SparkAction is a collaborative journalism and advocacy network to mobilize action by and for young people. Developed by and for the child and youth field, SparkAction's partners include the National Collaboration for Youth, the Campaign for Youth, Child Advocacy 360 and the Ready by 21 National Partnership, as well as hundreds of organizations across the country.
SparkAction.org is the merger of Connect for Kids (CFK), the Youth Policy Action Center (YPAC) and the National Youth Development Information Center. We are managed by the Washington, DC-based "action tank" The Forum for Youth Investment. How will you Spark Action? *We launched in 2010, but are based on organizations that have been around around since 1996!
SparkAction.org is the merger of Connect for Kids (CFK), the Youth Policy Action Center (YPAC) and the National Youth Development Information Center. We are managed by the Washington, DC-based "action tank" The Forum for Youth Investment. How will you Spark Action? *We launched in 2010, but are based on organizations that have been around around since 1996!
Mission: SparkAction brings together the best resources, news, storytelling and advocacy tools for adults and young people who want to make a difference. We are dedicated to cutting across silos and borders to create a central place for information and connections, and to raise a stronger, unified voice for change.
#TheFutureWeNeed Action Alert:
The Georgia Runoff elections are fast approaching, and we've got to act even faster. Support local orgs, help voters get registered, or use your skills to volunteer — swipe through for all the ways you can take action.
Learn more: futureweneed.org (link in bio)
What a powerful message from #TheFutureWeNeed Partnerships & Outreach Coordinator Marlen Mendoza!
Oftentimes we are overshadowed and underestimated when it comes to conversations regarding our future.
Young people should be present and centered at discussions pertaining to issues that impact their future.
Happening now! Join us in saying "farewell" and celebrating the wins that the Campaign For Youth Justice helped lead, including the reauthorization of the JJDPA act on a federal level, and the adoption of "Raise the Age" legislation in dozens of states to protect young people.
JOIN US FOR OUR VIRTUAL FAREWELL TO THE CAMPAIGN FOR YOUTH JUSTICE
When the Campaign for Youth Justice was born 15 years ago (2005), as many as 250,000 children a year were being prosecuted as adults across the country every year. The incarceration of children in adult jails had increased more than 200% since the mid 1990s; and 3:4 of children sent to adult prison were youth of color.
Fifteen years later, through the unwavering commitment of children who had been sentenced as adults, their families, advocates, legislators on both sides of the aisle, the philanthropic community, and researchers—many of the goals of the Campaign have been met.
These wins couldn’t have happened without each and every one of you joining this movement. While the work is not finished—there are still far too many children entering the adult criminal justice system—the tools now exist to fight these battles locally. We welcome you to continue fighting for our young people and ensuring they receive equal protections regardless of where they live.
We invite you to our Virtual Farewell Party as we come together to celebrate our victories as we say our goodbyes to CFYJ.
The Opportunity Index not only shows us how our communities are doing -- it’s a tool to help understand where disparities exist, so we can work to change them. #MoW2020
Join Youth Engaged 4 Change next Monday for an Instagram Live on navigating stress and techniques for relaxation.
YE4C Editorial Board Member, Laticia Aossey, and Youth Facilitator and Virtual Student Federal Service Intern Ifeoma Ikedionwu, will have a conversation exploring the ways stress impacts our bodies and minds, and relaxation techniques to handle stress.
📲Tune in August 3 at 6PM ET/ 3 PM PT: instagram.com/youthengaged4change
Via @oyunited + @rycampaign:
All young people NEED access to:
Living wages and allowances through employment, training and/or service to participate in the economy and empower themselves.
Interventions that address systemic issues stemming from mental and behavioral health, economic inequality, homelessness, violence, and substance abuse.
Positive mentors and experiences that help youth explore their talents and develop a plan for success.
Pathways that expand access to a wide range of opportunities such as higher education, vocational education, service and careers.
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#THEOYDEMAND
LIVE THIS TUESDAY on Youth Engaged 4 Change (instagram.com/youthengaged4change).
Young people are dealing with a lot right now. Their lives have not only been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the killing of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality have led to civil unrest and a national discussion about systemic racism and injustice in the country. These events are traumatic and difficult to process.
