NEWS RELEASE

March 17, 2023

Contact: Shawn Vestal

President, Spark Central Board of Directors

vestal.shawn@comcast.net

SPARK CENTRAL HIRES LOCAL PROFESSOR, SCHOLAR AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dr. Melissa Bedford will lead organization dedicated to breaking barriers for children.

(SPOKANE, WA) — Spark Central, a non-profit organization that provides a range of free creative programs for youth in West Central Spokane and beyond, has hired local educator and scholar Dr. Melissa Bedford as executive director to lead the organization into its next chapter.

Bedford, a professor of education at Eastern Washington University and a member of the Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors, brings a deep expertise in childhood education and organizational leadership to the role.

“When people ask me what I’m most excited about, I keep saying, ‘I get to do my heart work,’” Bedford said. “Having the opportunity to work with children again just makes my heart glow.”

Bedford has a background as a public-school teacher and a scholar in education. She has served in faculty and departmental leadership roles at EWU, as well as being a community leader and advocate. She was elected to the Spokane School Board in 2021.

“Something I’ve always enjoyed about working with kids is seeing them have that ‘ah ha!’ moment,” she said. “Whether they learned something new or discovered something they want to learn more about, there’s no better feeling than witnessing that moment of joy. Everyone deserves access and opportunities to engage in activities that bring them joy, and I’m excited to support this mission with Spark Central. Spark has an amazing team that’s been doing such great work in our community and I am honored to be joining them on this journey!”

Spark Central is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to breaking down barriers to opportunity and closing the achievement gap for students living in poverty. The organization provides free programs for youth, such as Minecraft Club, Lego Robotics Club, and Virtual Reality Playtime, at its station in Kendall Yards; it also conducts the after-school educational program Level-Up, in partnership with Spokane Public Schools, at Holmes and Audubon elementary schools. Spark Central also hosts the annual Girls Rock Lab and produces the West Central Express student newspaper, as well as holdings readings, creative workshops and other events for the public at its Kendall Yards station.

Spark Central was formed in 2016 through a merger of two existing initiatives: INK Art Space, which was founded by best-selling author and Spokane native Jess Walter, among others; and an effort to create a “library for the future” in Kendall Yards driven by Jim and Joe Frank of Greenstone Homes and other community leaders.

Spark Central relies on donors and volunteers to make its programs possible. Its annual fund-raiser, Spark Salon, will be April 29, with best-selling author Anthony Doerr in conversation with Walter.

For more information on the Salon and Spark Central, visit spark-central.org.