Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Imani Williams-Sparks of Long Beach

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Imani Williams-Sparks. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Imani, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My first few minutes includes checking on my dog Dior. She usually wakes up the same time I do, so most mornings I contemplate if I should sleep in longer or not. Then, I pray and take a moment to myself before getting up to start my day.

In the last hour, I take Dior for a walk, set up my work space, eat breakfast, and create the vibe I need to be creative.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a filmmaker and dance choreographer/instructor. I grew up in the entertainment industry as a whole so I love to do a bit of everything. I also enjoy music production as well. Understanding my love for the arts helped me create a brand and businesses that best represent who I am.

In 2020, I started a media company called, it.SPARKS Media, which aids in sponsorships for international students and produces varies projects that incorporate multiple art disciplines. Most of our content combines music, dance, and acting. We currently create and produce dance videos, music visuals, and short films. Our goal is to collaborate with other filmmakers, music artists, and businesses in the future not only in Los Angeles but across the US.

I’ve also recently created a nonprofit called, The House of Sparks Academy. This community project began developing in 2024 and became an official nonprofit in 2025. This visual and performing arts school will host classes in Film, Television, Dance, Theatre, and Music. What I love about having this academy is that it partners so well with the media company which will allow media members to practice what they do and academy students or members to showcase what they create. We also collaborate and host pop up classes.

These business are my world and my brand is all about giving opportunities to those interested in my passions. So, in the mist of building these businesses, I am working on creating all the content to showcase what I do with it.SPARKS Media and The House of Sparks Academy.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my parents and grandparents. They play a big part in who I am which means they also helped me see myself. Having them in my corner since the beginning showed me how to be more authentic. The person I see in the mirror now doesn’t look the same as the girl from when I was five or even 25. How I see myself stems from the encouragement and reassurance that I received from them. The positivity, discipline, and guidance were major keys as well. I see myself as a more confident and compassionate these days.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were and still are plenty of times! This journey is not easy at all. But it was in every time that I almost did God reminded me why I don’t give up. He’s in every that happens, good or bad. The first time I experienced wanting to give up was when I start dancing. I may have been 11 but there was a challenge in one of my dance classes that made me feel so defeated! I felt like dance wasn’t for me. That I would never be good enough. But my father made me go back and finish. He never let me stop.

From then to now I’ve probably wanted to give up 20 other times. When I felt like it was a mistake starting my media company too soon, the film industry crashing, or losing a job that meant the world to me. There were so many times! But two degrees, two businesses, and accomplishments later, what I can say is that it all pays off! Do not give up. Experience the frustrations and keep going! God wouldn’t have brought you this far and allowed you to go through what you do if you were destined for something great!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say being authentic matters most. I love when I can be myself around people. Others should be that way too. Being truthful takes you a long way. I can literally be so many things but at the end of the day I’m real. My closest friends know that I preach about honesty and truth. I think that’s somewhere throughout the Girl Scout law.

So, growing up hearing that I should be honest and fair changed me. I took that as remaining authentic and refraining from lying. Even in my content there is a truth that is undeniable. I keep it real which makes me relatable.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would immediately stop caring about what people say and do. I am working on it actively and can say that I’m doing pretty good. Although it doesn’t always stop me from moving forwards, sometimes I do get caught up. I’m sure I would accomplish a lot more in those last 10 years because of this. I think caring hinders a lot of people. Forget what people think. Forget what people say. If you want to do or be something then go for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://itsparksmedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/it.sparks?igsh=MXh3OWRxZ3VwZDlydA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@itsparksmedia?si=b24enJj__XW0ydjd
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/itsparksmedia?igsh=MTlzYXNscXVnMThndw==

  https://www.instagram.com/houseofsparksacademy?igsh=c2swNTdtaWl0NjQ4