My Journey Continues – Darnel

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our Year Up United participants and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Through our partnership with national nonprofit Year Up United, Spark provides mentorship to young adults in six-month internship placements with corporate partners in the DC region. Read on to learn about our talented young people and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

 My Journey Continues at Exelon!

Where are you currently employed, and what’s your role there?

I’m currently employed at Exelon as an IT Project Coordinator, where I help manage timelines, coordinate resources, and support communication across teams to ensure successful project execution.

What’s one professional goal you’re working toward?

I’m working toward completing my IT degree with a focus on project management and data analytics, with the goal of advancing into a lead project management or systems analyst role in the future.

What’s one accomplishment from your internship that you’re most proud of?

One accomplishment I’m most proud of is organizing and contributing to a networking event that connected interns and professionals across departments. It helped foster collaboration and opened doors for future opportunities.

What’s one lesson or skill you learned from participating in the Spark mentorship program that you think will be helpful for your career?

One of the most valuable skills I learned through the Spark mentorship program was how to conduct independent research effectively. Being able to find reliable information and solve problems without relying on constant guidance has made me more confident and resourceful in a professional setting.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at the University of the District of Columbia!

What are your plans for next year? 

This fall, I’ll be majoring in Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia. 

What’s one goal you have for next year? 

My primary goal is to gain more practical experience and knowledge, not just in school but also in real-world settings. 

What’s one accomplishment from high school that you’re most proud of?  

My most significant accomplishment, which I am most proud of, is securing a full ride to college. This means I won’t have to worry about paying for school, and I’ll be debt-free! Whoop whoop! 

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life? 

One valuable lesson I’ve learned from Spark is to seize opportunities when they arise.  

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at American University!

What are your plans for next year?

I am going to American University to major in Political Science and International Affairs and minor in Philosophy.

What’s one goal you have for next year?

One goal I have for next year is to maintain a high GPA.

What’s one accomplishment from high school that you’re most proud of?

One accomplishment I’m proud of from high school is being the senior class president and the National Honor Society president.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life?

A skill I learned at Spark that I think will be helpful is to take advantage of good opportunities. There are so many events that Spark introduced me to, which allowed me to discover new things. For example, I was able to tour American University, which I will now attend.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at American University!

What are your plans for college next year?

Next year I plan to go to American University. I am currently debating between studying public health or political science.

What’s one accomplishment that you’re most proud of in high school?

An accomplishment that I am most proud of during high school is being able to intern at the National Credit Union Administration in the office of External Affairs and Communication. There aren’t many high school students who are able to get that opportunity. I am lucky to have been able to gain work experience in the media and writing side of things, as well as network with such amazing people.

What about college are you most excited for?

For college, I am most excited about being able to meet new people and start studying. I am excited to finally be able to start my education for the career of my choice.

What’s one goal you have for next year?

An educational goal I have for next year is to continue earning high grades and learn new studying techniques for my college classes. On the other hand, a personal goal of mine is to continue the good work I have done to improve my mental health. I also want to continue to be involved in extracurriculars I enjoy – especially those that give back to the community.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned from your mentor that you think will be the most helpful in college?

A lesson I’ve learned from my mentor that I believe will be the most helpful in college is to simply let myself be. I often stop myself from doing certain things or acting in a certain way because of the people around me. My mentor has helped me become comfortable just going for more of the things I want to do and further developing my individual identity.

Can you describe in your own words how Spark the Journey has impacted your life?

Spark the Journey has impacted my life by providing me with a support team that I know I can count on in my education, career, and personal life.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at Temple University!

What are your plans for college next year?

Next year I’m headed to Temple University!

What about college are you most excited for?

I’m most excited about the chance to meet people from different backgrounds and broaden my knowledge of the world.

What’s one goal you have for your future career?

For my future career, I’m interested in tons of things. Right now, I’m considering either IT and cybersecurity or psychology and counseling as potential options. Both would allow me to practice my leadership skills and tackle big challenges, which is what I really want to do at the end of the day. Regardless of what I choose, I know that I’ll be equipped to handle it.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned from Spark that you think will be the most helpful in college?

Spark has provided me with endless opportunities to help me grow. They’ve shared information about scholarships, SAT prep, financial literacy, and so many other things that I wasn’t able to find anywhere else. Coming from a low-income community, it’s really important to me to learn about these resources. I want to use them myself, of course, but I also want to spread the word to others so that all of us can become economically mobile.

Can you describe in your own words how Spark the Journey has impacted your life?

When I started with Spark the Journey, I wasn’t very open-minded. I didn’t like trying new things. And I had never been part of a community that felt like family. Spark was different. They introduced me to my mentor, Vi, who’s one of the best listeners I know. I really appreciate that she’s always there for me, no matter what I need to talk about, and she gives incredible advice. She’s not just a mentor – she’s also become a true friend.

Each year, as part of our My Journey Continues campaign, Spark celebrates our graduating seniors and all the hard work they’ve put into preparing for the next chapter of their lives. Read on to learn about just a few of our talented participants and what they’ve accomplished during their time with Spark the Journey.

My Journey Continues at Radford University!

What are your plans for college next year?

I’m going to Radford University next year, and I can’t wait!

How did your mentor support you during the college application process?

I was really nervous about choosing a college. Together, my mentor, Ashley, and I made a pro and con list for each school so I could understand what I really need. I realized it’s important for me to go to a smaller school where I can get more one-on-one support.

Do you have ideas on what do you plan to study?

I’ve narrowed down potential majors to psychology, social work, and education.

