COMPAS Donor Newsletter Spring 2026
You helped over 20,000 Minnesota kids use the arts to spark their creativity and imagine more for themselves.
COMPAS’ mission is to deliver creative experiences that unleash the potential in all of us. Thank you for being a partner in this work!
Learningcanbedifficult.YOUmadeadifference! COMPASPrincipalTeachingArtist,FrankSentwali, sharesamagicalmomentmadepossiblebyyou...
Attheendofmyspokenwordresidencywith4 , 5 ,and6 gradersinasouth-centralMinnesota town,thestudentswerenervousabout performingfortheirclassmates,butready.One byone,studentscametothefrontandshared theircoupletsandquatrains,andevenpoemsthat didn’trhymebutwererhythmicindelivery, authentictoeachchild’spersonality. th th th
Thenitwastimeforastudentwhosevoicehadn’t beenheardthroughouttheentireresidency Ionly knewthesoundofhisvoicebecausehe’d managedtoutterafewwordsduringtheallotted practicetime.Whenhisnamewascalled,hewent silentandstill.Hisclassmatescheered encouragement.Andstill,hedidn’tmove.
Aftersomegentlepersuading,hefinallystood andwalkedtothefrontoftheroom.Thatact alonewasmetwithroarsofapproval.Itwas clearthathecarriedmorethanjustapieceof papertothefrontoftheroom.
Hisclassmates,histeacher,andtheTeaching Artistwho’dputhiminthisawkwardand
uncomfortableposition(AKAme)allstood besidehim,readytohearhispoeticcry Wewere nolongeranaudience.Wewerehis accompaniment.
Wewaitedpatiently.Hetriedandtried,standing thereholdinghispoem,justbarelyaudible,some muttersandmumblesashestaredatthepage I couldseeeverythinginhisspiritwantingtobreak free.Itoldhimitwasokay.Andthen,Idid somethingI’veneverdoneinaclassbefore.
Iaskedtheclasstoalljoininandsayhispoem together Theexcitementwasunanimous Ireada lineandtheclassrepeated Ireadthenextlineand theclasschorusfollowedonceagain.Ibecame performativewithmyvoiceasIreadeachofthe8 linesofthisyoungman’spoemandeachofhis classmatesflankedoneithersideofhimrepeated thephrases AfterthelastlineIthankedtheclass forshowingloveandcommunityandaskedthem togivetheirclassmatearoundofapplausefor
(“The Kid” continued on next page)
(“The Kid” continued from page 1) eventrying.
Theycheered.Theyconsoledhim.Theyshowed himlove.Theteacherlatertoldmeitwasmore encouragementthanhewasusedtoreceiving.“He neededthat,”shesaid Shewashopefulitwouldbe aturningpointforhim.Ihopeitwillbeaturning pointinalltheiryounglives.Amomentwhere theyexperiencedthesatisfactionofbeingan activeplayeronTeamHuman.
Ouryoungfrienddidn’tmanagetogethispoemout
audiblythatday.Buthedidmanagetodisplayhis humanitytoclassmateswhohadmisunderstoodhim, andtheyfoundthemselvescheeringforhimand, evenmoreimportantly,standingbesidehim
Spokenwordishardandvulnerable.Butthere’sno betterexampleofthesimplicityofright,wrong,and humanconnectivitythantheexpressionsof unbridledjoythatcomefromtheyouth.
Thankyoutothestudentsandeducatorsin south-centralMinnesotaforremindingmewhy wefightandwhywe“art.”
“Having organizations like COMPAS that champion young minds and creativity is vital to persisting through moments that often feel too big to bear and too confusing to sort out. I deeply appreciate the work the COMPAS team continues to do - it is so important!” ~ Parent of a teenage COMPAS program participant
Want to get creative??? Check out compas.org/calendar for info on public art-making events across Minnesota. are part of the COMPAS team! Thank you for helping young people across Minnesota imagine what’s possible.
Your gift sculpts a brighter future
Helpstudentsbuildcreativity,confidence,andcommunitywithagifttoCOMPAS. GivingiseasyandsecureatCOMPAS.org/donate.
Youcanalsomailagift,directagiftfromadonoradvisedfund,donatestock,orturn anoldcarormotorcycleintocreativeexperiencesforkids!Detailsat compas.org/donate.
Checkscanbemailedto450SyndicateSt.N.,#325,SaintPaul,MN55104
Each year, you help over 60,000 people across Minnesota actively learn and create with COMPAS teaching artists, right in their own school, after-school program, or other community site. Here are just a few ways you make a positive impact on people’s lives...
Writing poetry takes courage and emotional openness. Having others listen to your words and feel something... that’s magical.
Reduce, reuse, recycle... Turning a plastic jug into a butterfly puppet takes imagination, perseverance, and teamwork.
Creating together at any age brings joy and vitality into the community.
Learning to paint your emotions is fun and helps kids process and respond to what they are feeling.
