Menu

YMCA OF
GREATER KANSAS CITY

YMCA OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

How S.P.A.R.K! is Closing the Literacy Gap

the movement, YMCA of Greater Kansas City, Youtube thumbnail for The Movement Podcast

At the YMCA of Greater Kansas City, summer isn’t just a break, it’s a breakthrough.

 

In the season finale of The Movement podcast, President and CEO Mark Hulet takes listeners inside SPARK (Summer Programs Advancing Reading & Knowledge), a powerful summer literacy and enrichment program in partnership with the Turner School District.

 

📍 Recorded on-site at Oak Grove Elementary in Kansas City, KS, this heartwarming episode features:

  • Zach Patterson, a dedicated SPARK educator
  • Tyler and Melena, two vibrant third-grade students whose love of reading has soared
  • Honest conversations about learning loss, bilingual barriers, and the joy of learning
  • Real results: Students improving confidence, spelling, reading fluency, and friendships

     

    SPARK! students reading and smiling

With the support of the Hall Family Foundation, Lead to Read KC, and the innovative Hoot platform, SPARK is helping students not only retain skills—but thrive.

Get Podcast

Listen to the full podcast episode to discover S.P.A.R.K!

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

Listen on Apple Podcasts