50 years of The Compass Center

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)–A nonprofit that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault has hit the 50-year-mark.

Candy Hanson remembers the early days of The Compass Center, dating back to the 1970s.

“Those were the bad old days. There simply were not services for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. There was no such thing as a rape kit in Sioux Falls,” Hanson said.

Running on trails, tenacity and tradition

The center started as Citizens Against Rape, a crisis hotline answered through what’s now known as the Helpline Center.

Volunteers would respond to sexual assault victims at the hospital to support them.

“A group of my friends heard about how they were running the rape crisis line and we thought we could do that for victims of domestic violence,” Hanson said.

Hanson says, those groups later merged, becoming Citizens Against Rape and Domestic Violence.

The former board member says people didn’t want to talk about sexual assault and domestic violence back then.

“I think it was a reflection of American society. Those were secrets,” Hanson said.

“I hope it’s better than what it was in the 70s, but it’s still a tough conversation,” Compass Center Executive Director Michelle Trent said.

The nonprofit’s services have grown since it started as a crisis hotline decades ago, a service that’s still offered today.

“We offer counseling for victims. We offer advocacy. We go to court with victims. We also do education and prevention,” Trent said.

Amanda Maguire, who had been suffering from past trauma, sought the help of The Compass Center more than five years ago.

“I’ve learned so much about trauma, about the brain, about how it processes trauma, about the different pieces of the brain and what happens when something is activated inside of you,” Maguire said.

Maguire is one of many who have been helped by The Compass Center over the past five decades.

Hitting the milestone is bittersweet for Trent.

“50 years is a long time, and I would have hoped if I was here 50 years ago that this program would have no longer been here in 50 years, but it is and it’s grown, so that part is sad, the fact that we’re still needed, the fact that there are more and more victims every day and violence in our community continues to exist,” Trent said.

But there is something to celebrate: a legacy of dedication.

“Incredibly proud of the fact that we started as a bunch of people who said, ‘This isn’t okay,’ and that’s still where we are today and being able to stand up for victims for 50 years is an incredibly amazing journey,” Trent said.

While Hanson is no longer a board member, she is still a supporter of The Compass Center.

She echoes Trent’s sentiment about 50 years of The Compass Center.

“I think The Compass Center does a wonderful job. I’m proud it’s still here, and I’m really sorry that it’s still needed,” Hanson said.

The nonprofit will officially celebrate the milestone at its fall fundraiser, Cultivating Courage.