Introducing Total Spark
The Total Spark Program is partnering with Empower Work to provide grants to local nonprofits that support working students.
How Total Spark makes a difference
Community Investment
We fund nonprofits with grants and tech solutions to help employed students thrive.
Employment Opportunities
Our efforts connect students to jobs while continuing on their education pathway.
Workforce Development
We reinvest in our communities by preparing students for local work.
Sparking an impact with our partners
JARC | Chicago
JARC provides free training for adults to start careers in manufacturing.
LIFT | Chicago
LIFT-Chicago breaks the cycle of poverty by investing in parents.
NPower | Detroit
NPower creates pathways to economic prosperity through transformative IT training.
TechTown | Detroit
TechTown Detroit supports entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and strategy.
Wilkinson Center | Dallas
The Wilkinson Center helps students build bridges to success through education and job training.
Join us at an event
Live near Chicago, Detroit, or Dallas? Come to one of our in-store events to meet other working students in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Events will occur in Chicago, Detroit and Dallas at select Total Wireless stores in late 2025.
Click here to see if one of our events is happening at a store near you!
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No, everyone is welcome to attend the events that will take place at our Total Wireless stores in Chicago, Detroit and Dallas. We strongly encourage working students that are looking for resources to support their career journey and academic pursuits to attend.
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Recipients of our 2025 grants have been selected, and this year’s application cycle is now closed. If you are a nonprofit or individual in Chicago, Detroit or Dallas, we encourage you to attend our in store events later this year. Check back on this site for event details to come.
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Total Wireless has provided five grants in our first year of Total Spark to organizations meeting various needs of working students. Those grantees are:
The Jane Adams Resource Corporate (JARC): JARC provides free training for adults to start careers in manufacturing.
LIFT-Chicago: LIFT-Chicago breaks the cycle of poverty by investing in parents.
Wilkinson Center: The Wilkinson Center helps students build bridges to success through education and job training.
NPower-Detroit: NPower creates pathways to economic prosperity through transformative IT training.
TechTown Detroit: TechTown Detroit supports entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship and strategy.
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Total partnered with Empower Work to identify our Total Spark grant recipients. Empower Work spread word about the opportunity by hosting webinars and collecting interest forms from organizations in Dallas, Detroit and Chicago. Applications from interested organizations were then evaluated based on their ability to provide resources and programming that support working students. Then, interviews were conducted with finalist organizations before Empower Work and Total determined the final grant recipients.
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Recipients of our 2025 grants have been selected, and this year’s application cycle is now closed. Check back at this site for details on future programming and opportunities.
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Working students encompass a broad range of individuals including but not limited to: high school students with jobs, parents working part time, college students taking jobs while in school, individuals working full-time and taking classes on the side, first generation college students, and others. Our goal is to support any individual who is balancing work and education to elevate the burden of managing the unique challenges they face.
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Empower work is a national nonprofit on a mission to change the way people are supported at work. We provide free, confidential support for tough work situations via SMS or web chat. Learn more here.
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Yes, information on how to sign up to attend and stay up to date on Total Spark events will be available at this website later this year.