среда, 19 сентября 2012 г.

A compact kept Community group celebrates 20 years of making a difference - The Pantagraph Bloomington, IL

BLOOMINGTON - Julie Payne of Bloomington took a close look at theMcLean County Community Compact logo at its 20th anniversary partyFriday and smiled.

Payne, a longtime participant in the organization, helped come upwith the four swirls forming the logo. They still representbusiness, education, government and social services working togetherto help youths succeed.

'Emblems and symbols become meaningful,' said Payne, vicepresident of development and public relations for The Baby Fold,which serves children and families with programs including adoption,foster care, residential treatment and family support.

She was among 180 people at the DoubleTree Hotel and ConferenceCenter on Friday celebrating the Compact's achievements and itsplans for the future.

Table displays of photos showed students, volunteers andcommunity leaders in programs the Compact established, including jobshadowing, peaceful schools, career expos and principal for a day.

The Compact (Collaborating on Meaningful Partnerships and Careersfor Tomorrow) sprung up from a group of local residents led by BarbStuart to look at the problems of young adults who lacked direction,said Compact co-President Bob Keller, one of the first members.

It continues to meet the needs of the community, most recentlyestablishing new multicultural and youth leadership groups, saidKeller, the retired director of the McLean County Health Department.

Payne also was among the group representing Advocate BroMennMedical Center, where she worked previously. The center is one offour organizations that took part in the first sixth-grade business/education partnership. The partnership continues, with BroMennletting students see various careers firsthand.

Such groups have developed 'hundreds of partnerships,' said SueBandy, the Compact's executive director and unit educator incommunity and economic development with the University of IllinoisExtension.

Bandy awarded the Long Continuing Leadership in Education Awardto Gene Jontry, a former local and regional school superintendent.

'Barbara Stuart (the Compact's founder) got my right ear for manyprojects over the years,' he joked.

State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, an adviser to the Compact,presented the state House of Representatives' recognition of thegroup's efforts.

'This is exactly what our young people need,' said keynotespeaker U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, a Democrat from Crete.

'You brought hope to those who knew little,' she said of thegroup that grew from a few volunteers to more than 250 members.

'We're in this together,' said Halvorson.

Robert Dean, the Compact's co-president, is superintendent ofIllinois State University laboratory schools in Normal.

'The kids with a network and scaffold to support them do well inschool, and after school,' said Dean. The more the community propsup all students, the more it receives in return, he said.

'This organization has a bright future,' said Dean, praising itfor fostering future leaders.

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Compact milestones

1989 -McLean County Community Compact founded.

1991-1992 - Sixth-Grade Business/Education Partnerships andPrincipal For A Day programs established.

1993 - Compact incorporated.

1994 - Partnership with University of Illinois Extension.

1995 - Compact receives official registration in Illinois.

1998 -Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) andPartners in Prevention established.

2000- Fifth-Grade Family Computer Project established to makecomputers accessible for more students.

2001 - Referendum voters OK property tax to support Compact.

2006 - Peaceful School efforts established, including puttingSecond Step violence prevention programs into more schools.

2008 - Youth LEADS program established to foster future leaders.

2009 - Multicultural Leadership program established.

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