Socially Sparked

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

It's a dog's world for the Chinese Lunar New Year 2018. Officially the Year of the Dog -- which follows the Chinese calendar. Public celebrations begin today, February 16th around the globe and run generally for seven days. PERSONALITY & CHARACTERISTICS - YEAR OF THE DOG It is said that dogs are man's best friend. [...]

The Socially Sparked Quote of the Week is by American pop artist icon Andy Warhol (1928 - 1987). Warhol had his pulse and his eye on pop culture and became a leader in the visionary arts movement. Andy Warhol by Erik Cleves Kristensen “The idea is not to live forever, but to create something that [...]

SpaceX' Falcon Heavy launch Socially Sparked the world Tuesday, February 6th, making history on several fronts. The powerful rocket was built by SpaceX led by its founder, entrepreneur Enron Musk (also Tesla CEO) -- who became the first private company to send this type of powerful rocket into space. And, that's not all! Unique Payload: [...]

Commercials with social justice messages flood the Big Game’s Ads in 2018. TV Ads were laced with social messages reflective of the times – sans political slants – and Socially Sparked® our lives. Brand after brand chose to highlight their social responsibility platforms au lieu de their usual promotional messaging. Diversity, equality, environment, family, pediatric [...]

It's all upstream for Football viewers and fans alike come Sunday's Big Game Day. The advent of live stream offerings is plentiful, ensuring that everyone has full access to watch all the Big Game hoopla, commercials, half-time show and action. No TV access, no worries. Now, viewers can live stream off any device or computer. [...]

February sparks colorful love in awareness observances for many fabulous health and social justice causes. It's the month of love; the awareness month for Black History, Heart Disease, Stroke, Teenage Dating Violence and more -- guaranteed to get you Socially Sparked®. Awareness Weeks in February spotlight Burn Awareness (2/4-10); Random Acts of Kindness (2/11-17) and [...]

Will the cosmic Lunar Trifecta shine bright in your part of the world? Early Wednesday morning, we will have a Lunar Trifecta -- a supermoon, a blue moon, and a blood moon -- which hasn’t been seen anywhere on Earth since December 1982, and in the Americas in over 150 years! RARE SUPER BLUE BLOOD [...]