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned from your mentor that you think will be the most helpful in college?

In the two short years that I’ve known her, Ashley has made a huge difference in my life. I love that she’s an adult with a real-world job and she’s not that much older than me so she can still relate to what I’m going through. Not only has she helped me make decisions, but she’s helped me learn how to make them so that way I can do it on my own in the future.

Can you describe in your own words how Spark the Journey has impacted your life?

I can’t imagine what my life would look like without Spark the Journey. I’ve received so much support through hard times and so many skills that I can take with me into my next chapter of life. To any student who ever asks me about Spark, I’ll always say, “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Spark’s request for $1 million was doubled when they received the highest peer review scores.

March 19, 2024

Spark the Journey today announced that it has received a $2 million dollar grant from Yield Giving, a fund led by philanthropist, MacKenzie Scott. This unrestricted gift will help Spark further its mission of preparing more Black and Brown young adults from low-income communities in the Washington D.C. region for college and career success through mentoring.

“We are deeply honored that Yield Giving has awarded Spark the Journey these funds, which will enable us to expand our reach and serve even more young people on the path to economic mobility,” said Khari Brown, CEO and President of Spark the Journey. “For more than thirty years, Spark has successfully helped Black and Brown young adults overcome the academic and professional barriers that limit so many of their peers. This gift, the largest in our organization’s history, is a testament to the life-changing impact that mentorship and a community of support can provide. Thanks to MacKenzie Scott’s generosity, we are one step closer to a more equitable future for our young people.”

In March 2023, Yield Giving launched an Open Call for community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to enable individuals and families to achieve substantive improvement in their well-being through foundational resources. Spark was one of the 6,353 nonprofit organizations that applied. Yield Giving initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each, but in light of the incredible work of these organizations, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount. Spark received a $2 million award because it was in the group of highest-scoring organizations.

In Washington DC, concentrated income inequality and poverty are barriers to education and employment for Black and Brown families. Approximately 90% of children living in poverty in the District are Black, and according to the DC Council Office of Racial Equity, Black residents are five times more likely to have incomes below the federal poverty level than white residents.

Despite these challenges, Spark helps its program participants persist and pursue their academic and career dreams so that they can attain economic mobility regardless of their zip code, educational background, or race. Studies show that targeted support and interventions are predictors of high school graduation, and young adults from low-income communities with a mentor are 55% more likely to enroll in college. Eighty percent of Spark’s high school class of 2022 persisted into their second year of college education, compared to 55% of all Black students and 63% of all Latino students nationwide.

Every young person deserves the opportunity to achieve their dreams. Spark is proud to provide mentorship, community, and support so that our program participants are empowered to fulfill their full potential.

About Spark the Journey: Spark the Journey is a non-profit organization that provides mentorship and a community of support for young adults to chart their own paths to achieving college and career success. We envision a future where every young person can attain economic mobility, regardless of education, background, or race. If you are interested in supporting our work, learn more here about becoming a mentor or making a gift.

Ready for my journey to continue at UDC to study mechanical engineering. I always keep my eyes toward NASA, that’s been my dream company since I was like six.  

What are your plans for next year? 

Next year I’m going to go to UDC and study mechanical engineering. It’s close to home, it’s real affordable and I feel like I could definitely get a lot of the information and knowledge that I need. While I’ve had some engineering help in classes in high school, I definitely feel I could get a further education if I take it to college.

 

What are you most excited about for next year? 

I’m definitely most excited about broadening my horizons – having that sense of independent freedom, but also that sense of, “now’s my time to shine.” Now I can really use this opportunity to find out who I truly am and what I truly want to do. Because, say I get there and engineering’s not really right for me, I have plenty of options to choose from, and I feel that regardless of what I choose, I should be ok.
 

What’s one goal you have for next year? 

I definitely want to try to broaden my network more, not only with students and adults, but just overall.
 

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life? 

I’ve really enjoyed my time at Spark. I would definitely recommend it to anyone else in high school. It’s a great program, a great way for you to get out there and learn more not only about yourself but how to get along with other people, people locally in your area, and also have a really beneficial mentor who will help you out throughout your high school years. It’s just an overall great experience – you can’t find an experience like this in other companies, not as well as Spark, that is.

Ready for my journey to continue at UDC to study mechanical engineering. I always keep my eyes toward NASA, that’s been my dream company since I was like six.  

What are your plans for next year? 

Next year I’m going to go to UDC and study mechanical engineering. It’s close to home, it’s real affordable and I feel like I could definitely get a lot of the information and knowledge that I need. While I’ve had some engineering help in classes in high school, I definitely feel I could get a further education if I take it to college.

 

What are you most excited about for next year? 

I’m definitely most excited about broadening my horizons – having that sense of independent freedom, but also that sense of, “now’s my time to shine.” Now I can really use this opportunity to find out who I truly am and what I truly want to do. Because, say I get there and engineering’s not really right for me, I have plenty of options to choose from, and I feel that regardless of what I choose, I should be ok.
 

What’s one goal you have for next year? 

I definitely want to try to broaden my network more, not only with students and adults, but just overall.
 

What’s one lesson or skill you’ve learned at Spark that you think will be the most helpful for this next chapter in your life? 

I’ve really enjoyed my time at Spark. I would definitely recommend it to anyone else in high school. It’s a great program, a great way for you to get out there and learn more not only about yourself but how to get along with other people, people locally in your area, and also have a really beneficial mentor who will help you out throughout your high school years. It’s just an overall great experience – you can’t find an experience like this in other companies, not as well as Spark, that is.

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