DeKalb County Migrant Ministry Records, 1964-1980 | Northern Illinois University

The DeKalb County Migrant Ministry (DCMM) was started in 1963 by three ministers from the DeKalb County Ministerial Association.  Within a year it had grown to include a variety of churches, charitable and service organizations and individuals who wished to show their concern  for migrants as part of the community.  Their purpose was to serve the seasonal farm workers and their families who follow the crops, and also those who wished to “settle out” into the community, by means of educational, occupational, medical, social, and religious programs.  It also desired to awaken those living in DeKalb County to the presence of migrants and to promote sharing of the benefits of the community with the migrants and their families.  The DCMM was a voluntary organization without any paid staff, so nearly all the funds it received via grants and contributions was used for actual programs to aid the migrants, with the exception of basic administrative expenses for office supplies, postage and telephone.  It attempted to cooperate and coordinate activities with other agencies and organizations.  

One of the DeKalb County Migrant Ministry’s core programs was “family night” whereby a designated groups were matched up with migrant camps and made weekly visits.  The evening program usually consisted of a recreational activity, religious education, refreshments and informal discussion.  Another major effort was the establishment of the DeKalb County Migrant Day Care Center. It began as a six week session during the summer of 1968 in the basement of St. Mary’s School basement in DeKalb, for children a few weeks old to age five who couldn’t be taken into the fields.  In 1969 the name was changed to DeKalb County Migrant Learning Center and operated for three months.  Over the years the program grew in length, numbers of children cared for, and it changed locations several times.  Although the major portion of funding originally came from the Illinois Migrant Council in 1971 the major source of funding became the Illinois Department of Family Services.  On December 17, 1971 word was received from Springfield that funding was available to allow the Center to remain open year-round and the name was changed to the Children’s Learning Center.  In the spring of 1974 a portion of the old Cyclone Fence factory, on the corner of 14th and Pleasant Streets, in DeKalb was donated to be used rent free for twenty years.  At the end of August 1974 the new facility opened with a capacity for 85 children. 

Almost from the beginning the need for basic adult education was also evident.  Initially migrants were tutored in English and on basic driving laws.  Later nutrition, sewing, child rearing, consumer education, and basic math were added.   The first formal adult education classes took place during the summer of 1971.  Over the years adult education and vocational programs were established in conjunction with Kishwaukee College.  Health services were provided through the Public Health Department which employed a registered public health nurse.  State monies also funded a clinic offering medical and some dental care.  The Migrant Ministry also provided referrals to migrants with legal and other problems.  The “Settling Out” program began in 1970 to help those migrants who wished to remain in the area find jobs and housing. 

By the end of 1978 much had changed regarding the needs of migrants and the purpose of the DeKalb County Migrant Ministry.  During the years 1966 and 1967 as many as 1,300 migrants came to DeKalb County, but there were fewer than 300 in 1978.  Previously there had been no “settled-out” migrants, now there were over 100 families.  The schools for migrant children were taken over by the DeKalb School system.  The DCMM was providing more assistance to those needing help finding shelter, solving legal problems, and other relief services.  The focus thus became helping ex-migrants become a real part of the community.  By the late 1970's most of the work of the DCMM was carried out by fewer and fewer people, primarily the executive board, and the organization was dissolved in 1980.  Two programs which originated with the DeKalb County Migrant Ministry were still going on independently in 2001 - the Children’s Learning Center at 905 S. 4th Street, DeKalb, and the Summer School Programs for Children.