ABOUT us
Our Vision
The vision of Sparks for Success! is to end generational incarceration and poverty for our students as they learn the skills to stay in school, graduate, and become productive citizens in our community.
Our Mission
The mission of Sparks for Success! is to help our students build their resilience and overcome their traumas through Music Therapy in order to succeed in school and in life.
Why Children of Inmates?
Youth with one or both parents in a jail or prison make up one of the largest at-risk populations in the United States. Incarceration affects racial minorities and the economic underclass at higher rates than the white and middle- to upper-class population, putting more economic and psychosocial hardship on families that are already underserved.
Parental incarceration is recognized as one of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that can have lifetime detrimental impacts on brain development and physical health.
Why Music?
Music is the international language that reaches everyone. It transcends ethnic, geographic, and socio-economic barriers.
Research shows how music impacts brain function and human behavior. It can reduce stress, pain, and symptoms of depression. It also can improve cognitive and motor skills. ["Your Brain on Music", Pegasus, UCF.edu]
And music is fun! Whether singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, our Sparks students are having a great time as they explore ways to overcome their traumas and learn to move forward with healing and success for their future.
Our Team

Cynthia Smith
Founder & Executive Director
Secretary
Cynthia founded Sparks for Success! in 2016 after working for a number of years with children affected by parental incarceration. She realized early intervention was vitally important to help these children develop the resilience needed to overcome the traumas resulting from parental incarceration. Cynthia envisions in each child a great potential just waiting to be unleashed through skilled nurturing and guidance.
Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Business Administration. She has studied piano at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, the University of Delaware, The Mozarteum Sommerakademie in Salzburg, and The University of Texas at Austin, and studied business administration at St. Edward’s University (Austin).
For more than 40 years, Cynthia’s teaching career has encompassed private piano lessons, class theory, and general music classes. She has also directed children’s choirs throughout that time. Her experience includes working with children to promote early childhood development skills through music. On the nonprofit side, Cynthia was the Director of Administration and Operations for 19 years with the RGK Foundation. Throughout the years Cynthia has served on several boards and has been active as a volunteer in her community.

Jim Ebbitt
President
Roshini Patrick
Treasurer
Larry Steele
Board MemberLarry Steele is a retired US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant who spent 22 years as a Weather Observer, Weather Forecaster, and Weather Superintendent. After retiring from the Air Force, Larry launched a second career in the Information Systems arena, serving as a Tech Writer, Programmer, Operational and Computer Auditor, and Security and Disaster Recovery VP.
Larry earned his BS in Business Administration and Management from the University of Maryland while in the Air Force. He earned his AA in Computer Programming Technology from Metro Tech of Omaha after his discharge. Larry spent many years as a programmer, an operational and computer auditor, as well as a disaster recovery professional.
After retiring from VISA in 2007, Larry entered the volunteer community by joining the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN). He immediately became a Core Team member and a grant writer. Larry has been deployed a number of times to help the survivors of floods, fires, tornadoes, and plant explosions. Larry is on the ADRN Advisory Board. He has served as President and board member of several non-profit organizations.