Blogs and News
The Other Side of Suicide, a Young Girl’s Perspective – by Nicole Wilson
Since I was a little girl, some of the hardest times I can remember were holidays. Normally, you wouldn’t expect that from a child but on March 8th, 2002, my excitement for holidays came to an end. It was that day that my emotional development took an unexpected turn.
I remember the night thoroughly –the night that changed my life forever…
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month!
This topic is close to our hearts here at SPARK as several of us have been personally touched by suicide and the impact it leaves behind. For the past year we have been thoughtfully discussing the link between our SPARK youth mentoring programs and suicide prevention. We know in our hearts, the loved ones we have lost, may still be here with us today, if they fully understood their mental health and resilience inside. With that said, please consider this invitation to follow us this month as we will be sharing a variety of ways to create awareness and prevention around suicide.
Exploring Limitations – by SPARKING Change Intern, Macy Hembd
SPARKING Change Intern, Macy Hembd, shares her perspective on limiting thoughts prior to the internship and now. Expressing her insight through her artwork, she shares what her mind looked like previously and how it has gradually changed.
Understanding My Anxiety – I don’t have to fix anything because I’m not broken.
Emily Johnson shares her experience with anxiety and how she sees it through a whole new perspective. Her words are beautifully written and a great reminder that we are always okay, even when experiencing anxiety, we aren’t broken and our SPARK is always there.
The Soul of The Spark Initiative
At The Spark Initiative, we loved the movie Soul. In addition to the beautiful visuals, storyline, and music, so many concepts deeply resonated with us because of our own work with children and youth. Here are a few of our highlights.
The SPARK Difference
We believe in and Speak to the Potential, Ability, and Resilience in every Kid (SPARK). In order to genuinely speak to these inherent qualities of every human being, you have to know they exist. You have to understand that there is no such thing as a broken child who needs fixing, or a “hopeless” case who is bound for the juvenile justice system. There are only children who have discovered their SPARK and those who haven’t. Those who have forgotten about it, and those who have remembered.
Faith, Hope and Love
The texts came in slowly. “I tried to help him.” “I talked to him every day.” “I tried to try to save him.” My heart sank and my mind flooded. The irony is not lost on me. She just lost her brother, first to drugs, now to suicide. He was so young. His childhood barely...
How to Right a Wrong – What 2018 Taught Me about Business, Relationships and Life.
As 2018 came to a close I began to notice something almost unrecognizable about my own existence. Though dripping with children, 20lbs heavier, and so exhausted I could barely make it through Christmas dinner, I was met with a sense of peace, contentment, lightness and aliveness that had eluded me most of the year prior.
When I became aware of myself, I was in awe. It was late December. Ladies, I repeat, late DECEMBER! In the history of my existence as an adult, I have never ended December with any feeling other than what I envision an out-of-shape, unsuspecting, first-time marathon runner feels after stumbling into the finish line on pure adrenaline and determination – elated it’s over, shocked she survived and swearing next time she will start preparing earlier.
Mornings Are Not My Strong Suit
Mornings are not where I will be winning any parental or leadership awards – ever. This morning I was feeling tired and grouchy… and feeling bad about my tired and grouchy-ness because I just got home from a trip to London and my sweet kids haven’t seen much of me. And they deserve better.
The Day I Started Telling My Kids They Aren’t That Special
I can already feel the mom police revving their engines…the sirens are about to blow. I humbly request that you slowly take the keys out of the ignition and read…to the end…before deciding on my punishment.