“Sparks isn’t about their deficiencies; it’s about their strengths and gifts.”~Marilyn Peplau, Trainer
As a trainer on sparks and the 40 Developmental Assets, Marilyn Peplau has seen firsthand how sparks can be used in a variety of settings to inspire and motivate young people and the adults who care about them. During her work with the Ramsey County Foster Families program, Marilyn witnessed the strength-based approach of sparks resonate with young people and their foster-care families, and in her experiences with schools and communities, Marilyn has received positive feedback about sparks.
The Bottom Line: The sparks program is widely considered a useful tool to connect with young people because it can be easily tailored to fit any setting or context.
For example, during one of her trainings in Minnesota, a special education and health education teacher said that he liked the sparks program, because he could use it with all kids, no matter what their challenges. Also, after another training session in Lamoni, Iowa, participants found ways to weave sparks into their work with young people in both mentorship and after-school programs by using it as a way to provide feedback and guidance for mentors.
Marilyn’s Tips on Tailoring Sparks to Different Settings:
- Use simple stories of sparks in your life (or others’ lives) to connect with your audience.
- A spark doesn’t have to be a vocation; it just needs to be something someone is passionate about because it is energizing.
- When talking about sparks, give ample time for people to talk about them with each other. This is not necessarily all “trainer talk.” Participants must be given time to explore.
- Sparks should be integrated into what you are already doing as a way to connect with young people.
- Sparks come in many different forms and “brilliances”.
- The outcome of young person’s spark shouldn’t be the focus. What matters is the passion behind it.
- Try engaging participants by asking them pose as a statue in the form of their sparks. Then go around the room tapping people to unfreeze them so they can talk about their spark. You can also do a second round by asking participants to pose as their spark champions.
