Alabama Power Foundation grant energizes summer learning in Mobile’s Avenue community

This summer, more than 250 students in Mobile’s Avenue community are engaging in SPARK Summer Camp – a vibrant program powered by Fuse Project in collaboration with Florence Howard Elementary and Calloway-Smith Middle School.

Designed to close academic gaps and ignite imagination, the camp focuses on literacy and math remediation through hands-on, engaging experiences. Florence Howard Elementary students sharpen reading and math skills with fun, interactive lessons, while Calloway-Smith Middle Schoolers receive targeted support in foundational math skills for students performing below grade level.

With no cost to families, daily meals, extended hours and engaging activities like field trips, clubs and weekly incentives, the camp creates a supportive environment that blends learning with excitement.

“Hands-on learning is key, and that is exactly what our partnership with Fuse Project brings,” said Principal Flowers of Florence Howard Elementary.

A contributor and collaborator to this impact? Alabama Power.

“Alabama Power has a longstanding relationship with the Fuse Project because of all of the wonderful things they do within the community,” said Erin Delaporte, Division area manager. “We were fortunate enough to provide Fuse Project an Alabama Power Foundation grant for their SPARK Summer Camp, which benefits two schools in the downtown Mobile area.”

Engineers from the company’s Power Delivery team visited Florence Howard to give students an exciting lesson on how electricity is generated and delivered. Students explored circuits, learned about fuses, and even tried on PPE gear, sparking both excitement and interest in STEM.

“Alabama Power didn’t just sponsor our program; they sparked curiosity in person, too,” shared Fuse Project on Facebook.

The support from Fuse Project doesn’t stop when the students head back to school in the fall.

Fuse Project is embedded in these schools year-round, offering after school programs for middle school students and electives for elementary school students.

Volunteers from Mobile’s APSO Chapter visit Florence Howard Elementary regularly to assist with art classes led by the Mobile Arts Council.