You can feel the presence of a vibrant team when you walk in a room
Sprout Ideas Fellow Spotlight prepared by Jennifer Corriero
When I joined participants at the Vancouver Art Gallery on June 22nd for our Flourish book launch gathering, there was a particular group of individuals in attendance who stood out. These are the members of the SPARK9 Team, led by Sprout Ideas Fellow Aaliyah Mahboubi. The excitement of the group was contagious and it also reminded me of how much I have missed sharing space in-person with social impact leaders.
One of the activities the SPARK9 team was promoting was their upcoming shoreline cleanup that took place on Saturday June 24th. In follow-up to this effort, I asked Aaliyah to share a few reflections about the team.
Why did you decide to take your project further following your #RisingYouth grant?
In its inception, SPARK9 was a seedling of an idea that we hoped could flourish. Our team carefully tended to this seed everyday for months, and it wasn’t long before it became the sprout we dreamt of.
The growth period, however, saw challenges too. In facing planning barriers and working with over ten people, there were grey days that could have easily washed our seed out. But in choosing patience, commitment, and enthusiasm for the community, we started to see some success.
Although we have 9 projects to manage, there’s only 1 purpose to nurture, and it’s to build vibrant communities. Sparking vision, creating relationships, and serving the community is the reason we continue to build up.
We also try to remember that a sprout has the capacity to grow into gardens, reaching people and places that one sprout alone could not.
That’s the hope we see in nurturing the sprout.
or as we say… igniting the spark.
How did you form such a strong team?
Plain and simple, the SPARK9 team is a close group of friends who want to serve our communities. We came together for the Sprout Fellowship because of an idea that inspired us to be drivers of the UN sustainable goals.
Before the fellowship, our group of more than 10 would spend our weekends hiking, exploring, laughing until we couldn’t anymore, and seeking adventure. Since working with Sprout, our weekends are spent hosting service initiatives for the community. Although it’s no walk in the park like we literally used to fill our Saturdays with… it’s brought us closer as friends and confidants.
We now have a foundation of service to strengthen our friendships. So, thanks Sprout ;)
