Our Organization - Spark the Journey

When our organization was founded over 26 years ago, the high school graduation rate in D.C. was between 40% and 50%. It revealed the need for a program that would provide supportive adults outside of a student’s immediate family, to help them gain the relevant skills and experiences needed to graduate high school and get into college.

Over the years, we have realized that getting to college is only the first step in a more comprehensive emphasis on completing that journey. If low-income and first-generation students aren’t receiving guidance throughout their college experience, they may not make it to the finish line or be prepared to enter the workforce after college. We started off with just four students in our program. As of today, we’ve supported more than 830.

Our mission is to mentor low-income high school and college students in the academic middle from the Washington, D.C. – area to provide the skills and experiences they need to complete college successfully and to excel in the workforce.

Our values of excellence, integrity, and service are rooted in the work we do. We strive to execute them every day and with everyone we encounter.

Excellence – The Foundation of Our Work

Commit to executing our mission to the highest standard. Set challenging goals, work diligently to reach them, and inspire others—especially our students—to focus intentionally on achieving their best.

Integrity – Our Promises in Action

Hold yourself accountable to say and do the right thing and follow through with your promises to build trust with and among our stakeholders.

Service – The Power of Giving Back

Use your work, platform, and voice to demonstrate what can be achieved with the power of service and community. Instill the culture of giving back in our youth so they may also help others thrive.