Councilmember Banks questions opportunities for smaller CBOs in Compass ecosystem
Banks asks what opportunities exist for smaller nonprofits to grow within DYCD programs. Officials note 52 new providers including 17 small CBOs, capacity building services, and subcontracting opportunities. Banks shares a specific organization with 10 years of community presence that lost its contract.
I think your point is well taken.
And I want to also just say there's 52 new providers as a result of that.
So in prior iterations, we had higher concentrations of what you're speaking of.
And this has really opened up the aperture and created ecosystems that's more balanced.
That takes into account small, medium, and large organizations.
Well, many of the smaller community-based organizations feel that they are being shut out of the opportunities within the Compass ecosystem, despite years of...
service and strong relationships within their communities, what opportunities currently exist for the smaller nonprofits to grow within the compass, and what opportunity, and
broader DYCD, and the broader DYCD ecosystem, and compete for additional sites or contracts over time, including programs such as
Saturday Night Lights and other DYCD-funded active initiatives.
What are being done to support those groups or give them opportunities?
As the Commissioner mentioned, we have 52 new providers as a result of this Compass RFP.
Right.
And in terms of small CBOs, 17, which are considered those that have less than $100,000
in revenue, we do have a whole host of capacity building services to help those providers along the way as they enter into the Compass portfolio.
In terms of new procurements at this time, we don't have anything for them to apply to, but they do have the opportunities also to serve as subcontractors that help them get into these Compass programs and start building their ability to.
I have one, there's one organization that's been in the school for close to 10 years or so.
A long, long track record in that community.
And they've been surviving off of CASA monies that we've given them.
And then whatever other monies that they've raised, they competed for a compass, you know, they submitted for the RFP.
And they're actually, they got approved, the principal supported them.
The consideration was given.
But they didn't get the contract.
And that to me means something because having a relationship with the community, having a relationship with the students means a lot.
And I know the commissioner had mentioned earlier, I think it was the commissioner, the need to support those new organizations that are coming in and figure out ways that, you know,
The community can now instruct them or give them ideas of things that they want to see.
But a relationship is important.
And when that chemistry is broken up, it can do damage to the community.
And I know you're looking at numbers, you have your scorecards, but those relationships mean a lot.
And I don't want our community to be negatively impacted because of a score chart.
That really doesn't take into the human side of the impact of those relationships.
I know this is ongoing.
I know a lot of these organizations have put in appeals, and we're hoping that strong consideration is taken, given to those organizations.