Ken Gilmore and I attended the Compass for Kids Program Updates for Rotary Members on October 23, 2024 at their facility on South 4th Street.
They provided updates on the following three programs that serve disadvantaged, low income youth:
1. Club Compass - The original program designed to provide academic and social-emotional support to kindergarten through 5th grade students from 3 pm to 6 pm. There are currently 88 students in the program.
2. Youth Leadership Development Program (YLDP) - The newest program (2-years old) to prepare middle and high school Club Compass Alumni to prepare to graduate from high school and be ready for life afterwards. There are currently 25 youth in the program.
3. Camp Compass - In partnership with Public School District 186, it is a large summer program designed to prevent summer learning loss, close achievement & opportunity gaps, and provide a sense of belonging within a safe, supportive environment. The program recently received national recognition from the U.S. Department of Education as one of 13 “Engage Every Student” program champions in the nation and the only program from Illinois. This program served 924 students in 2024.
All three programs have experienced success in achieving and exceeding the stated goals.
The major takeaway from the update and the focus of the update relates to Camp Compass.
Camp Compass no longer has access to federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. As a result, the program needs to raise $2 million dollars by late January in order to support 750 students at 5 school sites. Without this private funding, the Camp Compass program will face further significant service cutbacks. SEE pictures below for more details.
Compass for Kids seeks Rotary help in raising awareness about the program’s needs and providing financial support where possible.