YE4C is hosting an Instagram Live with Akira Sky, YE4C Editorial Board Member and Youth Facilitator, and Kathleen Guarino, American Institutes for Research Trauma and Mental Health Specialist, to discuss how these events may be traumatic for young people, how to cope and build resiliency.
Watch live Tuesday at 6pm ET: instagram.com/youthengaged4change
From April 22 to 24, youth activists and adults are coming together for #EarthDayLive, a three-day live stream event focused on climate action. Most years we’d take to the streets to demand climate action — this year, though, all the action is happening online.
The live stream will include training sessions, performances, and appearances to keep people engaged, informed, and inspired, with speakers including celebrities, politicians, scientists, and youth activists. Social distancing doesn’t have to mean collective disengagement. Sign up to join us on #EarthDay: earthdaylive2020.org
“In the midst of a global pandemic, Earth Day Live aims to spur collective action to protect our communities and our planet, through performances, conversations, and training sessions curated by climate activists,” the event’s organizers wrote.
Learn more here and follow along at: earthdaylive2020.org
Joaquin Phoenix, Moby, Questlove, and others will appear on three-day livestream
In a feature on @leaderstoriesorg, Amit Dodani, the Founder and CEO of @mynamemystory, explains the need to reframe how youth changemakers are talked about in society, and education in particular.
Watch Amit’s full video with LeaderStories: http://bit.ly/2udd5PR
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This week, youth climate activists announced plans for three days of #ClimateStrike actions launching #EarthDay, Wed, Apr 22, and ending on Fri, Apr 24. HUNDREDS of youth-led events, including strikes, marches, rallies, and teach-ins to demand the protection of this generation and every generation to follow.
We'll be striking. Will you #StrikeWithUs? ⚫ strikewithus.org/join
As we look into the next decade of youth-led social change, a reminder: the youth will win.
More on our Instagram (@sparkaction): http://bit.ly/35IwHJ1
Join us in urging senators to invest in proven pathways to jobs, national service & education for #OpportunityYouth.
Our young people, our nation and our economy deserve it! Act now through the Reconnecting Youth Campaign action alert: bit.ly/RYCalert
"STOP STEALING OUR FUTURE"
📸 Future Coalition; September 20 Climate Strike Los Angeles
Young people are leading another #ClimateStrike tomorrow (12/6) to demand transformative action on the climate crisis. Learn more about how to #StrikeWithUs across 300+ events: strikewithus.org
#MondayMotivation: "Speak with passion and with stories," said climate activist May Boeve.
Storytelling is a vital component of demanding change. How are you ensuring that you use the magic of a story to spark conversations and impact?
📞TAKE ACTION! The #JJDPAMatters in order to develop alternatives to incarceration & provide services for justice-involved youth. Call to urge your Senators to support the House-level funding for the #JJDPA: bit.ly/ActNow4JJ
Congress is still working to set government spending levels for fiscal year 2020, through the appropriations process. The U.S. House of Representatives has completed its appropriations bills, and the Senate is working on its version. Please take a minute to call and urge your Senators to fully fund....
"If you don’t know who young people are at their core, you can’t help from an authentic space," said Shawnice Jackson.
Read more in Youth Today: http://bit.ly/2C9YwfY #OpportunityYouth
In my role of leading national youth policy conversations, something has been bothering me. These last few years, it has become a thorn in my side. Convening after convening, I have been seeing more and more youth participation and there are more young people sharing their stories.
Want to learn the latest from opportunity leaders in the field? We thought so! Register for #OpportunityWeek2019 in DC, November 11-15: https://nyec.org/oyweek/ #OYNSummit2019 #AmplifyOpportunity
Did you know that less than half the states break down youth in adult court by race and/or ethnicity? #ActToEndRacism in our jails and prisons! Support youth justice initiatives by participating in #YJAM #YJAM2019: http://bit.ly/YJAM_2019
This year, youth leaders with Reconnecting Youth Campaign held in-district meetings with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).
