Compass Community Center - Lake Worth Beach, Florida

Jasper Gamer

Hi! My name is Jasper and I recently aged out of the youth groups after going since I was 15 and I wanted to write my personal story/how compass has helped me over the years as I transition to entourage and eventually age out completely.

I first discovered Compass early 2022 when they were starting to transition back to fully in person groups, as 2021-2022 we were still wearing masks and we were just beginning to integrate back into “normality” from COVID-19 procedures. I was at the second half of my freshman year at the time, and my first experience with compass before I came into an in person group was me and my best friend coming when we didn’t realize it was a virtual group. But we sat there and chilled, kind of got a vibe of the place. I had gotten a recommendation to check out Compass from an organization I was volunteering from at the time, and with Susan Foley’s recommendation I discovered the place.

After that virtual meeting, I didn’t go to compass for a few more months. I started going to Compass again June of 2022, going to my first trans group meeting where I met some of my now best friends. I was very shy when I first started going, but got more comfortable the more I went. 2022 right before school started they had an event, and that’s where I met my now best friend who’s family became a family to mine (I love the Fogels!) and over time I just felt more comfortable with my identity because of Compass. I was able to get free therapy here, and find an outlet for my confusing emotions.

And you’re probably wondering: if I went here all of high school and got positive results as a person from Compass why are you only rating it four stars? I’ll tell you why.

As much as I have loved Compass and have found a place in my community, there were a few issues I have had (partially my own fault) that made me feel bad sometimes.

1) The staff. I’m not naming any specific staff, but there is one group leader who was and is a bit much. They don’t know boundaries with the youth, and make jokes that aren’t necessarily really relevant/appropriate to the conversation. I’m not saying they’ve said anything *weird* in that sense, but you get what I mean. I already talked to a higher up staff member about it, but it’s still something that made my group experience a little bit less enjoyable.

2) The failure to step into conflict with youth until it gets severe.

3) The sudden changing of the youth group ages. I personally do not believe that 18 year olds should be able to be with 20+ year olds in a social group. If they are still in high school, they should be with the high school aged kids. I was always told that you would be able to stay in the youth group until you’re 19, but they suddenly changed it. But it’s confusing because they still say their group is “14-18” etc on their calendars and they haven’t changed the age to 17 yet. So it makes me feel like they pick and choose who’s allowed to stay after they age out, and that’s not right at all.

But even with these issues, I still love Compass. And don’t take my personal issues and say “this place isn’t good for my kids” it can be great for them. There are methods of how they run the youth group that I don’t like or agree with, but I still enjoyed my time at Compass. ?️‍? ?️‍⚧️

Sydney Sierra

Had one of the worst STD testing experiences of my life here. Went in for a standard STD test, tested for everything, including HIV, and the man who drew my blood waited an entire hour to give me my negative HIV results. He kept looking at the rapid HIV test to see if it would change from negative to positive. He asked me the long list of questions when someone typically comes into contact with someone who is HIV positive.
I went into my chart online and found out that he documented that I stated I had come into contact with someone who was HIV positive. I have never had sex with an HIV positive partner. At the end of the visit, he told me I needed to come back in 2 weeks to make sure my test wasn’t a false negative. Unreal.

Kieran M Wade

I first visited COMPASS in February of 2015. It was the first step to a series of changes that turned my life for the better. I attended the gender group meetings religiously for the first year or so. I made connections with really good people, some of which I will consider mentors for the rest of my life. Everyone I have met that works for COMPASS so far has been welcoming and accepting, which is what most of us need when we go there. The sense of community is definitely fantastic. The meetings gave me an opportunity to connect with others like me and I took complete advantage of it. That, in turn, gave me the confidence I needed to start trimming all the unnecessary "fat" in my life and replacing it with healthier and more accepting options. Two thumbs up. I would be in an entirely different place right now if it wasn't for COMPASS.

Christopher Marlowe

All I can say with absolute certainty in my mind, that Compass recently hired one of the most genuinely caring, empathetic and terrific case managers out there. Their humongous gain was our similarly mutual loss here in Broward County. With Jean on board and reading here other very positive reviews, this organization must be far beyond outstanding to say the very least. Many congratulations to both parties! Btw Jean, the next time you speak with David tell him that I had already known my suspicions were correct!

Jay Jay Sanon

Good afternoon, it’s extremely sad to say I will not be returning to this place. I have been coming here for over 7 years, with friends and brothers. I remember the days we would be in the computer lab enjoying ourselves and was able to stay off the streets. We even got tested here numerous times. I simply asked the front desk lady to see if there was a different brand of condoms in the box she instantly got aggravated. And told me to go somewhere else. That to me is extremely rude and I’m pretty sure if it was someone else this would’ve have never happened. I will not be referring anyone to this place ever again. 06/25/2019. Time:1:40. Thank you.

Tiffany Wakelee

This was one of the the first places my entire family went to be educated when we learned about my brother's transition. In less than a year members of this community came to my home to celebrate Easter with my friends and family. I attribute the quickness of relationships like that forming to the compassion, understanding and sense of community that becomes obvious when you first walk through the doors of the Compass Community Center. If the entire world created the sense of unity like this center does, we would all be living in a better place.

Joy Redding

Compass staff had the most welcoming, intelligent people making a difference in the LGBTQ community. A variety of well organized events for everyone to participate in and enjoy. Live your life to the max!

Taryn White

Compass has been a life changing place for my child. Between the youth groups and the youth trans group, he's there at least twice a week. He's been going to Compass for over a year and he's made some AMAZING friends. Our whole community is better for having Compass. The previous reviews I see about sinners repenting is hateful and nasty. Those people shouldn't be allowed to leave a review because they obviously not clients. Compass is an amazing place and I recommend any and all LGBT+ people check it out!