Coastal Compass: Education and Career Resource Center (Center) opened in La
Palmera Mall in May 2013 to prepare residents with the education and skills necessary
for Coastal Bend jobs and has served over 10,000 clients. As a comprehensive, one-
stop resource center, visitors receive free assistance with all types of education and
career development programs. Established by Citizens for Educational Excellence,
Coastal Compass is a partnership organization and is supported by generous partners
(see next page) who provide funding, staffing, furniture, equipment, and staffing. In
2016, Saint Leo University and Education Service Center Region 2 joined Coastal
Compass as partners and our newest partner is University of the Incarnate Word. The
Center is also supported through generous donations by community organizations,
which are also listed on the next page. We are also so pleased to have the support of
La Palmera Mall. With high visibility, accessibility, and more than 600,000 visitors
each month, La Palmera Mall provides the ideal location to assist clients on a daily
basis.
In addition to providing daily direct services at the Center, weekly evening and
Saturday classes taught at the Center provide information about specialized career
programs, postsecondary options, and ways to enhance workforce skills. Coastal
Compass also offers General Equivalency Development (GED), English as a Second
Language (ESL), and computer classes.
The Center represents a long-term investment in aggressively growing and
preparing our community for the future. Coastal Compass enhances life in the
Coastal Bend by helping individuals earn a good living, supporting employers who
need skilled workers, and creating an economically strong community.