partnership trip

Julia Sistachs | Board of Directors, Business, business development, education, partnership trip, travel, zambia

Leadership Development Workshop at Hope Community School with Co-Founder Rich Johnson

Written by Colin Kuker For the third year in a row, Rich Johnson, Co-founder of Spark Ventures and Senior Vice President of People at Spaulding Ridge, spent a week in Zambia to facilitate a leadership development workshop for more than thirty of Hope Community School’s leaders,...

12 January

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Julia Sistachs | Board of Directors, education, events, partnership trip, travel, zambia

The Twatotela Award: Celebrating Sue Bernstein at the 2025 Fall Gala

Written by Colin Kuker Every so often, we have the privilege of pausing to celebrate someone whose dedication and heart have truly shaped our shared mission. At this year’s Fall Gala, that moment came as we presented Sue Bernstein with the Twatotela Award—a recognition that captures...

17 November

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Julia Sistachs | partnership trip, zambia

Powering Possibility: Celebrating Solar Energy at Hope Community School

Last month, on the second-to-last day of our visit to Hope Community School in Twapia, Zambia, students, staff, and Spark’s travelers gathered for a joyful afternoon celebrating the new solar panels at the school, a development that has transformed daily life and learning at Hope. Over...

28 August

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Katie Gustafson | mexico, partnership trip

Mexico Traveler Interview: Jennifer Kim

Meet Jennifer Kim: Impact Travel Alumni & Spark Ventures Board Member How were you first introduced to Spark, and can you share a bit about why you chose to travel with Spark? I first heard about Spark Ventures through my friend (and Spark board member), Kathy Wolf....

30 September

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Katie Gustafson | education, partnership trip, zambia

Zambia: Impact Travel Experience 2024

Months ago, when Sue Bernstein first began meeting with the 9 US educators traveling to Zambia, they had grand plans. - Three full class days of STEM, ELA and Computer Studies lessons for 550 kids from preschool to grade 11 - Lessons created by educators from Chicago...

28 August

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Tobi Agurkis | community programs, mexico, partnership trip, women's empowerment

Spark Signature Experience: Entreamigos 2024

¡Hola Entreamigos! An incredible group of Spark travelers visited our partner organization in San Pancho, Mexico in the beginning of February. For four packed days, enthusiastic and passionate Spark travelers focused on making a lasting and sustainable impact by learning about...

29 February

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Tobi Agurkis | community programs, education, healthcare, mental health, nutrition, partnership trip, technology literacy, travel, women's empowerment, zambia

Spark Signature Travel Experiences: The 2023 Educator Empowerment Initiative

For over fifteen years, Spark Ventures has brought travelers to our international and local partners in Zambia, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chicago to see our work in action. Spark’s Signature Travel Experiences are culturally empowering, mutually beneficial, and focused on lasting impact. At...

25 August

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Tobi Agurkis | mexico, partnership trip, women's empowerment

Bienvenidos a Mexico y Entreamigos

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, international trips to Spark Ventures’ partners have been on hold. Although we were able to connect with our partners over Zoom, we have been excitedly awaiting the day when we could resume our...

01 December

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Katie Gustafson | **FEATURED, Board of Directors, chicago, events, investor spotlight, partnership trip, social entrepreneurship, social good, spark, spark ventures

2021 Founders’ Circle Inductees

We’re honored to welcome this year’s inductees to Spark’s Founders’ Circle. These individuals have reached a significant milestone in giving and have impacted Spark’s mission in unique & inspiring ways. They have put their hearts into supporting our important work and have expanded our impact...

27 October

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Christina Schutz | #girleffect, business development, education, healthcare, partnership trip, public health, social good, spark ventures, travel, women's empowerment, zambia

Global Service Award Winner: Heather Duncan

At this year’s Fall Gala, we honored a very special member of our Spark family with our first ever Global Service Award. This award recognizes individuals whose service to the Spark Ventures community has gone above and beyond in unique and inspiring ways. For the...

24 October

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