Here's a clip about how it went. Watch the full video: http://bit.ly/2J5zKlk
TAKE ACTION! Join us in using this easy action alert to urge our Members of Congress to invest in proven pathways to jobs, national service & education for #OpportunityYouth. Our young people, our nation, and our economy deserve it: bit.ly/reconnect-youth#act
ICYMI: Members of the #ReconnectingYouth Campaign meet with lawmakers to urge investment in pathways for #opportunityyouth. Read more: bit.ly/2ki8PJW
For #WorldFoodDay, read about how Food Recovery Network ignited a social movement on college campuses to fight food waste and hunger: http://bit.ly/32s4a96
How do we put practice #SEL in daily interactions with youth? What if your org or school lacks the funding or time to implement an evidence-based curriculum or program? Join @forumfyi’s 10/30 webinar for answers to these questions & more! bit.ly/31Jr5ft #ReadyYouth
#MondayMotivation: “The world is a lot more caring than it presents itself to be,” said Jordyn Close, reproductive rights organizer, in a reflection about her work last year. https://sparkaction.org/content/2018-lessons-from-young-leaders
Last month, Opportunity Youth United members and leaders gathered in Washington DC to talk with members of congress about the #ReconnectingYouth Campaign.
Read more about the experience in the latest #OpportunityYouth in Action blog post: http://bit.ly/318Eahn
Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.
For #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, take #40seconds of action by taking 40 seconds to start a conversation about mental health.
Educators and other people working in schools can especially help students with their mental health, watch this:
The teenage years can be full of excitement, opportunities and newfound freedoms. Yet they can also be times fraught with worry about exams, relationships, a...
Happy National Youth Science Day! This month, 4-H is getting kids involved in computer science through hands-on activities.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/2p7WZDW
New snapshot from Annie E. Casey Foundation: Nearly 12% of children (more than 8.5 million kids nationwide) live in high-poverty neighborhoods. https://buff.ly/2kQoro2
1 of 10 incarcerated youth still sleeps in adult jails/facilities every night!
Help support youth justice initiatives by participating in Youth Justice Awareness Month (#YJAM) and help us #ActToEndRacism in our jails and prisons. #YJAM2019
Learn more here: http://bit.ly/YJAM_2019
"When we penalize girls for being 'loud, defiant, and precocious,' we further expand on this problematic history, and we silence and punish important voices for justice."
More from Juvenile Law Center's Jessica Feierman and Girls for Gender Equity - GGE's Ashley Sawyer about the punishing and silencing of Black girls' voices (via Teen Vogue):
This is all part of a system of over-policing and police abuse.
Youth Justice Action Month from Campaign for Youth Justice is here!
Get up to date on all the events happening this month & ways to participate: http://www.campaignforyouthjustice.org/yjam/
"I never felt completely comfortable or ready, but rarely does anyone ever feel completely ready for what they are called to do. All you can do is prepare and face it head on."
Adam Strong of Opportunity Youth United shares some reflections on meeting with elected officials, including remembering that representatives and their staffers are people too:
http://bit.ly/2mlv82h
“We’re All Human.” Here’s How to Remember that When Meeting with Elected Officials September 19, 2019/in Featured Articles, OYU in Action, Youth Voice /by Caitlin KBy Adam Strong The first time I met with a high-level policymaker, I was so nervous my neck actually went stiff. It was 2012, an...
Youth Engaged 4 Change has announced the winners of their #Hopeful4 contest: Manda, Anthony, and Kurtis.
See the winners’ submissions: http://bit.ly/2mmGPFL
(Featured below: Anthony's photo encouraging you to "always look on the bright side")
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We have to take a hard look at communities where you have very persistent poverty, poor education outcomes, other kinds of indicators of problems and ... build pathways out for opportunity youth. – Hillary Clinton James Mackey of Opportunity Youth United asked potential presidential Hillary Clinton how she would create pathways for our nation's 5.6 million opportunity youth.
