What is the future you want to create?
spark + dive’s rehearsal-based methods = a reconnection to humanity through participatory experiences that are rooted in radical hospitality, collective learning, relationship building, deep listening, racial/social justice, and participatory democracy.
We work in complex situations like:
“Community engagement expert”
— New York Times
ashley sparks is the Principal Creative Director for spark + dive.
As a Southern coach, facilitator, convening curator, and theater maker, sparks switches hats but uses the same methodology for approaching projects.
sparks has over 350+ hours of coaching with dozens of individuals, managers, artists, white-folks working to do better, and movement leaders.
Over 20+ years in non-profits, ensembles, community engagement, and collectives inform ashley’s work.
Growing up in a rural politically divided house meant learning how to have difficult conversations grounded in love and mutual respect.
sparks is an honoree of the Princess Grace Award, A Blade of Grass Fellow, Board Secretary for A Blade of Grass, has an MFA in Directing and Public Dialogue from Virginia Tech University, BA in Theater from UNC at Wilmington, a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, is a member of the Guild of Future Architects, ACC Credentials with the International Coaching Federation, and co-director of Mark-n-Sparks performance/consulting.
Trainings ashley’s done that inform spark + dive’s work and processes: Emergent Strategy Facilitation, People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, Unmasking Whiteness Institute, Foundations of Somatic Abolition, Seeing the Racial Waters, White Supremacy Culture in Coaching. Ten years as an active member with Alternate ROOTS.
ashley also loves to bake cookies and biscuits and sometimes clients get surprised with homemade treats.
If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time.
But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. – Lilla Watson
spark + dive holds these values:
The principles of Emergent Strategy are woven into our work/collaborations.
Collaborators with spark + dive include some badass coaches, trainers, and facilitators.
These are some of the artists and ideas that have informed the work of spark + dive.
Alternate ROOTS, ArtSpot Productions, Bob Leonard, Cornerstone Theater Company, Pig Iron Theatre Company, Synchronicity Theater Company, Kathie DeNobriga, Lisa Mount, MK Wegmann, Mondo Bizarro, DXM Theatre, Jack Bentz, Megan Carney, Tufara Wallar Muhammed, Highlander Center, Sage Crump, Complex Movements, PearlDamour, Jeff Becker, Carol Bebelle, Mark Valdez, Network of Ensemble Theaters, Alternate ROOTS, M.U.G.A.B.E.E., New Paradise Laboratories, Honolulu Theater for Youth, P'AI Foundation, Junebug Productions and John O'Neal, Strike Anywhere Performance Ensemble, NACL, The Conciliation Project, Team Sunshine, Nicole Garneau, Ricardo Levins Morales, Damon Gbuduala Azali-Rojas, Sarah Jawaid, Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation
Land Acknowledgement
ashley sparks mostly resides as an uninvited guest on the lands of the Gabrielino and Tongva peoples, the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, South Channel Islands). sparks’ offers respect to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
Check out native-land.ca to learn about the traditional stewards of lands across the world.