Demand quadrupled in the last year for resources found at The Center for New Directions, a grant-funded department at North Idaho College that serves primarily single parents and displaced homemakers enrolled in career technical education programs.
Louisa Rogers is the Student Success Navigator at the CND on the Coeur d’Alene campus. She has been in this position for two years, assisting students in need navigate their personal challenges to insure school success.
“When I meet with the single moms who attend the weekly support group on campus, they talk about how attending classes at NIC has been extremely empowering for them.”
One of the reasons Rogers stays in her job are the “incredible success stories” she experiences each day. She describes the strong bonds and support system that has evolved among the many single mothers in the community trying to improve their lives and their choices through education. “These women mentor each other and have formed networks and strong friendships.”
She said that even if the program stopped, the lasting relationships and mutual support these women provide for each other would continue.
Rogers has watched these women transform. They come to the Center with poor self-esteem and lacking self-worth, and turn around the following year to mentor and support those joining the CND, resulting in what she describes as a “beautiful circle of support.”
“North Idaho College is an incredible asset to our community. I have witnessed firsthand the power education has on those I serve. Education is a gateway out of generational poverty.”
There are so many applicants now that Rogers finds it necessary to host orientations twice weekly instead of seeing applicants on an individual basis like she did in the past. New applications come in every day.
Rogers said there is a growing need in the community for what the CND has to offer and not enough support and resources available to cover all their needs. Cost of living is impacting student success, and students are struggling. There are some students who just miss the qualifying thresholds for CND. Rogers assists these students with referrals to other organizations, such as Love, Inc. and St. Vincent de Paul.
The ALICE population composes 90% of her clients. Many clients work full-time and still cannot meet their expenses, let alone get ahead. According to the United Way of North Idaho, “43% of North Idaho households are walking a financial tightrope.” You can read more about ALICE here.
Rogers also serves the NIC Sandpoint campus and Parker Technical Institute, and said there is a different demographic than on the other campuses. Many students work full-time jobs and go to school on top of that. “They don’t have time for clubs and socializing.”
To help cover some student needs, the CND accepts donations from the public. Items such as diapers, wipes, and toiletry items as well as gift cards for gas, one of the main needs, would be appreciated. If individuals are interested in supporting the Center for New Directions, they can sign up at nic.edu/cnd
