Listen as Michelle shares the profound insights she feels made a difference in her journey.

If you would like to donate to our local programs, you can find all the ways to donate here: https://thesparkinitiative.com/ways-to-give/

In this episode of the Find Your SPARK podcast, Chad sheds light on his upbringing, from living in Jamaica to finding his true self. Chad also discusses his love for helping and giving to others. Tune in as Chad shares groundbreaking thoughts and impactful stories about his life and experiences and why he chose SPARK.

In this episode, Mari tells Jena about the experiences that led her down the path to SPARK. Having come to Tampa from Chicago, she recalls the changes she's made to her perspective in order to accomplish her goals. Mari discusses how she discovered her passion to help people by seeing her mother's compassion toward others and the strength of her grandparents' love for each other and the family they created. Listen as Mari recognizes moments her SPARK showed up to bring her to this very moment.

One Year After the Attack, Gabriella Speaks

One year ago, a sweet 12-year-old girl in 7th grade was violently attacked at her Middle School by her classmates. Sadly, this story line could apply to countless incidents of bullying across the county. Our podcast this week is a follow-up to the attack on Brooke's daughter, Gabriella. Brooke spoke about this incident previously, and if you haven't done so already, please listen to this episode first for the context.

This special episode was recorded because Gabriella knows others may be experiencing bullying, and she wanted to use her experience, voice, and perspective to hopefully give hope to others. Gabriella shares what she has seen in the past year about her own strength and resilience. Her many nuggets of wisdom now include an understanding that what happens to you doesn't define you and the importance of placing boundaries.  Listen here to this brave 13-year-old, wanting to help others.

In this episode of Find Your SPARK, Ashley and Brooke are joined by a LIVE audience at the Boost Conference in Palm Springs, CA. Because we had a brand-new audience, this was the perfect chance to tell SPARK’s story. Brooke and Ashley share how SPARK started, and then all the things that unfolded to get to where SPARK is today. Listen to hear about the very humble beginnings, and all the changes and growth made along the way! 

In this episode, Jena shares her personal journey of how she got to SPARK! From growing up in Florida, joining the Air Force and traveling all over, to returning to Florida and finding her path. Jena talks about the knowing inside that has guided her along the way and the importance of connection. Listen as Jena shares about the moments in her life that she just knew what the next best steps were. In her words…when you know, you just know!

In this episode, Nicole shares the key life events that led her to SPARK and how her seven-year journey with our organization has allowed her to finally be her true self. Like many of us, she describes how her younger self felt shy, insecure, and never enough. Even in the midst of that, she was able to follow life's little nudges and begin to peel back the layers of insecurity. While she wishes she could have had her current confidence as a teenager, she can also now see how those so-called mistakes were part of life's puzzle.  Tune in here!