Gregory Shechter noticed something most people walk past. In classrooms at nine different LAUSD middle schools, some students could not sit still, and it was working against them, not for them. He was a freshman at Palos Verdes High School at the time, already several years into a habit he picked up in sixth grade:Continue reading “Still Building”
Category Archives: News
Everyone Deserves Access: Meet Our Newest SparQ
Sofía Fonseca-Pérez has known she wanted to go into medicine since middle school. “I want to give back to people,” she says. “Everyone deserves access to health care, regardless of their background.” That belief carried her to San Diego State University, where she’s now a junior, and into her role as Public Health Chair forContinue reading “Everyone Deserves Access: Meet Our Newest SparQ”
Where the Boxes Go
LumenSparQ does not keep what comes through its doors for long. A school refreshes its 1:1 program, and the Chromebooks it no longer needs restart at 156th Street School. A teacher clears out a classroom library, and the boxes find their way to Lennox Middle School, the Lennox School District, or a program like theContinue reading “Where the Boxes Go”
The LumenSparQ Empowerment Scholarship
Her volleyball teammates named her the glue. That is how the indoor team at Da Vinci Communications High School described Mahalet Yonas, their captain. Not for her statistics. For her presence. For the way she held people together. It is a quiet thing to say about someone. It also says almost everything. On May 20,Continue reading “The LumenSparQ Empowerment Scholarship”
I Stayed on the Train
There is a difference between reading about someone’s work and standing in the room where it lives. Last fall, we wrote about Alouette Cervantes-Salazar, the coordinator of the Dream Resource Center at East Los Angeles College and a LumenSparQ Lumenary. We described the students she serves, the hope she holds, and the community she hasContinue reading “I Stayed on the Train”
From Soil to Table: How Four 8th Graders Grew a Garden and a Community
Every so often, a project comes along that is quietly profound. It doesn’t try to solve the world’s biggest problems in one sweep. Instead, it starts small — with seeds, and soil, and a group of preschoolers ready to discover what it means to watch something grow. That’s exactly what Lani, Lily, Mira, and SamirahContinue reading “From Soil to Table: How Four 8th Graders Grew a Garden and a Community”
A Quiet Hum in Redondo Beach
There’s something remarkable about walking into a room where everyone is focused, engaged, and at ease, all at once. That’s exactly what greeted us at the Redondo Beach Public Library yesterday, where Micah Presser hosted one of his Check Mates events. The setup alone tells you a lot about who Micah is. Name tags inContinue reading “A Quiet Hum in Redondo Beach”
Elizabeth Sanchez and the Power of Community Voice
Elizabeth Sanchez grew up in Los Angeles, the daughter of immigrants and the granddaughter of a Bracero Program participant whose stories of migration and perseverance never left her. Those stories didn’t just shape who she became. They shaped how she works. Today, Elizabeth is nearing completion of her doctorate in Social Work at the UniversityContinue reading “Elizabeth Sanchez and the Power of Community Voice”
Micah’s Move: Building Community Through Chess
We’re excited to welcome Micah as our newest SparQ. At just 13 years old, Micah founded the Check Mates Project, using the game of chess to bring people together across generations. What began as a simple idea has grown into a community initiative that encourages connection, strategic thinking, and meaningful interaction between young players andContinue reading “Micah’s Move: Building Community Through Chess”
2025 Annual Report
We are excited to share the LumenSparQ 2025 Annual Report, a reflection on a year shaped by connection, collaboration, and care across our Los Angeles community. Throughout 2025, students, educators, and partner organizations came together to support one another in meaningful and practical ways. This was a year defined by relationships, building trust with communityContinue reading “2025 Annual Report”