This weekend, America turned 250. On this episode of Find Your SPARK Podcast, Chad takes a moment to reflect on what that really means.
The conversation starts where it should: freedom. Not just fireworks and cookouts, but the freedom to make our own choices, live our own lives, and decide who we want to become. What does freedom mean to you, personally?
Chad celebrates the freedom we enjoy as Americans while also digging into the responsibility that comes with it. Freedom was never free. Generations before us sacrificed, fought, and built so that we could have what we have today. Honoring them means more than remembering. It means living with intention and using our freedom well.
Tune in for a conversation that will leave you feeling grateful, grounded, and ready to carry the spirit of Independence Day forward with a little more meaning.
Happy 250th, America!
#SHARETHESPARK
Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator
Makayla Wheeldon is the Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator at The SPARK Initiative, where she works to expand the organization’s reach through creative content, strategic outreach, and community engagement. She holds a degree in Communications and Psychology from the University of Central Florida and spent three years teaching Kindergarten and 1st Grade for Hillsborough County Public Schools — an experience that deepened her understanding of students’ diverse needs and inspired her to pursue broader impact beyond the classroom. Makayla is passionate about empowering youth to regulate their emotions through the understanding that feelings are not permanent. In her role at Spark, she leads efforts to strengthen brand visibility, build meaningful partnerships, and represent the organization across the mental health and education sectors — ensuring the message of innate resilience resonates with as many people as possible.