From vision to reality: SPARK program ignites opportunities for youth at San Bernardino County

The applause filled the room long before the last name was even called. Inside the packed Bear Springs Hotel event center, tables of youth and young adults —some adjusting collared shirts, others beaming shyly—rose one by one to accept certificates.

It was a graduation. But not the usual kind.

For 132 young residents living in San Bernardino County —including 48 from the foster care system—this was more than the end of the SPARK – Summer Youth Employment Program; it was the first time many had been celebrated for stepping into public service as mentees and future leaders.

“Every day, I made sure to show up to the Innovation and Technology Department (ITD) and be ready to learn about incident management, vulnerability management and incident response, helping people who may have been exploited,” said Kathaline Gonzalez. “I’m hoping that kind of approach is what led to the next step. Later on, my supervisors let me know there might be an opportunity for me to stay on.”

That possibility became a reality. Upon completing the SPARK program, Gonzalez was offered a public service employee position with ITD, which will provide her with more hands-on experience in cybersecurity.

A Summer Youth Employment Program – and so much more

SPARK stands for Support, Pathways, Access, Readiness, and Knowledge, and each pillar was built into the program. SPARK participants received mentorship, soft skills training, workplace guidance, and career certifications, including food handlers’ cards through county Public Health. They also participated in various workshops, including personal finance and money management.

“We’ve talked a lot about how life-changing a county job can be, especially for someone who’s grown up without stability,” said Second District Supervisor Jesse Armendarez. “These are the kinds of opportunities that break negative cycles.”

Laying the groundwork: A county collaboration

The first sparks of the program ignited from a simple but urgent question for Armendarez and his team: How can the county create career pathways for youth who are most at risk of being left behind?

What began as a conversation between Human Resources (HR) and the County Administrative Office quickly grew into a collaborative effort, bringing in key partners from Workforce Development and Children and Family Services (CFS). Together, this cross-departmental team formed a committed alliance aimed at improving long-term outcomes for some of the county’s most vulnerable youth.

“The goal was to provide our foster youth with the kind of exposure that an adult in their life, like a parent or mentor, might traditionally provide,” said county Assistant Executive Officer Diane Rundles. “But it can’t just stop here. This can’t be a one-and-done experience. Discussions grew to how to keep them engaged—how to make sure they stay connected to the county, not just for careers, but for opportunities to grow, and change their trajectory in life.”

Breaking barriers together

The work began over collaborative meetings in person and virtually. Each department and partner worked to overcome unforeseen challenges.

This core team solved complex barriers regarding state laws and local employment policies.

“There was no template to follow,” said HR Director Leonardo Gonzalez. “Everything from age limitations to work permits to how to place youth in county departments – we had to build that infrastructure from scratch.”

HR in partnership with the Performance Education Resource Centers (PERC) developed the full program framework and led the implementation of SPARK as a countywide workforce initiative. HR established the program infrastructure, including outlining hiring policies that made it possible for 16- and 17-year-olds to be eligible for paid county employment—an essential shift in expanding access for youth.

Children and Family Services (CFS) built on this foundation by making direct contact with eligible participants, referring to and providing resources to support engagement and retention. Workforce Development supported this effort through resource extensions, such as their Youth Forward program, providing access to available workshops, and ensuring foster youth had continued access to employment and training opportunities beyond SPARK. PERC assisted with the development of programming and events to support youth enrichment.

“Success for us wasn’t just measured by how many youth we placed,” said Brad Gates, the county’s director of Workforce Development. “It was about whether they left with real skills, confidence and the sense that public service is a viable and rewarding career pathway for them.”

That meant pairing each participant with a departmental mentor, embedding professional development workshops with PERC, and ensuring youth were placed based on interests—not just available department positions. It also involved engaging external partners to help identify and refer those who might face barriers to participation.

A place for possibility

The Fontana Unified School District became a key partner in this mission. The district’s Associate Superintendent Craig Baker recalled the early conversations with the county.

“What stood out was how intentional it was,” said Baker. “This wasn’t ‘get kids in the door.’ It was ‘build something they can step into—and stay in.”

Lighting the first SPARK: The pilot that changed the equation

On the morning of May 3, the Lewis Library in Fontana was transformed into an employment hub with tables lined with paperwork, laptops and welcome bags, where foster youth from across San Bernardino County stepped into an innovative program designed explicitly for them.

The county’s pilot launch of the SPARK Summer Youth Employment Program wasn’t just a soft rollout—it was a powerful commitment to ensuring foster youth have access to tailored, meaningful and immediate pathways toward stability and success in the workforce.

“This was always about more than just employment,” said Armendarez. “It was about showing these young people that they aren’t alone—that the county is with them, walking alongside them toward something better.”

The stakes were clear. In California, approximately one in three foster youth experience homelessness after aging out of the system, about 25% face incarceration by age 24, and roughly one-third struggle with mental health or substance use challenges. In response, the county structured the pilot as more than a Summer Youth Employment Program —it was a safety net laced with opportunity.

