Latest Posts | By Abbe Sparks
7 years ago
Closing Gender Wage Gap by Social Media Storm
Closing the gender wage gap by social media storm happens today on Equal Pay Day. That's what advocates for equal pay nationwide hope to accomplish via organized Time For Transparency Chats on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Equal Pay Day is held annually on the second Tuesday in April. It's the approximate day the typical [...]
7 years ago
Marching for The King 50 Years Later: MLK50
Marching for the King 50 years later to commemorate a hero of social justice takes on new meaning and energy in 2018. Today the world celebrates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 50 years after his violent assassination at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, TN. Nearly 100,000 people across the globe will be [...]
7 years ago
Ninety Six (96) Birthday Wishes Doris Day
Ninety Six (96) birthday wishes Doris Day -- Hollywood's girl next door. The legendary American actress, singer and animal welfare activist is celebrating her big day with friends and singing to her pets. Here's how to celebrate with Doris Day. Doris Day has one birthday wish this year. The founder of the Doris Day Animal [...]
7 years ago
On Harmony by Norman Granz: Quote of the Week
On Harmony by jazz impresario Norman Granz (1918 - 2001) is this week's Socially Sparked Quote of the Week. Known as one of the most influential producers of the 20th century jazz scene, Granz is equally recognized for his activism for civil rights and equality within the industry and beyond. "Jazz is America's own. It [...]
7 years ago
APRIL SPARKS SPOTLIGHT ALCOHOLISM, POETRY, AUTISM, JAZZ +
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Advocacy
April sparks spotlight alcoholism, autism, poetry, jazz and many more social justice, health and arts awareness initiatives. Sparks also electrify awareness for the environment, sexual assault, child abuse and distracted driving. Designated days include Earth Day, World Health Day and Walking Day, to name just a few. Here’s a topline of April’s finest. NATIONAL POETRY [...]
7 years ago
Routing Safer Roadways Via Nationwide Distracted Driving Laws
Routing safer roadways via nationwide distracted driving laws is one solution that addresses the thousands of unnecessary fatalities and injuries that occur each year. The advent of technology in the form of a new prevention app is another. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The National Safety Council (NSC) is calling on legislators to create [...]
7 years ago
Long Live Mom and Pop Business Owners
Long live mom and pop business owners, especially today on National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day. While at first glance the large retail chains and online giant merchants may seem to be a death sentence to the small business owner, perception is deceiving. Here's why. The mom and pop stores of yore and those [...]
7 years ago
Taking Gun Control Issue to the Streets
Taking the gun control issue to the streets to affect change. That's what the students of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School are doing on Saturday, March 24th at March For Our Lives in Washington, DC. Millions of their peers, families, kids and advocates will be joining them in cities and towns across the country and [...]
7 years ago
Farewell Bozo The Clown’s Frank Avruch (1928-2018)
Farewell to Bozo The Clown’s portrayer Frank Avruch (May 21, 1928 – March 20, 2018). The Boston-based television personality entertained and Socially Sparked® millions of children of the 1960s as television’s Beloved Bozo The Clown (1959-1970). Avruch died at the age of 89 after a long battle with heart disease. He is survived by his [...]
7 years ago
Music’s Power by Hans Christian Andersen: Quote of the Week
Music's power by renowned master storyteller Hans Christian Andersen is the Socially Sparked® Quote of the Week. The Danish author is best known for fairy tales that have stood the test of time as The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes and Princess and the Pea. In honor of Music in Our Schools Month we [...]
7 years ago
Adieu Toys ‘R Us: Iconic 80s Store Closing
Adieu Toys R Us: the ‘80s iconic store is closing its toy box to the world forever -- at least for now. The retail chain and its beloved mascot – Geoffrey Giraffe have Socially Sparked® the lives of millions of children of the '80s and '90s. While this news is bittersweet for every child that [...]
8 years ago
Scott Sharrard & Friends Live from NYC’s Irving Plaza
Scott Sharrard & Friends live from NYC's Irving Plaza brought down the house last night. Dubbed the 'secret show' orchestrated by Grammy-nominee Sharrard, (former musical director/guitarist/vocalist of The Gregg Allman Band) the concert was part tribute to the late Gregg Allman and his final Grammy-nominated album Southern Blood and part celebration of the 47th anniversary [...]
8 years ago
Dreams & Sleep: Quote of the Week by William Shakespeare
Dreams & Sleep: the Socially Sparked Quote of the Week is by playwright William Shakespeare from The Tempest. Our lives are Socially Sparked daily by our dreams. According to the National Sleep Foundation™ (NSF) it is very important to get a good sleep health for individuals to best achieve their personal, family, and professional goals. [...]
8 years ago
Gun Control Issue Needs More Heroes by Example
Gun Control issue needs more heroes by example. The surviving students of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting massacre are a resilient group who in one short month have Socially Sparked our lives in more ways than one. Their passionate and relentless advocacy for gun control reform has reignited the conversation, taking the nation [...]
8 years ago
Resilience & Heroes: Quote of the Week by Christopher Reeve
Resilience & Heroes is the Socially Sparked Quote of the Week by actor Christopher Reeve (1952–2004). The late actor and advocate is best known for his major motion picture role as Clark Kent in the Superman Movie Trilogy of the late 70s. His words convey his spirit and most current -- that of the next [...]
8 years ago
ACADEMY’S OSCAR® WEEK BEGINS CELEBRATING 90 YEARS
The Academy's Oscar® Week begins celebrating 90 years of the Academy Awards in grand fashion. From Tuesday, February 27th through Sunday, March 4th, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a series of public programs celebrating this year’s nominees in several categories. The series of Academy-presented public programs celebrating this year’s Oscar [...]
8 years ago
Literal Reality About Eating Disorders for Awareness Week
The literal reality about eating disorders is that they affect everyone--regardless of age, gender, race, size or socioeconomic status. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week kicks-off today Feb. 26th thru Mar. 4th with the theme Let’s Get Real: Get Screened…Get Real…Get Help…Get Healthy! Start the conversations. National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is brought to you by [...]
8 years ago
Courage by Helen Keller: Socially Sparked Quote of the Week
Courage by Helen Keller is the Socially Sparked® Quote of the Week. Helen Keller (1880 – 1968) is known around the world as a symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds. She has Socially Sparked our lives as an educator, author and human rights activist who devoted her life to helping others. Keller's [...]
8 years ago
In Memoriam: Billy Graham Dies at 99 (1918 – 2018)
In Memoriam: Evangelist Billy Graham dies at 99 (1918 - 2018). William Franklin Graham,Jr., known as Reverend Billy Graham was the most renowned influential preacher of the 20th Century. He Socially Sparked® our lives in countless ways -- politically, spiritually, culturally and more. "My home is in heaven. I'm just traveling through this world." -- [...]
8 years ago
Vocal Group Raise Their Voices for Social Change
Vocal group Naturally 7 raise their voices for social change simultaneously creating beautiful harmonies and messages. The New York City-based group offers artistically innovative and feel-good sounds to convey emotion and stir action in what they coin ‘vocal play’. “In vocal play, you have to truly believe that that instrument is right in front of [...]