An independent nonprofit built around the families we serve — meeting real needs in our community and bringing the support they need together in one place.
DeKalb Public Services Corporation was founded on a straightforward belief: support should be built around the people who need it, not the other way around.
We began with translation and navigation support — meeting families where they are, in their own language, and helping them make sense of what's in front of them. As we worked, we saw the same pattern again and again: a family's needs are connected, but the help available to them is scattered. So we grew with intention. Each program we added — and each one we're still building — comes from a real need we've seen in the communities we serve.
What sets DPS apart is how our work fits together. When a family connects with us, we look at the whole picture, not a single request. To make that possible, we built our own system to coordinate care across our programs, so a family's progress carries with them and nothing falls through the cracks.
We're a small, independent nonprofit, and that's a strength. It lets us stay close to the people we serve, move quickly when a need arises, and keep building toward something larger: a connected network of support that meets families where they are and grows with them.
We are not just trying to solve today's problem. We are trying to build something that lasts — a community where people have what they need to move forward with confidence, and where those who received support eventually become the ones giving it.
Every family — regardless of language, background, or how long they have been here — has access to real support when they need it. No one should fall through the cracks just because the system was not built for them.
Youth in our community grow up with mentors, skills, and spaces that help them build toward a future. Not just surviving — actually prepared for what comes next.
Over time, the people we serve become the ones who give back. That is how communities grow strong — and that long-term shift is what DPS is ultimately working toward.
A small, dedicated team committed to showing up for our community every day.
Malik Issak
Executive Director
Naheeda Sultani
Board Member & Outreach Director
Mustapha Babaaya
Case Manager
Abdiwadud Issak
Media & Systems
Camryn Grimes
Treasurer & Board Member
Sayd Ali
Board Member
Most organizations do one thing. You go to one place for food, another for translation, another for classes, another for help with your kids. That works for some people — but not for families who are already stretched thin.
The Community Access Network is our answer to that. We bring translation support, youth programs, adult education, food access, and community services together — coordinated, connected, and available in multiple languages.
When someone comes to us for help with one thing, we can see the full picture and make sure they do not fall through the cracks on everything else.
A network is more than a single program. When a family comes to us, their needs are rarely just one thing — and the Community Access Network is how our programs connect to each other, so one need leads to the next kind of support instead of a dead end.
That's the difference. A family doesn't get handed off or sent down the street — they stay with us, and we help across everything we offer, all coordinated under one roof.
We're always growing what we can do, and we don't do it alone. If you share this vision — whether you're an organization, a professional, or a neighbor who wants to help — we'd love to build it with you.
We believe in being open about the work we do — both financially and programmatically. These reports show where our funding goes and how our programs are running.
990s, annual reports, and financial filings. See exactly where the money goes and how we are accountable to the people we serve.
View Documents →See how our programs work and the impact they have in the community — write-ups of workshops, sessions, and programs we have delivered.
View Program Reports →Whether you want to give your time or your support, there is a real place for you at DPS.
