Building community connections through enrichment
About Us
Sparking growth through volunteerism
We believe children learn best when they are given opportunities to explore, create, and connect. Through Spark Growth, we provide enrichment experiences that combine the joy of reading with the creativity of art. Our program is designed to engage not only children, but also parents and families, encouraging shared activities that strengthen bonds and inspire a love of learning.
By weaving together books, imagination, and hands-on projects, Spark Growth helps children interpret the world around them, discover their voices, and build a sense of community. Our goal is to motivate every child to become an enthusiastic reader, writer, and artist. We are committed to nurturing growth and curiosity, helping raise lifelong learners who are prepared to thrive and contribute to society.
How We Help
The Spark Growth Reading and Art Enrichment Program is free for young children and their families in the Morongo Basin. Our volunteers are supportive and knowledgeable, with career and educational achievements.
We travel to various schools, family daycare homes, and homeschool sites in the Morongo Basin, offering engaging activities based on research and tailored to children's developmental needs. Our activities and lessons align with curricular standards and goals and are conducted in partnership with site supervisors.
Our program is designed to establish and maintain quality interactions, positive relationships, and ongoing communication with all participants. We are committed to working collaboratively and supportively with site administrators, instructors, childcare staff, and individual families.
We aim to spark children's interest in reading and creativity through reading and art enrichment activities.
Meet The Management Team
Melanie Shannon
Linda Mahany
Cyarah Brescia
Kevin Shannon
Executive Director
Melanie Shannon, Executive Director, is passionate about helping children develop creativity and create positive connections in their learning environments. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching children and adults over the course of her career, including working in a citywide summer camps, local schools, church and childcare programs. Previously, Melanie was a college professor at the local community college, (Copper Mountain College) in Joshua Tree, California. Throughout her career she has discovered how to use her artistic talents to spend countless hours volunteering with dance studios, local elementary, middle schools and day cares. Involving herself with arts and crafts activities focused on enrichment and whole child connections. Her focus on art and literacy evolved after she began writing, illustrating and publishing children's books over the course of three years. Her attempt to donate books locally to child literacy programs revealed the fact that there is a deficit in the Morongo Basin for supplemental and supportive programs children need. This prompted a need for action. Which is where the proposal of her Mother's Master's work in a literacy program paired with art, music, and singing to create Spark Growth! outreach literacy and art program for the children of the Morongo Basin.
Director
Linda Mahany was born and raised in Yucca Valley. She graduated from Yucca Valley High School in 1991. Linda worked at San Bernardino County Probation at Central Valley Juvenile Detention Center (CVJDAC) for over 18 years. Working with high risk juveniles. Before working at probation center, Linda was an Emergency Medical Technician with Morongo Basin Ambulance for 5 years, working here in the Morongo Basin. Linda decided to volunteer with Spark Growth Program to work with children and help educate through the arts. Linda feels the program is a great way to get the youth involved in art and literature through fun activities and also helps get the parents involved with take home activities. With Linda’s past involvement with at risk juveniles, it is a great way for her to be involved and help by connecting with children. Linda hopes to try and help the students engage in positive activities to build and enrich their lives.
Program Manager
Cyarah Brescia is enthusiastic about providing opportunities for young children's growth. As a communications graduate, Cyarah understands the importance of building strong and positive connections in the classroom. She has worked as a Positive Behavior Instructional Assistant in the Morongo Unified School District and has nine years of childcare experience, along with three years of volunteer experience primarily in the fields of education and communication. Throughout her career, she has recognized the value of equipping young children with the necessary tools to communicate and express their feelings effectively.
Program Assistant
Kevin Shannon, born into a military family, has been raised in Yucca Valley since 1985 and graduated from Yucca Valley High School in 1989. He has worked in various service industries throughout his career. His current position with Avidex Technologies, where he diligently works in various school sites installing audio and visual technologies to assist teachers and staff, showcases his unwavering commitment. Kevin volunteers with the Spark Growth Program, a community initiative he deeply believes in. He sees the program as a valuable gift to the community and his volunteerism as a way to give back. His current involvement with cadets in the Civil Air Patrol is another example of his commitment to helping children. Kevin's goal is to inspire students by engaging in positive activities that enrich their lives.
Board Members
Lupe Behncke
Lupe Behncke is a retired San Bernardino County worker of 18 years and a Marine Corps Veteran. Also working at Youth for Progress and Mattel Toys. Lupe grew up in Los Angeles, relocating to San Diego and finally resided in Yucca Valley since 1987. Lupe has had a long dedicated service history of volunteering with PTA at Friendly Hills elementary school, President of Yucca Valley Sand Sharks in the 90’s, Cub Scout Leader and at Mara’s Christmas Wish. Lupe feels that reading and art are so very important to a child’s development and wants to do what she can to help.
Walter Brescia
Walter Brescia works in the medical field after completing an associate's degree in nursing at Copper Mountain College. Walter has worked and volunteered with kindergarten children for most of his life. Walter joined Spark Growth to stay active in the development and well-being of the youth in the Morongo Basin. Walter has worked and volunteered with kindergarten children for most of his life. Walter joined Spark Growth to stay active in the development and well-being of the youth in the Morongo Basin.
Alicia Murphy
Alicia Murphy is a primary school teacher raised in the Morongo Basin. Alicia graduated from California State University San Bernardino and is in pursuit of her Masters degree in Education. She is employed with Morongo Unified School District and has 6 year of educational experience at the elementary and middle school level. Alicia's undergraduate degree emphasis is in Special Education and she has 4 years of Instructional Assistant experience in the field, giving her great respect and appreciation of inclusive and child centered education. Alicia believes that every child has great potential and she hopes that through her actions of leadership and advocacy she can enact positive change in the lives of children in the Morongo Basin. Alicia joined Spark growth to give back to the community that raised her and hopes to contribute in a way that honors and inspires the intellectual property created by the children in our community.
Melanie Stine-Shannon
President/ CFO
Cyarah Brescia
Secretary
Linda Manhany
Vice President
MISSION STATEMENT
Spark Growth is a free Reading and Art Enrichment Program offered in learning environments in the Morongo Basin of Southern California. Its primary mission is to provide young children and their families the opportunity to participate in voluntary, inclusive, and hands-on reading and art activities.
This program is specifically designed to complement the educational endeavors of schools, daycare centers, homeschooling environments, and the efforts of parents, caregivers, and other family members in guiding and nurturing young children's reading and art skills development.
Spark Growth aims to spark children's interest in reading and creative skills. The program takes a 'whole child' approach, recognizing six vital domains of development for overall learning. It is intended to create engaging activities tailored to children's interests and abilities, nurturing self-confidence through consistent, positive support. Importantly, the program establishes genuine, trusting relationships with children, parents, caregivers, families, and adults, fostering a supportive learning environment.
Transparency
Please click on the document link to view documents regarding Spark Growth Program.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Spark Growth is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military or veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Spark growth is opposed to any form of less favorable treatment and aims to create a culture that respects and values each other’s differences. Spark Growth sees these differences as an asset to our work as they improve our ability to meet the needs of the organizations and people we serve.