Latest news with #CompassCenter
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Helping sexual assault survivors through hygiene drive
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A coffee shop is pairing up with a local organization to assist sexual assault survivors. At Coffea Roasterie locations across Sioux Falls, not only can you find a cup of coffee, this month you also can find a hygiene drive for the Compass Center. 'So the 1st through the 21st, you can drop off full sized items at any of our locations. And they will go to women in crisis,' Coffea Roasterie COO, Esther Shore said. 'We have a team in our crisis care services department called sexual assault advocates, and they are, responding 24/7 to people in need in our community. They go to our hygiene supply closet, they prepare a bag for items for that person in need, and deliver that in person, stand beside them on the long process, but really just help them in their transition,' Compass Center Chief Development and Communications officer, Sydney Bartunek said. Hibachi defendants to be released on PR bond Also this month, Coffea and the Compass Center are partnering together to host Grounds for Change. 'Over a cup of coffee, people can create that connection, they can hear stories, they can listen to others who have maybe survived sexual assault, or learn more about what they can do to be a part of that process of support and healing. So it's really important to us to have those connections and engagement and to be able to use specialty coffee as a vehicle for those things,' Shore said. Helping survivors and starting conversations during sexual assault awareness month. 'I think the unfortunate reality of our world is more women than probably not have experienced some level of sexual assault and if we are not willing to have these conversations in a brave and compassionate and healing way, nothing's ever can change,' Shore said. 'Healing happens in community. Healing happens in connection. Healing happens in relationships. So the more that we can support them in different ways through supplies and then, our team through advocacy and counseling, the better off they are to start the healing journey,' Bartunek said. There is one more week to donate hygiene supplies. The last Grounds For Change is tomorrow morning, April 15th, from 7:30-8:30 at the Louise Avenue Coffea location. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Protest signs supporting sexual assault victims
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — There have been numerous protests the past few weeks, where people sport signs and stand up for what they believe. There's a group of people who are getting together to create signs for something they feel strongly about, however, you won't be seeing these signs outside anytime soon. Courtney Hardie loves art, but it also has a deeper meaning to her. 'My big thing is art and using art for advocacy and my creativity for community,' Courtney Hardie said. Emily's Hope naloxone boxes installed at Sanford This is why she attended an event held by Sufu Creative. 'We are partnering with the Compass Center to do Signs of Change, a community protest workshop. So everyone is, basically they're working together to create signs the models will later be holding while they're participating in this fashion show,' Sufu Creative Board Vice President, Dina Bardakh-Conley said. 'In April we are recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We're also recognizing Emily Eirinberg, she's a victim of domestic violence. So with those two things in mind, we've created Rise Up: Art As Resistance. It's a floral fashion show,' Compass Center, Chief Development and Communications Officer, Sydney Bartunek said. The models will hold signs showing the 10 warning signs of unhealthy relationships and partner violence, along with 2 signs that will recognize awareness and hope. 'So we have blame shifting, dismissing boundaries and financial control are some examples of those ideas,' Bardakh-Conley said. Using art one day, to hopefully change lives forever. 'I hope people that attend our floral fashion show on April 24th really take away that prevention is possible, awareness matters, and if everyone that attends the show goes into the community and tells one person about our mission, that would make a huge difference. So we are really focused on the impact that one person in the community can make,' Bartunek said. 'By being a part of this event, I'm able to use my creative and artistic abilities to create these really thought provoking signs about a really strong and important mission that we need to be more aware of and more outspoken about,' Hardie said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Compass Center impacted with federal funding in limbo
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – It has been a hectic week for nonprofit organizations, small businesses, schools and other agencies that rely on federal funds. 'We are merely looking at parts of the big bureaucracy where there has been tremendous waste, fraud and abuse.' President Donald Trump said. On Wednesday, the White House walked back its initial memo to freeze all federal grants and loans. Although the freeze is paused for now, recipients around the country are concerned, including the Compass Center in Sioux Falls which provides crisis services to victims of abuse. 'For us, it's always a much more time-sensitive matter because victims can't wait to file a protection order. They can't wait to get new locks on their doors. They can't wait for those things because if they do, their life could be on the line,' Compass Center, executive director, Michelle Trent said. Trent says about 40%-60% of the non-profit's total budget is touched by federal funds. This week Trent said the organization looked to ensure its crisis services were able to hold up with alternative funds. 'We have victims walking in all day long and it's hard to even give a number sometimes of how many people are coming in each day. So certainly serving a need in the community and those victims need us for safety,' Trent said. Sioux Falls Airport travelers react to plane crash Because of the uncertainty, the organization has paused the launch of a new youth program that was set for February. Over 30 community partners like the Sioux Falls School District and Police Department were involved in the Youth Voices in Prevention Program. However, now that's going to have to wait until there's more clarity on the funding. 'We're hopeful that we can restart up the work in that program soon, but at this moment, we're uncertain as to when that might be,' Trent said. In the meantime, The Compass Center says it will continue community outreach funding efforts, like the Compass50. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze
