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Theresa Gartland '99
Connell School of the Holy Child
Potomac, MD
Helps Inner City Youth
Chart Their Course
After graduating from Villanova in 2003, I moved to Los Angeles to participate in Response-Ability volunteer teaching program, which is a ministry of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Living in the heart of South Central was definitely an experience and not something girls from Potomac are used to.
After completing the program, earning my Master’s in Elementary Education, and teaching for three years, I moved on to an administrative position at an all-boys Jesuit high school in Watts, Verbum Dei High School. In July of 2008, I accepted the position as Program and Curriculum Director of Urban Compass.
Urban Compass is a nonprofit in Watts, housed on Verbum Dei’s campus, that works with elementary school children from Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects to keep them engaged in school and out of gangs. Urban Compass’ mission is to provide 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. I am very grateful to be working for such an amazing organization and with such amazing kids. I feel as though Holy Child helped shape me into the person I am today. While at Holy Child I realized my talents, passion, and potential in helping others. I have been able to connect with the Holy Child schools in Pasadena, Mayfield Junior and Mayfield Senior. Both schools have been very welcoming and generous to Urban Compass.
More information about Theresa’s work may be found at www.urbancompass.org
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