It is difficult to put a dollar amount on a program that offers you a life-long professional and social network, access to subject matter experts in your field, and challenges you to think critically about issues you are passionate about. If you are not considering a postgraduate program, I would dare to say that you can get equal or greater value from participating in the CivicSpark program.

The CivicSpark fellowship opened the door for me to the worlds of environmental planning and water efficiency. I was able to combine those two worlds into my current position, water conservation planning. CivicSpark prepared me to successfully launch my career.

CivicSpark allowed me to spend my gap year before going back to school by working directly with the communities I grew up in and advancing the tenets of sustainability, equity, and access to structurally disempowered neighborhoods. It cemented my decision to work within the local and municipal government space and assist local bodies in ensuring they are doing their part to comprehensively and intentionally address climate change on a local and tangible level, whether in the realm of public utilities, housing, or information governance for small businesses.

CivicSpark provided a pivotal line into climate policy work where I got hands-on experience writing a climate action plan and connecting with regional and state partners that I still work with today. The number of CivicSpark alums in the profession speaks to the power of the fellowship and our growing network. If you’re interested in climate or sustainability policy work, CivicSpark is the place for you.

CivicSpark helped introduce the trials and tribulations that local governments and other agencies face to address climate adaptation, housing insecurity, or access to transit. The journey brought me into the field of city planning and demonstrated the importance of learning how policy interacts with the built environment and has given me a more holistic understanding on how to be solutions-oriented in addressing these issues.

The CivicSpark fellowship helped in launching my career in the environmental field. It was an invaluable experience and provided a vast network of connections and resources that I continue to use today.

As a recent college graduate at the time, CivicSpark helped launch my career and provided me with an amazing network that I can lean on for support. I wouldn’t be where I am today without CivicSpark.

Through my placement at the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, CivicSpark catalyzed my career in California climate policy and grant programming. My service year provided me the knowledge, relevant experience, and professional network that led me to my current position as a Program Analyst at the Strategic Growth Council. This role gives me the incredible opportunity to support communities across the state to plan and implement climate equity projects.

CivicSpark provided a platform and space for me to explore my options for what I truly wanted to do with my passions and career. The program provided me with a deeper understanding of the inner workings of government, and opened numerous doors for me to further expand my environmental education and work experience. CivicSpark was sincerely a foundational experience for me as a young professional.

CivicSpark helped launch my career in water, pairing with me an excellent site supervisor during my service year. I have been able to turn to him for advice and guidance ever since my service year ended. Working with the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority on their Disadvantaged Communities Involvement (DCI) Program, allowed me to jump straight into another region’s Disadvantaged Community program with plenty of experience and insights to share. I have had the privilege to work with a fellow CivicSpark alumnus for the last several years on this program and our shared experience has made us a great team!