As we search for Lumenaries (educators) and SparQs (students), we seek out individuals doing incredible work for communities in need. Most often, the projects these heroes engage in are long-lasting, working with these communities year over year and touching many lives. As we share their stories and good work, we catch but a glimpse of their impact.
Beyond our mission to spotlight existing heroes, we also hope to cultivate new ones. In doing so, we seek to spotlight younger students in pursuit of providing a social good. They may have a single project impacting a small group of people within a specific timeframe. On the other hand, their project may be a launch point for some grander objective. While their stories might not be as comprehensive and far-reaching as Lumenaries and SparQs, their impact is nonetheless valuable and significant. We see these individuals as heroes in the making.
“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”
― William Shakespeare
The focus of the Ember Project is to highlight student projects that provide a social good for a group or community confronted with a problem. The project may stem from a classroom activity or initiate solely through the student’s personal interests and goals. Our direct support for the project can come in many forms with the intent to promote and enhance their work in a manner they could not otherwise accomplish on their own.
As with our Lumenaries and SparQs, we use the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals as a foundational guide when evaluating student projects to support.
Below are stories from our Ember Project recipients. Please reach out to us if you have a school or program in mind that would fit well with the goals of the Ember Project. We are eager for new partnerships and ways to collaborate.
Ember Project Recipients
2024 – The LMS Pride and Equal-I-Tea Club. This dynamic group of 6th and 7th graders is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and representation on their campus. Through thoughtful discussions and initiatives, they’re creating a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies to connect, learn, and thrive. Their commitment to addressing homophobia, promoting acceptance, and enhancing campus culture is truly inspiring. Learn more about their impactful journey and how they’re making a difference in their community.
2024 – Four Student Teams at WNS
This year marked a significant milestone for the Ember Project recipients. LumenSparQ celebrated the achievements of four student teams, each dedicated to uplifting diverse communities and addressing a wide spectrum of needs. Their initiatives spanned support for children grappling with housing and food insecurity, assistance for students with neurodiverse challenges, and aid for animals in shelters requiring proper care and health services. Read their full story.
2023 – Phoebe, Lily, and Fia
These students knew the problem they wanted to address for their capstone project, teen homelessness, was an important and daunting one. They sought out organizations that might have a headstart on the issue and discovered Safe Place for Youth. Read more about their project here.
2022 – Zoë
Zoë has a passion for art and a desire to share that passion with students in a community that does not have the same level of resources as her own. She develops an art lesson to teach to 4th graders in a nearby public school using art supplies provided by the Ember Project. Read Zöe’s full story.
2022 – Selah
After much research, Selah came to the conclusion that Hollywood’s diversity problem is something that needs to be fixed. She decided to create and publish a magazine to highlight a wide range of filmmakers and their movies. Her hope is that by sharing a magazine with the Los Angeles community, little by little, she can uplift overlooked voices.