New community platform connects DeKalb-area families with local activities, camps, and resources in one searchable hub

DeKalb County Parent, a new hyperlocal digital platform serving families across DeKalb and the surrounding region, is officially live today. The site aggregates extracurricular activities, summer camps, community events, and family resources into a single searchable directory — filling a gap long felt by parents navigating a fragmented landscape of Facebook groups, school newsletters, and word-of-mouth recommendations.

DeKalb Parent was built by Nia Springer-Norris, who is a web developer, independent journalist and the founder of Springer Creative Associates LLC. Springer-Norris is a mother of three kids who are active in multiple activities and has had to navigate a variety of childcare needs from summer to summer. As a result, she experienced firsthand the exhausting information-gathering that comes with parenting in a community that doesn’t have a dedicated parent resource hub.

“Parents in DeKalb seem to find camps through word of mouth, or by posting to local parenting Facebook groups,” said Springer-Norris. “The organizations in the community are diligent about announcing their programming, there’s just no central place to list it. DeKalb County Parent changes that.”

What DeKalb Parent Offers

At launch, the platform features a filterable directory of local extracurricular programs and activities; a summer camp database with searchable categories, age ranges, and registration details and a newsletter curating the latest resources for DeKalb-area families. Organizations can submit listings directly through the site, and a dashboard for managing and updating listings is live and available to local coordinators.

The platform is built on a modern editorial stack designed for longevity and community contribution, with a focus on accessibility and mobile usability.

A Platform Built by a Community Member, for the Community

DeKalb Parent operates as a DBA under Springer Creative Associates LLC. Springer brings her background in communication, media, and technology to a project rooted in a genuine community need rather than a market trend. She is actively pursuing grant support from journalism and civic technology funders and is in conversation with local organizations about sponsored listings and newsletter partnerships.

“This isn’t a startup story,” Springer noted. “It’s a neighbor story. I live here. My kids go to school here. I’m building something I would use every week.”

About DeKalb Parent

DeKalb Parent is a hyperlocal digital platform connecting families in DeKalb, Illinois with extracurricular activities, community resources, and local events. It is operated by Springer Creative LLC, a DeKalb-based creative and communications company. For more information, visit [dekalbparent.com].