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Urban Compass

Arts & CultureChildrenEducation
11100 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Phone (323) 564 - 6651 ext. 8800
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Our mission

Urban Compass provides a safe, welcoming, and innovative environment that challenges our youth to envision and navigate a course for a rewarding future characterized by achievement, independent thought, and social responsibility through education, mentoring, and play. We guide youth toward a hopeful future!
Opportunities

College Volunteers

Urban Compass also partners with Loyola Marymount University, USC, UCLA, Stanbridge University and California State University-Dominguez Hills to provide college student mentors and tutors for our kids. Undergraduate and graduate level students, many majoring in education, social work, and school counseling, work with our students to help inspire them to achieve college success. Crimson Circle, a male student service organization from Loyola Marymount University, has remained an active volunteer group whose members visit on a weekly basis and support academic, social, and recreation activities.
  • Occasional, Weekly, Monthly
  • Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Weekdays

Pico Union After School Program

Students from Loyola High School & Bishop Conaty-Our Lady of Loretto High School work with our students on the campus of St Thomas the Apostle School, Tuesday & Thursday from 3pm-5pm. Our volunteers provide valuable support for our students, grades K-3, as they participate in recreational activities, homework tutoring and other enrichment and educational activities.
  • Occasional, Weekly, Monthly
  • 21+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Event support, Indoor, Outdoor
  • On-site
  • Weekdays

Watts After School Program Volunteers

Our services take place daily (Monday-Friday) on the campus of Verbum Dei High School, allowing for a unique high school volunteer program that offers valuable support, homework help, teammates, and positive mentorship for our elementary students. Working with these college-bound “Eagles” is a core part of our success, as high school students sign up daily to work with our students as part of their high school service program and commitment to helping students in need.
  • Weekly
  • Teens
  • Individuals
  • Weekdays

College & Career Pathways

We are excited to launch a new program aimed at middle school students in Watts. Meeting two Saturdays per month, on the campus of Verbum Dei High School, we provide mentorship for our college-bound participants to learn the skills required on their path to secondary education and future careers.
  • Occasional, Weekly, Monthly
  • 21+
  • Individuals
  • Event support, Indoor
  • On-site
  • Weekends
How you help

We have several unique volunteer opportunities that provide valuable support, homework help, teammates, and positive mentorship for our elementary students.
About us

Urban Compass is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has provided free youth programs in Watts since 2004. Urban Compass was established to address the bleak outcomes and combat the dismal statistics affecting children and youth in Watts and South Central Los Angeles. Focusing on mentorship from high school and college students, family engagement, core academic support, exciting field trips, and engaging enrichment activities, we offer free after-school and summer programs for elementary students to help them navigate through elementary school and beyond, keeping them out of gangs, and on a path to college and a positive future. Urban Compass works with 50 students at a time and supports the same families through each of their crucial elementary school years (Kinder to 5th grade) to improve school attendance, family engagement, homework completion, reading and core academic performance, and create a solid foundation for a successful college pathway! Building on our success in Watts, Urban Compass has recently launched a second service location at St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary School in Pico-Union. Launched in 2017, St. Thomas was selected as our first replication site because it is an intensely underserved community. In fact, prior to Urban Compass, St. Thomas did not have a daily after-school or enrichment program for their students. Urban Compass is very excited to bring much-needed services to the Pico-Union community, and looks forward to building on our work as a connector and collaborator to continue bringing resources to this community.