Inspiring our youth to become

THE CHANGEMAKERS of the world.

TESTING CAPTIONS
Women sitting in a circle with children in a spacious, indoor room. One woman is playing a guitar while others listen and smile. Microphone on the floor in the center.
A group of women and girls sitting on fluffy white mats on a wooden floor in a cozy, well-lit room, engaged in a discussion or activity, with a large woven wall hanging behind them.
Two women wearing helmets and jackets enjoying outdoor rock climbing on a wooden climbing wall with lush trees in the background.
Group of women and girls standing in front of a wall with company information, logos, and donation amounts at a charitable organization event.
Group of young people viewing black and white photographs displayed on a gallery wall, with some photographs depicting scenes of a city, people, and street life, during an exhibition or educational event.
A woman standing and speaking in front of a classroom group, with three women sitting at a table, in a room decorated for a workshop or meeting.

Programs, Coaching, and Workshops to support parents, educators and youth with tools for realizing their highest potential.

  • Spark to Empower Changemakers

    Changemakers Academy

    Cultivating COMPASSION, CONNECTION, and COMMITMENT to Self and service

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  • Leadership Academy Photo

    Leadership Academy

    The Bootcamp to empower visionary voices!

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  • Events & Experiences Photo

    Events & Experiences

    Volunteer & Connect with the Spark community

    Join us
  • Image of Connie Maday standing in Door

    Individualized Coaching

    CREATE the pattern shift and mindset tweaks to live your BEST LIFE

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  • Person writing on paper with a blue pen on a wooden table, with a coffee cup and notebook nearby.

    Digital Course: Inspire Empowered Thinkers

    A Collaborative Blueprint For Parents

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Reflections from Changemaker graduates and parents...

  • "Changemakers has been such an empowering experience for me. It changed who I am and I gained skills they don’t teach in school. This program has made an impact on my life and has changed the way I think about things."

    Graduate, age 10 | Changemakers Academy

  • "My daughter gained confidence in the best way- it came from within. Spark truly lights up each girl’s individuality and therefore independence.”

    Parent | Changemakers Academy

  • "Spark really lights up each participant in a way that is authentic. Girls let themselves be vulnerable and share things in a safe space that allows for growth. As parents we get to do this alongside them and sometimes it’s bonding and sometimes it’s observing. I feel lighter and tighter in my bond with my daughter and have loved watching her shine brighter."

    Parent | Changemakers Academy

  • "Two life lessons I learned from this program are to: 1. Lead with positivity and 2. Be a good friend."

    Graduate, age 11 | Changemakers Academy

Meet Our Team

Connie Maday, founder of Spark to Empower.

  • An innovative and revolutionary leader in education who values collaboration, creativity, and connection. She worked in elementary education for two decades and founded Spark to Empower in 2023, with the mission to empower our youth to become the changemakers of the world. Connie Maday blends her experience and expertise with heart and purpose. She holds her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UCSB, her Reading and Literacy Added Authorization from UCSD, has a Masters in Education from UCSB and emphasis in Teaching for Understanding and Visible Thinking through the Wide World Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has participated in Project Zero at Harvard, the Coaching Program at Columbia University and completed the Ally to Accomplice Training of Santa Barbara. She was an integral member of the Strategic Planning Committee for the Montecito Union School District, where she worked as classroom teacher and teacher librarian. Additionally Connie is a certified Pilates Instructor through BASI and has been trained in various coaching modalities, including Neurolinguistic Programming. As a collaborative coach and educational consultant she supports individuals in self-actualization and transformation.

A young woman with blonde hair smiling at the camera during sunset at the beach.

  • Adlee is passionate about supporting young people in their life journey through a holistic lens. She holds her Masters in Group Leadership and Education at the University of San Diego and is a graduate of Cal Poly SLO in Child Development and Psychology. Adlee is a well-known and highly acclaimed volleyball player and was recently the assistant coach for the UCSB women’s volleyball team and prior to that the Graduate Assistant Coach for the University of San Diego’s women’s volleyball team.

A young boy with red hair, blue eyes, and freckles, smiling and wearing a navy blue button-up shirt with small colorful dots, standing against a light-colored textured wall.

Ethan Maday

Youth Tech Support

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Logo with yellow starburst, the words 'SPARK to empower changemakers' in black and yellow text.

  • Ava Jane’s true passion is kids. She loves working with children of all ages! She is the founder and entrepreneur of Sunny Smiles Day Camp, a fun filled camp for young girls. Ava Jane loves to give back to her community and inspire others in any way she can. In addition, she is a CIT for the Hendry’s Jr. Lifeguards program, where she gets to work with kids all summer long. A student of Mrs. Maday’s back in 2017, she is a current student at the AAPLE Academy at San Marcos High School. She loves to lead, learn and help others. She is also a volleyball player and n the mock trial team.

Lyle Dessouky

Youth Leader

Support the Changemakers Program

It takes a village.

Together we have the power to create lasting change. We believe that by strengthening the connection in communities we can have lasting impact on our youth. This program is aimed to ignite the spark in our youth and support the development of young leaders.

Spark to Empower Changemakers is fiscally sponsored by Creative Visions, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports creative activists, those that use arts and media to ignite social change.

All donations directly support the development and implementation of the Spark to Empower Changemakers Program.

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