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Sometimes an after school program can truly change a life.
Stephen came to Crossroads of the Rockies when he was eight, back when the organization was still getting started in 1991. Attending baseball games, going to the zoo, learning tae kwon-do, and participating in basketball tournaments were all after- school activities sponsored by Crossroads. A daily activity was offered to give youth a safe place to play, study, and learn. It was an alternative to spending the afternoon wandering the neighborhood streets alone.
Taking part in Wiz Kids Tutoring and Bible study were two of Stephen's fondest memories due to their shared association with another program, Treasure Chest. After completing homework, earning good grades, or demonstrating good performance in Bible study the children could select a "treasure" from a chest filled with small toys and school supplies.
As Stephen became older, Crossroads became the after-school "hang out" in the community. Stephen reached out to his friends, some of whom belonged to area gangs, encouraging them to participate. Not everyone committed to staying with the program, those attending more irregularly getting into more trouble and some even ending up in jail.
But Crossroads was not just any after-school youth program. Its Christian foundations gave it the nurturing feel of an extended family there to fill in the gaps when needed the most. Looking back Stephen counts himself fortunate. "Everybody here feels loved…if it wasn't for love you wouldn't want to be here. It would just be another violent place," referring to the damage caused by him and his friends when they first started coming, "but they switched it around and I was able to clean up my act."
Now twenty-two, Stephen works to support his family and young daughter. His four-year-old now participates in the youth program along with his brother whom he also encouraged to attend. He wants them both to grow up involved in an organization focused on doing good and providing youth with opportunities and resources to cultivate potential.
As for Stephen, he is still actively involved with his Crossroads family. He volunteers whatever time he has, giving all he can back to those who did so much for him.
Crossroads of the Rockies is one of several organizations that receive support in the form of grants, training workshops, sponsorships, and other critical resources through YouthPartnersNET - a network of Christian ministries serving children and youth in high-risk communities. YouthPartnersNET is one of more than 1,900 charities in the 2005 Denver Metro Combined Federal Campaign.
