ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS
Spark Central is a 501(C)3 nonprofit that ignites the creativity, innovation, and imagination necessary for people to forge the path to their best future. We break barriers to creativity like cost, confidence, and access by offering imaginative programs, access to innovative technology, and an inclusive creative community for folks of all economic backgrounds. Everyone deserves the opportunity to forge the future they imagine. As a 501(c)3 charitable organization, we rely on the generosity of people like you to keep our programs free so income is never a barrier to opportunity.
Spark Central has three types of programs: our station, public programs, and our popular neighborhood youth programs. Learn more about all three below:
OUR Station
Spark Central’s creative station at 1214 W Summit Parkway is a space for people of all income levels, identities, and backgrounds to access creative learning resources, innovative technology, and to be part of an inclusive community of creative learners. Thanks to community support, we are open five days a week year-round. Membership is always free so income is never a barrier to opportunity.
Our station is filled with books, zines, computers, robotics, design software, art supplies, creative learning kits, virtual reality equipment, and so much more! We house Spokane’s only zine library as well as curated book collections by local writers and writers from marginalized communities, artistic graphic novels and children’s books, limited-edition handmade books, and other unique finds.
Visit us Tuesday through Saturday to access all we have to offer.
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
In our space, we offer free public programs and family events that ignite creativity for all ages. Those who participate will grow in confidence, cultivate a growth mindset, and develop their future aspirations.
While we offer neighborhood youth first priority in registering for our school break camps and workshops, any remaining spots are opened to the public and will be viewable on our program calendar here.
Examples · Examples of public programs include Invention Connection, Imaginarium for young children and their parents, Minecraft Club, and school break camps and workshops such as Girls Rock Lab, Origin Stories, and many more.
Neighborhood Youth Programs
Knowing that the West Central neighborhood has been historically under-resourced due to redlining and few city resources, we have a special focus on serving youth in West Central and its adjacent areas. We offer neighborhood youth creative, project-based programs that publish youth voice—especially youth whose voices are not often sought out or are marginalized. We do this via books, publications, graphic art, music, code, and more. Every youth that participates in these programs will grow in confidence, cultivate a growth mindset, and develop their future aspirations (see our program outcomes below). Our staff uses trauma-informed, antiracist, and culturally competent practices to build a safe and inclusive learning environment.
For these programs, we prioritize Title I schools within or closest to the West Central neighborhood with an eye on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We also work with select community partners and cultural organizations that serve these youth and their families. We offer neighborhood youth first priority in registering for school break camps and any remaining spots are opened to the public at a later date.
Examples of our Neighborhood Youth Programs include our Level Up after-school program at Holmes and Audubon Elementary, where 3rd-5th graders engage in hands-on Literacy and STEM activities. One such activity is our West Central Express, where youth become budding journalists, investigating and writing about topics of interest to them, and creating additional newspaper content such as comics and work searches. Other popular programs include our wildly creative school break camps, like Girls Rock Lab, where youth become musicians, form their own bands, and put on a community concert.
QUALITY STANDARDS
To ensure a positive and meaningful student experience, we ask that each program:
Structured programs longer than one session will begin with a Spark-provided student self-assessment that aligns with the end-of-program evaluation metrics.
Begin with an introduction to Spark and an age-appropriate icebreaker. (Informal programming like drop-ins can do this informally as people arrive.)
Offer modifications to ensure everyone is both able to participate and challenged.
Be 20-30% direct instruction, 70-80% hands-on practice, lab activities, or workshop.
End with a product students walk away with — whether it be a short story, paper circuit, digital work or memorized poem — or with a public, collaborative project to which each student contributed, like a performance, publication, or public display.
End with a Spark-provided evaluation of the learning experience.
OUR PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Whether kids, teens, or adults, those who participate in our programs will:
Grow in confidence
Cultivate a growth mindset
Develop their future aspirations