Applause, handshakes and proud smiles filled San Bernardino County’s 2026 SPARK Youth Employment Program closing ceremony as participants celebrated the end of their summer experience.
Held on July 24, the ceremony recognized 169 young people, including 81 foster youth, who gained paid work experience, professional guidance and exposure to public service career paths across county departments, including parks and libraries, and participated in workshops.
Some participants arrived with clear goals. Others were still exploring their interests. Through SPARK, they repaired vehicles, created media content, supported public-facing services, earned workplace credentials and discovered careers they hadn’t known existed.
They also gained something more difficult to measure: confidence.
“This is not the end. This is just the start,” said San Bernardino County Chief Executive Officer Luther Snoke. “Take advantage of the momentum. Take advantage of this opportunity.”
Celebrating the next generation
The closing ceremony placed participants and their accomplishments at the center of the celebration. County leaders reflected on the value of early career exposure, recognized the employees who served as mentors and encouraged participants to continue building on the experience.
“Watching SPARK grow and seeing the impact it has had on so many young people has been one of the most rewarding parts of this program,” said Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez. “From the beginning, our goal was to create opportunities for current or former foster youth and young adults to gain meaningful work experience, build confidence and discover career paths they may never have considered. Seeing participants leave with new skills, lasting mentorships and a stronger sense of what’s possible for their future is exactly why this program is so important.”
Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. reminded participants that careers rarely follow a straight line. Before serving on the board, he worked in corrections, probation and education — experiences that helped him discover where he could make the greatest contribution.
“We want to see you succeed because if you succeed, we did our job as the county,” Baca said.
Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Josie Gonzales thanked county employees for opening their workplaces to the next generation and sharing the knowledge they gained throughout their careers.
“Hosting a participant is more than providing a temporary assignment,” she said. “It is an investment in the future workforce of this county.”
Children and Family Services Director Jeany Glasgow encouraged participants to remain connected with their mentors, continue investing in themselves and ask for guidance when they need it.
“There are a lot of people who want to help you succeed,” Glasgow said.
Discovering careers through experience
SPARK, which stands for Support, Pathways, Access, Readiness and Knowledge, provides paid work experience, mentorship and professional development for San Bernardino County residents ages 16 to 24.
Participants began their first day of employment on Monday, June 15, by attending new employee orientation, where they received the same introduction to public service as newly hired county employees. They then reported to one of 30 participating county departments, gaining firsthand experience in programs supporting public safety, health, recreation, library services, technology, transportation and social services.
Across county government, participants experienced the breadth of public service. Regional Parks hosted 28 participants, the largest group assigned to a single department, where they worked in park maintenance and recreation operations. The San Bernardino County Library welcomed 23 participants, introducing them to literacy programs, community events and library services. The Department of Public Health hosted 16 participants and helped several earn food handler cards, providing a credential that may support future employment.
Although every assignment was different, each gave participants an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and experience a professional workplace.
For Isabella, a Redlands resident assigned to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District’s media team, the experience revealed an unexpected side of emergency services.
Working alongside other SPARK participants, she helped plan, record and edit a social media video using professional cameras and production equipment she had never used before. She also learned how communications professionals support firefighters by keeping residents informed.
“I was able to see a part of the department that I didn’t even know existed,” she said during the closing ceremony.
For Jarrett, the program provided a different introduction to public service. Assigned to Fleet Management’s heavy-duty welding shop, he learned structural welding, routine vehicle maintenance and brake repairs while gaining hands-on experience directly connected to his career interests.
“It has been one of the best decisions I’ve made,” Jarrett said during the ceremony. “It’s impacted me so much, and I learned a lot throughout this program.”
Whether participants explored communications, skilled trades, technology, recreation, customer service, public health or administration, they contributed to real work rather than simply observing their colleagues’ work. For some, the experience confirmed an existing career interest. For others, it broadened their understanding of what might be possible.
Recognizing workplace growth
The ceremony also highlighted participants whose performance shined during the summer. Participating county departments submitted more than 50 nominations recognizing growth, professionalism and positive contributions.
Ten participants received awards honoring qualities such as leadership, communication, dependability, creativity and teamwork.
Among them were Human Resources’ participant Mathios Youssef, who earned the Creative Thinker Award for contributing new ideas while recording and editing videos; Fifth District office participant Mariah Wheeler, who received the Outstanding Communicator Award; and Fleet Management participant James Aguilar, who earned the Team Player Award for his willingness to help others and respond to feedback.
The awards reinforced that employers value more than technical skills. Throughout the program, participants demonstrated reliability, curiosity, strong communication and a willingness to learn — qualities that will benefit them wherever their careers lead.
Building tomorrow’s workforce
The program ran from June 15 through July 24, during which participants contributed nearly 27,000 hours of work across 30 county departments while exploring careers that support residents throughout San Bernardino County.
SPARK also continued to grow. After serving 132 participants across 29 departments in its inaugural year, the program expanded in 2026 to 169 participants, including 81 foster youth. The increase reflects growing interest among young residents and an expanding commitment from county departments to prepare the next generation of workers.
The program has secured $5.1 million through the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, ensuring SPARK is fully funded for the next three years. Awarded to Children and Family Services, the grant provides about $1.7 million annually to support employment opportunities for participants. The funding reflects collaboration among Children and Family Services, Human Resources, County Administrative Office Finance and community partners to expand opportunities for young people in the region.
Assistant Executive Officer Diane Rundles said SPARK benefits both the county and the young people it serves.
“The SPARK Program is a win-win for the county,” Rundles said. “It allows us to showcase what a county career can look like to attract talent coming out of education, and it also provides great opportunities for our community and foster youth to be exposed to a dynamic and rewarding career in local government.”
More than a summer employment program, SPARK is helping build a local workforce pipeline by introducing young people to careers in county government before they enter the workforce full time. Whether participants return to county service, continue their education, enter internships or apprenticeships or pursue careers elsewhere, they leave with professional experience, workplace skills and a better understanding of employer expectations.
The next step
As the ceremony concluded, county leaders reminded participants that SPARK was designed to be a beginning rather than an ending.
Snoke encouraged participants to add SPARK to their resumes, stay connected with their mentors and continue building on what they learned. Human Resources Director Leonardo Gonzalez reminded them that many county employees and leaders once sat where they were, uncertain of where their careers might lead.
“The sky is the limit,” Gonzalez said. “Your future is whatever you make of it.”
For many, the most important lesson was realizing they could step into an unfamiliar workplace, ask questions, accept responsibility and contribute to something larger than themselves.
The ceremony marked the end of one chapter, but the experience, relationships and confidence participants gained will carry them into the next.
Although the summer SPARK Program has concluded, participants can continue building on their experience through the fall SPARK Program. Applications are tentatively expected to be available for viewing in late August. Those interested are encouraged to visit the SPARK website for updates on fall opportunities and future summer SPARK cohorts.