Communities across America have a problem.

As tradespeople are retiring and fewer youth are entering the trades, contractors and homeowners are facing a shortage of skills and experience. Now is the time for communities to mobilize to ensure the transfer of knowledge to the next generation. 

Industrial arts programs in middle and high schools are rare these days. In years past young students were introduced to vocations where they could enter the workforce without a college degree. The option to explore a life in the trades is missing for many American youth. 

SPARK MV, hosted by the Martha's Vineyard Builders Association, in partnership with TradesUp, aims to spark passion in the hearts, minds, and hands of young people by providing hands-on experiences designed by tradespeople.

Participants at SPARK MV will have the opportunity to try a variety of trades, including carpentry, plumbing, woodworking, electrical, masonry, HVAC,and more! Martha's Vineyard's first Spark event will be held on OCTOBER 26, at the historic Ag Hall located in West Tisbury.

This is a FREE event, which will take place rain or shine!

Get involved with SparkMV

We invite you to join our efforts in planning and executing SparkMV, contributing your expertise to one of our five committees.  Committees will meet once a month on a date and time TBD by committee.

• Event Coordination: Manage overall event logistics, including financial planning and problem-solving.

• Marketing & Communications: Develop communication strategies, manage social media, and ensure branding consistency.

• Presenter Coordination: Recruit and support presenters, overseeing their involvement in the event.

• Event, Logistics, and Volunteer Coordination: Organize the day-of schedule and recruit on-site volunteers.

• Sponsor & Partner: Cultivate sponsor relationships and oversee sponsorship management.

Learn More

For more information or to learn other ways to get involved, email SparkMV@MVbuilders.org