Inspiring the Next Generation of
CHANGEMAKERS
Through programs, workshops, mentorship, and community initiatives, we create spaces where youth feel seen, heard, and empowered to lead.
Our Mission
We believe every young person has the ability to lead, contribute, and create meaningful change.
Spark to Empower exists to amplify youth voices and provide opportunities for young people to grow in confidence, leadership, communication, and community connection.
Programs that Empower Young Leaders
Our programs are designed to help young people develop leadership skills, strengthen self-confidence, and make a positive impact in the world around them.
CHANGEMAKERS ACADEMY
A leadership experience designed to help students identify their strengths, use their voice, and develop real-world leadership skills.
YOUTH WORKSHOPS & PROGRAMS
Hands-on workshops, events, and programs that inspire creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Interactive leadership development programs focused on communication, confidence, teamwork, and community impact.
Get Involved
DONATE
Help make leadership programs, scholarships, workshops, and community initiatives accessible to more young people.
VOLUNTEER
Share your time, talents, and experience through events, workshops, mentorship, and community initiatives.
SPONSOR A STUDENT
Provide financial support for a student's participation in leadership programs and transformational learning experiences.
PARTNER WITH US
Collaborate with Spark to Empower through schools, nonprofits, businesses, or community organizations to expand our collective impact.
Contributors
The list of incredible contributors is constantly growing. Listed here are some of our featured presenters. We also work with many of the nonprofits in Santa Barbara County including Direct Relief, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara and others. We continue to build new partnerships to expand our reach.
Please reach out if you are interested in learning about how we can collaborate.
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Mary Firestone is a well known author, trauma & joy expert and inspirational speaker. She leads inspirational retreats all throughout the world and her essential oil perfumes and other products are popular among Hollywood celebs.
Mary Firestone is a graduate of Princeton University and has an MA in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. Her first book, Trusting the Dawn: How to Choose Freedom +Joy after Trauma (Sounds True, 2022), according to Dr Joe Dispenza, “is medicine for anyone who wants to free their mind, body, and soul from the past.” Providing others with healing and growth opportunities has been her lifelong passion.
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Sese grew up in Togo among a community of drum and dance in the city of Lome, Togo (West-Africa). His mother was a national choir celebrity and inspired Sese to use music as a tool of resilience in life. His curiosity towards the polyrhythmic aspects of ethnic music (Ewe culture drumming) led him to learn key music instruments at an early age. It was clear to him that music has many leadership components where collaboration, community building, and the respect for other cultures and traditions exist within most rhythms. He founded and currently leads a West African Drumming group called Ewe Drummers in Santa Barbara.
“The rhythms and songs of the Ewe people of Togo and Ghana reflect their deep relationship with the land, with the divine, with the ancestors and with each other. As a living tradition, Ewe cultural and spiritual wisdom is not written down and codified in fixed dogma because it reflects the present moment where time and eternity coexist. Ewe songs, rhythms and spirituality can only be understood through participation. By letting go of habitual ways of knowing and seeing, it is possible to discover oneself and the world in new and expanded ways.”
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Lucy Firestone is a producer, transformation coach, and the co-founder of Firestone Sisters Inc. She has spent over 20 years producing content, experiences, and products to inspire healing, growth and forward movement. Prior to producing on her own (originally in her own deal under Davis Entertainment), Lucy held posts at VH1, New Regency, Sony, and served as the Vice President of Penn Station Entertainment for Fox. Currently, she is producing several projects in various stages of production, curating and leading transformative retreats as the co-President of Firestone Sisters Inc., and overseeing their line of natural perfumes. In her private practice, she consults with both individuals and organizations to advance actualization and hone purpose. A graduate of Princeton University, Lucy has served on the boards of InsideOut Writers and ManifestWorks, taught classes to advance change for incarcerated youth, and continues to create mindfulness workshops for Freedom 4 Youth. As her work in film and personal transformation intersect, Lucy’s mission is always to activate awareness and catalyze positive change. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and two young daughters.
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Renee Stahl is a singer-songwriter whose haunting voice transcends the many genres of music she has covered. She is well regarded in the mainstream music world for her rich melodies, and harmonies, on solo records such as hopeful. romantic. She has collaborated with Europe's top electronic DJs on several trance tracks. However, it’s with the young ones and their families that her indie folk duo Renee & Jeremy has become a household name. Their original lullabies and covers transform classic songs into quiet mantras. In 2016, she released Renee & Friends, a collection of collaborations with notables such as Maya Rudolph, Ziggy Marley, Lisa Loeb, and more.
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Mally Chakola. Transformative Consulting & Programming for growth mindset individuals and organizations who want to turn their goals into their reality…fast.
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Belle Hahn is a PALMA Colectiva co-founder, ambassador, activist, philanthropist, investor, and wellness enthusiast .
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Brianna Turpin. Yoga extraordinaire, master yoga teacher trainer, healer, leads healing retreats all around the world, Digital online courses, spend days working one -on -one with individuals who are working on a myriad of healing, presenter at various conferences
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Palma Colectiva Founder: Meredith Markworth-Pollack has been a Costume Designer For Film + TV for the past eighteen years, designing such shows as Impeachment and Dynasty. However a calling to honor her true nature has led her away from the industry, and toward a holistic and curated approach to wellness. She is currently Reiki III certified and hosting ceremonies, events and retreats. PALMA Colectiva is named after her two daughters Paz and Alma. She currently reside in Santa Barbara, California.
News and Notes
Stories, reflections, and updates from our programs, students, and community.
Reflections from Changemaker Graduates and Parents