Each youth in the pilot cohort was carefully matched with a department based on career interests, from County Counsel to Fleet Management, using a screening app developed by HR and Workforce Development. The onboarding event at Lewis Library ensured the basics were covered too—right then and there.

In a single afternoon, the first SPARK participants were onboarded and received:

Birth certificates, issued on-site through the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk’s mobile unit
Bank accounts, opened in real time through Arrowhead Credit Union
Live-scan background checks, processed by HR staff on-site

The pilot wasn’t just successful—it was transformative. Not only did the foster youth complete onboarding, but they shaped how the full SPARK program would scale.

“We talk about partnering, about wrapping around, about supporting our young people—this moment was a powerful example of what it means to truly show up for them,” said county CFS Director Jeany Glasgow.

The SPARK program application opens countywide

When applications for the county’s inaugural SPARK Summer Youth Employment Program opened on March 15, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Over 1,200 teens and young adults across San Bernardino County—many applying for their very first job—jumped at the chance to gain paid work experience and explore county careers.

The program, designed for youth and young adults ages 16 to 24, offered much more than a paycheck. SPARK gave participants hands-on exposure to public service, skill-building workshops and mentorship from county professionals. In just six weeks, SPARK delivered. During the program:

132 youth were matched with county departments based on their individual career interests and placed in active roles, including:
- 84 community youth
- 48 foster youth

29 county departments mentored participants, offering real-world exposure in
- Airports
- Behavioral Health
- County Administrative Office
- Sheriff’s Department
- Fire
- Innovation and Technology
- Public Health
- Museums
- Libraries
- Regional Parks and more.

Over 200 foster youth and youth from the community have been referred to Workforce Development’s Youth Forward, with referrals continuing on a regular basis. Youth Forward offers ongoing career coaching, training opportunities and paid work experience through local partners to help youth continue building skills and pursuing meaningful employment pathways. Of those referred, 12 foster youth have been accepted into the program and participation continues to grow as more youth join through ongoing outreach.

More than a ceremony: SPARK graduates take the stage

As the graduation ceremony for the SPARK program drew to a close, attendees viewed a video, showcasing some of the participants, their work and the department staff who mentored them.

Armendarez followed with deeply personal reflections, recounting his own journey growing up and lacking stability.

“We’re standing here because someone mentored us,” said Armendarez. “SPARK is about being that someone—for you.”

When Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. took the stage, he called up Jazmine Zaragosa to share what the program and working for ITD meant to her.

“I learned how to collaborate, how to build connections, and how to be exposed to what I want to do as a career,” said Zaragosa.

Baca joked warmly.

“I would have run out the door if someone asked me to speak at your age,” he said. “But that’s the confidence this program builds, it gives them purpose. It shows them they belong in professional spaces, that their voices matter, and that they have a future in public service.”

As each name was called, graduates rose to the stage—some with quiet determination, others with wide smiles—to receive their certificates. Armendarez, Baca and county department heads greeted each participant with handshakes and warm words of encouragement.

One by one, young people who may have once questioned their career path or whether they belonged in government spaces stood confidently beside county leadership.

Graduates didn’t just leave with only certificates—they walked away with a full toolkit of career resources, including:

A county job application guide, offering step-by-step instructions on navigating San Bernardino County’s application portal.
A SPARK resume template to help them professionally present their program experience, strengths and future goals.
A resume writing workshop guide, featuring key strategies for writing compelling resumes tailored to county jobs.
An elevator pitch guide to help them articulate their career goals and SPARK experiences confidently and concisely.
A LinkedIn profile building guide, empowering graduates to develop a standout digital presence and connect with professionals across industries.
An interview preparation guide packed with expert advice on how to present themselves effectively, respond to behavioral interview questions using the STAR method, and demonstrate the skills gained through SPARK.

Together, these resources reinforced the program’s core promise: to not only provide paid employment—but to launch young people into meaningful careers with confidence, tools and support.

The road ahead

These 132 graduates weren’t simply concluding a summer youth employment program —they were stepping into their potential, each one igniting their future. As a direct result of the program, 20 participants, including eight foster youth, secured job offers for public service positions with the county, allowing them to continue building valuable job experience and remain connected to long-term career pathways in government.

Supported by the Board of Supervisors and funded through the County Administrative Office, the county is positioning SPARK as a cornerstone of its youth development and workforce readiness strategy. This year alone, SPARK participants have logged approximately 21,912 hours of public service across more than 29 departments, demonstrating that county leadership views this as more than a one-time initiative.

If the inaugural SPARK class is any indication, the next generation of San Bernardino County public servants is already on its way.

The SPARK Summer Youth Employment Program advances the Countywide Vision by empowering a diverse generation of young residents with meaningful work experience, mentorship and professional development. By investing in youth ages 16 to 24, especially those facing barriers, SPARK helps to build a skilled workforce that reflects the richness of its communities and positions San Bernardino County as a thriving hub where local talent, economic opportunity and community innovation come together to support long-term prosperity for all residents.

Additional County Update News – August 7, 2025