President Obama made a national call-to-action on criminal justice reform, but what about our youth in the juvenile justice system? This is an important week for the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act (JJDPA), the landmark law that has been protecting young people in the juvenile and criminal justice system for over 40 years. We need Congress to know how important it is to strengthen and renew juvenile justice laws for the sake of young people. Show your support! http://sparkaction.org/jjdpamatters
Marching towards the White House…watch what happens when collective members of Youth Councils around the nation gathered to meet with Christina Tchen, White House Director of Public Engagement to recommend a Federal Youth Council. Find out why it's important by watching this video.
Child Advocacy 360 (a SparkAction content partner) commissioned the strategic communications organizations Douglas Gould & Company and The Topos Partnership to measure public opinion and examine what stories are most effective when it comes to engaging and inspiring people to take action on behalf of children and youth.
On June 15, 2010, the National Collaboration for Youth held a briefing on Capitol Hill where panelists spoke about school climate and how to use data to improve conditions for learning. Missed the briefing? Check out this SparkAction video recap.
SparkAction's managing partner, the Forum for Youth Investment has an approach, a partnership and a plan to help leaders work smarter so that they can achieve their goals. Bringing you the ideas, inspiration and tools you need to work smarter is a part of that plan. Ready to learn how? Check out our video on how to work smarter featuring Karen Pittman, Merita Irby, Melissa Hough, Bryan Joffe and Aeyola Fortune.
In SparkAction's Action Center you can learn how to use advocacy to change policies for children and youth. We've gathered tools and resources and produced an intro video to help individuals and organizations get informed, get involved, and make a difference for families and communities.
Being ready for a successful adulthood means feeling empowered and connected to your community and your country. What's the secret to effective service-learning, volunteerism and youth leadership? Watch our Intro Video to hear from young people and featuring national experts Silvia Golombek and Sally Prouty!
Low wages and limited social supports and services take a toll on nearly every aspect of life and development for families, kids and young people—from health and learning to family stability and lifelong success. It doesn't have to be this way. Check out SparkAction's Intro Video for an insider look at the issue featuring experts Larry Aber, Harry Holzer, Alan Houseman and Debbie Weinstein.
A good education is critical to success as an adult, but just what makes a school effective and what impact are reform efforts having? We've got stories and data to help you go beyond graduation rates to get a fuller picture of American education. To get started, check out our Intro to Education video featuring national experts Cindy Brown and Bruno Manno!
Whether you define the early years as birth to age 3 or to age 8, early experiences set the stage for physical, mental and emotional development, health, social adaptability and readiness to learn. Find out why "this is not about values or opinions, this is about science" and get the expert scoop in our Early Care Intro Video featuring experts Adele Robinson, Ben Allen, Helen Blank and Matthew Melmead!
SparkAction is a neutral brand that cuts across the silos and creates a central “megaphone” to mobilize like-minded adults and youth around calls to action. We also provide behind-the-scenes supports to help organizations and advocates use digital technology and old-fashioned communications savvy to reach and move their audiences, and have been successful launching and running campaigns and communications projects for Raise the Age New York, the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act, Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance (CTJJA), Opportunity Youth United (OYU), and more.
SparkAction was launched in 2010 after a year-long strategic planning process that involved more than 150 organizations that identified their key capacity gaps and underscored the ways a central platform could be useful. It offers articles, news and resources to inspire and inform, linked to opportunities for its 38,000 subscribers and site users to take action online and on the ground.
Institute for Conservation Leadership
7000 Carroll Ave Ste 200-14, Takoma ParkMC Writing, Reading, and Language Center
7600 Takoma Ave, RC 105, Takoma ParkMontgomery College Students' Mathematics Unio
Takoma Park 20912Ethiopian Community Center, Inc. (ECC)
7603 Georgia Ave NW, Ste 200City of Takoma Park, MD - Municipal Governmen
7500 Maple Ave, Takoma ParkWalter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave NWDiaspora Ivoirienne & Africaine
7731 Alaska Ave NWThe Ladies Auxiliary to the Takoma Park Volun
7201 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park
Monitoring Egyptian elections in the US
International Court
Consulate of Panama in Washington, D.C.
2862 McGill Ter NW
American Resort Development Association
1201 15th St NW
Transgender American Veterans Association
2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite 465
Digestive Disease National Coalition
507 Capitol Ct NE