Sioux Falls youth violence intervention program suspended amid federal funding freeze Show Caption Hide Caption White House responds to pause in federal grants and loans White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to questions surrounding the Trump administrations pause in federal grants and loans. The Compass Center in Sioux Falls is suspending its Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention (YVIP) program effective immediately amid a pause on federal grants that President Donald Trump ordered late Monday to give his administration time to review whether they fit his priorities. The YVIP is a 'youth-led, community-based initiative working to eliminate violence among middle and high school youth (ages 12-17) in the Sioux Falls metro area,' according to The Compass Center website. The Compass Center relies on federal funding for 40% to 50% of its overall budget, Executive Director Michelle Trent said. 'This year it's closer to the 60% with all of our federal funds,' Trent said. 'And so a significant portion of our budget is made up of federal dollars.' The freeze went into effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday though several states sued to block the order. The memo ordering the freeze does not specify which grant-making agencies must abide by the order, but the Office of Management and Budget has broad power over the executive branch that touches nearly every agency. The sweeping announcement triggered widespread confusion and panic among government bureaucrats and everyday Americans scrambling to figure out the implications. The government later clarified it doesn't affect Pell Grants, which are government subsidies that help low-income students pay for college, Social Security payments, Medicaid or food stamps — assistance that is going directly to individuals. "This is not a blanket pause on federal assistance and grant programs from the Trump administration," said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, during a briefing Tuesday afternoon. "The reason for this is to ensure that every penny that is going out the door is not conflicting with the executive orders and actions that this president has taken." Youth violence has become a growing problem in Sioux Falls. In early December, 18-year-old Jaden Bingham fired a gun in the Empire Mall, causing the mall to be placed under lockdown status for nearly two hours, according to previous reporting from the Argus Leader. After the shooting, Sioux Falls Police Department Police Chief Jon Thum called on the Sioux Falls community to aid in 'mentoring' youth. While the federal fund freeze does not affect SFPD, police were 'excited' about the prospect of working with The Compass Center on the YVIP program, Sioux Falls Police Department spokesperson Sam Clemens said in an email to the Argus Leader. 'We recognize the greater need and urgency in mentorship with youth in Sioux Falls. Mentors can have a dramatic impact on the lives of youth,' Clemens said. 'This is not something that can be left for other people to do. We want everyone to get involved and volunteer your time to make a difference with today's youth which will make a difference in our community for years to come.' The YVIP program serves Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner and McCook counties, according to the website, and collaborates with 35 community partners to serve youth in the area, Trent said. Teens in the YVIP program experience 'immersive training sessions' and engage in peer education and impact events to gain the knowledge and skills to prevent 'relational and sexual violence, sexual harassment, dating violence, and bullying,' according to the website. While the YVIP is the only program currently suspended at The Compass Center, several other programs are in jeopardy, Trent said. This includes programs that offer walk-in care for victims of violence, programs that help victims with court-related processes, and crisis counseling services. The Compass Center is the only rape crisis center in South Dakota, Trent said, and those services are at risk, too. Trent said the freeze 'feels very out of the blue and sudden, and with minimal preparation or minimal answers.' Trent said The Compass Center was 'heightened to changes in federal funding' before the freeze went into effect primarily because she believes topics such as family, sexual and relationship violence are often things people don't want to talk about. 'I think this is a great time for our community and our state and our nation to step up and say, 'These are important services for the people that live in our community, in our society, and so we're going to fight for them,'' Trent said. USA Today contributed to this report.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Compass Center suspends youth violence program amid federal pause
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The White House is pausing federal grants and loans as President Donald Trump`s administration begins an across-the-board ideological review of its spending. Tribes issuing free ID cards amid ICE raids The pause is already causing disruption for many nonprofits in South Dakota. The Compass Center, a provider of crisis intervention and violence prevention services, announced an immediate impact will be stopping the Youth Violence Intervention and Prevention program. 'This isn't just about funding—it's about people's lives,' Michelle Trent, Executive Director of The Compass Center, said in a news release. 'Every day, our services help prevent violence, support survivors, and build a safer community. Any disruption to these services puts our most vulnerable community members at risk.' The Compass Center says there are potential disruptions to other crisis response services and risk to ongoing victim support services for as long as the federal pause remains. The funding freeze takes effect at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The decision could cause widespread disruption in health care research, education programs and other initiatives. Even grants that have been awarded but not spent are supposed to be halted. It's unclear how sweeping the pause will be. Democrats like Minnesota's U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar say Congress approved the grants and the President's move is unconstitutional. 'Last night, in defiance of federal law, Donald Trump made the decision to stop Federal funding which as my colleagues have pointed out, could impact everything and will impact everything from small businesses to local law enforcement to child care,' Klobbuchar said during a news conference. KELOLAND News is exploring how the order will impact nonprofits in KELOLAND and will bring you on-air and online Tuesday night. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
