Spark Philadelphia
WHAT WE DO
At Spark Philadelphia, we believe that all students deserve access to the opportunities and resources that inspire a successful future.
Under the umbrella of PEF’s Middle Grades Initiative, Spark aims to engage with the greater Philadelphia community to provide career exploration and self-discovery opportunities that help middle school students understand, experience, and be motivated to pursue the possibilities for college and beyond. Through a combination of hands-on workshops, in-school presentations and job site visits, Spark Philadelphia provides students in seventh and eighth grades career-connected learning experiences
87 percent
of students agree that their experience with Spark helped them discover new career possibilities to explore.
74 percent
of Spark students improved in critical competencies for successful classroom engagement, as reported by their teachers.
355
working professionals helped students develop social capital, build social-emotional skills, and improve academic performance through Spark programming.
Our Partner Companies
Through the generosity and enthusiasm of our partner companies in the Philadelphia region, PEF’s Spark Program curates engaging and relevant experiences for middle grades students, exposing them to a wide range of career options they may not have otherwise considered, from architecture and engineering to financial and pharmaceutical fields.
On behalf of their companies who are invested in making an impact in our city, working professionals have meaningful opportunities to contribute to advancing Community Engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. Volunteers help our students develop social capital, build social-emotional skills, and understand that some career pathways can begin as early as in high school.
Our Spark Schools
Twice a year, chaperoned groups of seventh and eighth grade students from participating district and charter middle schools in Philadelphia enjoy site visits with companies and engage in Spark Labs workshops. These career-connected experiences are aimed at developing in each student a broader understanding of industries and careers of all shapes and sizes. Following the field trips, students report that they have learned about careers they hadn’t considered before.
Get involved
Contact: Liza Rangel, Senior Program Manager, Middle Grades Initiative lrangel@philaedfund.org
