DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — At Old King’s Orchard Community Center, leaders say their mission goes far beyond programs for youth.
One of its latest efforts is a driver’s education program. The program is helping people of all ages gain independence and remove barriers to employment and daily life.
Organizers said the program is rooted in listening to the community and responding directly to its needs.
“We look at the needs of the community that will move them in a positive direction,” said Executive Director Devon Joyner. “We identify situations, we identify barriers, and we do the best that we can to put people on a more positive track.”
That includes helping people earn a driver’s license. Joyner said it is something many take for granted, but not everyone has access to.
“You would be shocked and amazed at how many adults who just do not have their driver’s license,” he said.
The program offers multiple pathways, including traditional teen driver’s education, an adult course for those ages 18 to 20, and a growing remedial program for individuals needing to reinstate their licenses after violations.
Instructor Michael Karas said the remedial courses have quickly become one of the most in-demand offerings.
“The community is being asked to drive to surrounding cities to take this remedial class,” Karas said. “So now we are a provider … that can service them."
Karas said the program is designed to be flexible and accessible, including a tiered payment system to ensure cost is not a barrier.
“If somebody cannot afford it … we are going to work with them,” he said. “We’re here to get people their licenses that would not have access.”
Leaders emphasize that a driver’s license in a community like Decatur is more than a convenience; it’s a critical life skill.
“In a rural community, a driver’s license is actually a life skill,” Karas said. “You have to have a license … for work, children, or whatever.”
The program has already helped a wide range of people, including international teachers working in Decatur Public Schools who previously relied on others for transportation.
“We were hearing stories about … getting rides from coworkers or taking buses,” Karras said. “We’ve worked with over half of the international teachers … and started their process of getting their license.”
For staff like Will Smith, the program is about more than teaching rules of the road; it’s about mentorship and meeting people where they are.
“I understand that my past can easily become their future,” Smith said. “I just try to show up every day and do my best to prevent them from making some of the bad choices that I made.”
He added that many participants face challenges beyond transportation, and building relationships is key to their success.
“We meet you where you’re at, and we take you to where you need to be,” Smith said.
For organizers, the program's impact is clear every time someone earns their license.
“I’ve never seen anybody get their driver’s license that does not want to take a picture … with the biggest smile,” Joyner said. “We know we’re giving someone a better day.”
As Old King’s Orchard continues expanding its services from job readiness programs to community outreach, leaders said driver’s education is just one piece of a larger mission, and that's empowering people with the tools they need to succeed. To learn more, click here.
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