ABOUT us

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Our Story


Sparks for Success was founded to change the lives of a marginalized and often underserved group – children of inmates. In the state of Texas, current numbers show that there are approximately 1.5 million children with an incarcerated parent. Youth with one or both parents in jail or prison make up one of the largest at-risk populations in the United States. 

These children generally face unique challenges including trauma from parental separation, mental health issues, a lack of resources and increased financial burden. Sparks for Success students primarily live in impoverished areas and attend Title 1 schools throughout Central Texas. Many do not have reliable transportation to extracurricular programming. This is why we bring our program to their schools during the school day as a tool for early intervention. 

Sparks for Success instills hope in our students as we teach them critical life skills through our music therapy and private music lesson programs. We understand a holistic approach is necessary to help our students change their trajectory away from generational incarceration and toward healing and success.

 

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 Music Therapy?


Music therapy is an effective tool that we’ve seen help change young lives time and time again. Our program works with board-certified music therapists to promote mental well-being and foster the social and communication skills needed for our students to achieve academically, obtain and maintain jobs and ultimately end the school-to-prison pipeline.

Here’s why we believe music therapy works so well with our students:

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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.

 

Get to Know Our Team


Meet Our Board of Directors

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Cynthia Smith
Founder & Executive Director
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Jim Ebbitt
President
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Roshini Patrick
Treasurer
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Daniel Monplaisir
Board Member
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Larry Steele
Board Member
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Meet Our Board-Certified Music Therapists

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Anita Swanson
Ph.D., MT-BC
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Julliana Castaneda
MT-BC
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Brianna Rzeznik
MT-BC
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Adrienne Banks
LMSW, MT-BC
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Kate Caruso
MT-BC
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Hannah-Joy Mach
MT-BC
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Noah Crider

Board Member

Noah Crider is a graduate of Texas State University and a lover of all things Austin. He has worked in sales, operations, and consulting and is currently a sales coach for Dell financial services. Noah is also part of an early seed stage company in Austin called Encast. He was an inaugural member of the American Heart Association’s “Leaders with Heart” cohort and in 2018 completed the “Austin Involved Board Internship Program” through I Live Here, I Give Here. Noah’s main goal, both in the long- and short-term is to always be helping people. He does this at work, through community service, by sharing his faith, and even by just being a good friend.

Noah and his wife, Lauren, have a heart for giving back and do so by being involved with missions groups and service projects. At any time you can find them hiking, camping, playing sports, or just enjoying time with their two rescue dogs, Cooper and Indie.

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Bianca Neal

Board Member

Bianca Neal is a music industry executive with over 15 years in the field of arts, entertainment, entrepreneurship and multi-media production experience, as well as a portfolio of varied accomplishments including education initiatives, community public art and successful cultural arts project management. She is committed to advancing equity in the arts and cultural spaces.

As a teaching artist, she hosts workshops throughout the country through H.O.P.E.F.U.L. Art (Helping Other People Experience Fulfilling Unlimited Lives). In this capacity, she curated and facilitated the exhibition of 30+ incarcerated artists. Bianca has illustrated 10 children’s books, has been featured in the notable E.A.S.T. exhibition (5 years+) and is an award winning filmmaker. Her film credits include the award-winning film Chasing Smoke, and the critically acclaimed film Tower to Tower.

As a media maven, she has also choreographed performances presented at SXSW and Austin City Limits. She has also spoken at SXSWEdu, USC and recently, Harvard University on the Art and Power of Storytelling. She has served as the Lead Juror for the City of Austin (COA) National Arts program, and the COA Cultural Arts Division board for Cultural Funding Program. Bianca received her BA from USC and an M.F.A. from UT Austin.

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Sparks for Success! | info@SparksForSuccess.org