Princeton University Athletics
Tigers Together: Journey to Athletics, Team Chizel, and Camp Compass
October 16, 2024 | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The latest edition of Tigers Together: Journey to Athletics focused on expanding educational experiences to empower and uplift inner-city youth. This summer, the focus shifted to utilizing socialization—typically a concept from sociology and psychology—to enrich community interactions and create transformative experiences.
For the second year running, Camp Compass, a camp based in Philadelphia, took its students on an inspiring trip to Princeton University. The visit's centerpiece was a powerful discussion led by Donte Thomas, Founder of Team Chizel. Dontae Thomas's talk was a deep dive into how inner-city experiences and street culture shape an individual’s self-perception and potential. His goal was to challenge and dismantle stereotypes about inner-city communities, offering a fresh and empowering perspective on their resilience and capability.
Thomas, whose non-profit organization Team Chizel focuses on health and wellness, is dedicated to helping individuals reach their full potential.
"True empowerment," Thomas shared, "comes from building healthy habits and nurturing self-belief. My mission is to show people that by investing in their health and well-being, they’re investing in their future."
Team Chizel serves the Trenton community by providing crucial resources and education on nutrition and wellness. Drawing from his own life experiences in Trenton, Thomas uses his story to inspire and uplift others, demonstrating how adversity can be overcome through perseverance and self-improvement.
During the visit, Thomas shared his journey with the Camp Compass students, emphasizing the importance of resilience and self-belief. His transparency about overcoming challenges resonated deeply with the students. One participant remarked, "He gave me hope during our conversation because sometimes I feel like I can't see any hope."
Bob Davis, Founder of Camp Compass, reflected on the profound impact of Thomas’s visit: "Dontae’s discussion was more than just motivational; it was a powerful demonstration of using personal gifts to give back to the community. This experience will be a lasting memory for our students."
Student-athletes Evan Haynie and Mari Bickley played a vital role in the visit as tour guides of Princeton's football stadium. Bickley observed, "It wasn't just about hearing Dontae speak but witnessing the real difference he made in the students' lives. I witnessed the way the students were engaged and listening to everything he was saying. I think he was able to make a true impact on the students because of how real and transparent he was about his life and learning from his own mistakes."
The partnership between Camp Compass and Team Chizel deepens the vital role of community leaders in nurturing growth and providing hope where resources are often limited. Bob Davis and Dontae Thomas are more than just motivational speakers or mentors; they are inspirational sources of light in environments where statistics might suggest otherwise. By fostering relationships and working collaboratively, they create spaces where inner-city youth can thrive and envision a brighter future. Their efforts highlight a path forward for young people from challenging backgrounds, proving that hope and opportunity can flourish even in the most difficult of obstacles.
