Molly LaBerge was the founder of COMPAS, Inc. in St. Paul, MN. Formed in 1974, COMPAS is Minnesota's most widely-used resource for artist residencies and community-building through the arts, engaging approximately 400,000 people in the arts in approximately 100 Minnesota towns each year. COMPAS began as Poets in the Schools in 1968 under LaBerge's leadership. Now called Writers & Artists in the Schools, the program provides arts in learning to schools across the state.