We have awarded our 2022-2023 SPARKS Grants! Five grantees were chosen to carry out their projects with technical assistance from us. The purpose of Sparks grants are to provide people with disabilities more social and meaningful connections, help organizations understand how to offer and implement more inclusive programs and, ultimately, encourage community members to get to know someone with a disability and improve overall attitudes about people with disabilities. Sparks grants are small grants of $500 to $5,000 funded by the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.

2022-2023 Grantees:

Delores Sallis of Parent University will use her grant to provide technology trainings to older adults with and without disabilities. 

Saphronia Purnell will start her project with a community conversation that invites community members to come together and talk about what disability inclusion means and how Green Bay could do a better job being welcoming and inclusive of all people with disabilities of all ages.  Another part of Saphronia’s grant is to host 2 6-week jewelry making clubs for 10 to 15 young adults with and without disabilities. 

The City of Waupaca Parks and Recreation Department will host inclusive recreational programs for youth with and without disabilities. The participants will decide the activities, which could include baseball, basketball, swimming or sledding.

The Lodi Ag Fair project will connect youth with disabilities to opportunities at the fair to show animals and submit craft projects in a new junior exhibit hall.  

The Horace Mann Elementary School project will pair K-5 students with and without disabilities to go on monthly community outings.  Each month, students will learn about a new community location such as the zoo, fire department or grocery store.