Spark Central

Spark Central is a non-profit learning center and community space located in the Kendall Yards Business District of West Central neighborhood. We are a volunteer-run organization that relies on volunteers like you to make the magic happen. Come join us in building value for yourself and your community, while having fun, gaining skills and growing relationships. For more information about volunteering, please contact volunteers@spark-central.org.

At Spark, we break barriers to creativity so that people of all economic backgrounds can create the future they imagine. We offer transformative programs, access to technology, and a welcoming creative community at no cost thanks to generous community support.

CONNECT | We help people connect to one another, connect to resources, and connect to ideas. Our focus is on bringing people's talents to the surface and helping them teach one another. Community programs provide ways for people to engage with new ideas and each other. 

LEARN | Spark offers a wide variety of learning opportunities and resources. Programs for adults, teens, and youth provide rich, fun, and student-centered learning experiences around the creative arts, technology fields, and the building of healthy generations.

CREATE | At Spark, we believe that innovation comes from play and experimentation. Using our space, technology, and Maker Lab, you can use Spark Center as a design space to test your ideas, work on a project, or design something new. As a volunteer-run organization, Spark's programs are largely shaped by the passions within the community. 

Youth Program Volunteer: Spark Central is serious about play, and invite you to be part of the fun! Playshops for grades 1-12 have a distinct aesthetic—playful, hands-on, and community-oriented. Playshops focus on playful themes that engage students with literacy, the arts, technology, and the community. Outside of the school year, help students explore their imaginations in our summer camps. Youth camps include: Origin Stories, Code Kids, Girls' Rock Lab, and more! If you enjoy working with children or teens, this volunteer opportunity is for you.

HOURS POSSIBLE: 2-4 hours a week

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a positive, can-do attitude, be reliable and punctual, and trustworthy.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must also be welcoming to youth of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and ages.
• Must have basic computer skills, such as typing, web navigation, etc.

SPARK CENTRAL BREAKS THE OPPORTUNITY BARRIER.

We believe that everyone, regardless of income, deserves access to creative learning opportunities and innovative technologies. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third of Spokane’s West Central residents live in poverty. Spark Central offers membership, youth programs, and community events at no charge so that everyone has the chance to explore visual and literary arts, engineering, and robotics and follow where their creativity leads.

SPARK CENTRAL FILLS THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP FOR LOW-INCOME YOUTH.

We often confuse giftedness with opportunity. High-income parents spend 85% more than low-income families on their children’s extracurricular enrichment. By sixth grade, youth born into poverty typically suffer a 6,000-hour learning gap. Spark Central stands in this gap with programs where youth across socioeconomic boundaries come together and learn without limitations.

SPARK CENTRAL INSPIRES TOMORROW’S CREATIVE THINKERS.

Schools’ high-stakes test prep comes at a steep cost to the arts and creative thinking. Many extracurricular programs are “pay-to-play,” so under-resourced youth miss out on chances to flex their creative muscles. At Spark Central, youth develop the problem-solving skills and the confidence needed for an ever-changing tomorrow.

SPARK CENTRAL GROWS COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

By bringing people together for inspiring community events and creative learning activities, we invite volunteers, residents, teachers, and students to learn from and inspire one another. This community builds a sense of belonging, confidence, and ignites dialogue that benefits everyone.