SPARKS is a collaborative led by three mission-driven nonprofit organizations, BootUp, TERC, and Fun Zone Reading Club for Homeless Kids. They are working together to increase access to computer science education for children and families experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, California.
The SPARKS partnership was the result of the Educating All Learners Alliance’s Community of Action (CoA). The CoA brought together professionals with the common goal of affecting change for learners with disabilities or learning differences. Over the course of just 36 hours, connections were made, proposals drawn up, and funding awarded.
And so the SPARKS team began Code in Motion by SPARKS. This community-based programming is bringing computer science and other supports directly to youth in supported housing, libraries, and community centers.
Residents and advocates from the Skid Row community in Los Angeles joined have participated in multiple hours of paid, computer science and coding professional development. Adult participants explored computational thinking, Scratch, and “unplugged” Zoombinis logic puzzles and related activities. These Community Coaches now lead small groups of children and families in out of school time events organized by Coach Ron of the Fun Zone Reading Club for Homeless Kids.
Photo and Video credits include Bobby Buck, Urban Facilitator (www.BobbyBuck.com)
CIM logo designed by Ptah Ahochi Tehuti Eil, Community Coach