This June, Capital Area STEM Network hosted its 4th annual SPARK Your Summer at the East Baton Rouge Parish Carver Branch Library. The program is designed to equip participants with hands-on skills that foster self-sufficiency and promote career awareness.
With instruction led by expert technicians from the Career and Technical Education Center and Rhino Electric, participants explored foundational skills in construction safety, automotive care, electrical, and HVAC. Participants not only learned by doing but also had the chance to ask questions in a judgment-free space, try tools they’d never held before, and realize that they are more capable than they may have believed. Children were also welcome to attend and engage in similar novice activities to the adults.
For many attendees, this was their first experience with trades-based training, but certainly not their last. SPARK Your Summer opened doors for future certifications, economic mobility in everyday life, and self-satisfaction in accomplishing tasks. The sessions fostered more than skill development; they inspired participants with a stronger sense of confidence and the assurance that they can overcome obstacles and shape their own futures. Thank you to the Campos Foundation for sponsoring the event. Your support plays a vital role in sustaining the quality and impact of the program.
