Polly McKenna-Cress founded Spark–Fuel–Ignite! (SFI!) as a multi-year program initiative to create a more diverse pipeline into the design fields with a focus on community engagement. The strategic goal of SFI! was to further Philadelphia’s citywide mission of building the Creative Economy by facilitating younger generations towards creative professional and civic-minded practices. The intergenerational program brought together multiple institutional partners, involving University of the Arts graduate students, students from four local high schools and other community partners. SFI! was built into the curriculum, and allowed high school students to work with graduate mentors as active co-creators of a community project.

Working through a Design Thinking process the final deliverables were pop-up exhibits installed throughout Philadelphia in local libraries, galleries, and at the Philadelphia Science Festival. SFI! was a model for other university/museum partnerships interested in building an entrepreneurial “pipeline" from neighborhoods to industry through pathways of education, professional practice and community engagement.