The Spark traveled to the Luhr’s Center at Shippensburg University on Tuesday, April 11 to talk about a Traveling While Black exhibit. The exhibit focuses on the restricted movement of black Americans in this country and the creation of safe spaces for them.

Mandi Smith, Annville resident and kidney donor, and her transplant surgeon at UPMC, Dr. Vijay Menon, joined us on The Spark Tuesday to share her story and the importance of organ donation.

Michelle Loomis, major gift officer at UPMC Pinnacle, and April Benasich, co-founder and chief scientist for RAPT Ventures Inc. joined us on The Spark Wednesday to discuss NICU environments and how these sleep sound machines are making a difference for UPMC Harrisburg’s youngest patients.

Ethan Poetic, Lancaster resident, miraculously survived life-threatening injuries that he received from a deadly car crash on Route 30. A little over 12 years later, Poetic joined us on The Spark to share how he recovered and thrived after an accident that doctors said, he had a 1% chance of surviving.

On The Spark Wednesday, we heard the backstory of how this theatre came to be, how they continue to thrive amongst challenges and the story of an actress in several of their productions. Erika Wolf, chief operating and financial officer at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, Dominic Lau, technical and scenic director at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre and Brynne Davidson, an actress in Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre productions joined us for this discussion.

Dr. Sue Mukherjee, chief student success officer and chief information officer at Cheney University, Dr. Bilita Mattes, executive director of STEM-UP Network at Harrisburg University Science and Technology, and Oluwatomilola Taiwo, medical biotechnology student at Harrisburg University joined us on The Spark Tuesday to discuss the importance of diversity in STEM fields and how local universities are working to support that.

Anshi Paul, Isaiah Houssou, and Timothy Ritter, CASEF board member and former fair director, joined us to discuss the students’ projects, stories and preparation for their upcoming international competition.

Jeffrey Gabel, the founding executive director of Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theatre joined us on The Spark Tuesday to tell us about his story, career and its impact.

Rachita Nambiar, founder and artistic Director of the Rasika School of Dance, and Anoushka Nambiar, senior student and teaching assistant at The Rasika School of Dance, joined us on The Spark Tuesday to tell us about their school, how they received the opportunity of a lifetime to perform at Carnegie Hall and the challenges dancers face with different styles of dance.

On The Spark Thursday, Shelley Peterson, Community Progress Council’s Director of Housing Education, and Amy Hill, Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, joined us to discuss the impact of SNAP emergency allotments ending and resources to help SNAP recipients during this transition.