Name: Sparkle Joy Williams Capps
Occupation: Product Operations at Facebook HQ
Current City: Mountain View, CA
Hometown: Woodstock, MD
Age: 29
NMAAHC Ambassadors Program: What inspired her to join the Ambassadors Program: Growing up, I went to museum’s in DC all the time. While I enjoyed them, I never really appreciated them until I got older. Now that I live on the West Coast, I’ve really come to value the history I grew up witnessing in a way I was unable to appreciate before. Especially as we continue to diversify as a nation, it’s important to remember our history and I want to be a part of making that happen, both within my own family and the nation as a whole. *What she most looks forward to when the Museum opens: I’m excited to bring my kids and take a little walking tour of history! *Why she believes the Museum is an important project for this country: As we grow as a nation, we begin to forget so much of how we got here. Remembering where we come from helps us to appreciate what we have and keeps us from repeating past mistakes. This museum will help us remember.
REFLECTIONS: First job: My first job after I graduated from Stanford was with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Palo Alto performing Bone Strength and Mechanics research in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit. While it doesn’t reflect the work I currently do, it was an amazing and life changing experience that I would not trade for the world. * Advice she’d have given herself 10 years ago: Pace yourself. Don’t get discouraged when the things you try to achieve in life don’t fall in place right away. Remember that you have a lifetime to learn new skills and put them to good use! * Most valuable life lesson learned: Take pride in the work you do. * Her mantra: No regrets. Make the best decisions you can with the information you have. Regardless of how things turn out, you can be comfortable with your present and look to the future! * Working on currently: Writing a cookbook
DIVERSIONS: Currently reading: I’m currently rereading Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I’m a huge Science Fiction/Fantasy fan! * Place to meet friends for drinks: I don’t really go to bars or lounges (I like food way too much!) but Scratch in Mountain View, CA is one of my favorite places to meet friends. The majority of items on their menu are either domestic (like the drinks) or made in house (like the Caramel Ice Cream!) They have a seasonal menu that does not disappoint! * Last place she dined out: Crepevine – Mountain View, CA – I indulged my sweet tooth a bit and decided on a strawberry crepe with Nutella for dinner. * Guilty pleasure: I love going to my local bookstore to purchase books by my favorite authors when they come out in print and are only available in hard cover!
Stay tuned for more profiles in our NMAAHC Ambassador/Black philanthropy series.