The Journey to Successful and Sustainable Re-entry Begins Here
Men who have been imprisoned face tremendous challenges as they try to reintegrate back into society.
Returning citizens need advocates, guides, and encouraging re-entry coaches to walk alongside them upon release from prison and as they re-enter, transitioning to live out their faith in freedom.
CrossWalk Center bridges critical social services and discipleship ministry between prison life and freedom.
We offer hope and a future apart from broken prison life to whole-hearted intentional living as the unique individuals God originally created and intended them to be.
The Regional Realities of Re-entry. Every day, five days a week, 245 days a year, at around 2 pm, 50 or more of the 16,300 plus individuals released annually from Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisons, arrive by bus at Houston's Midtown bus terminal.
Isolated from society and our rapidly changing world for a number of years, most ex-offenders lack the basic knowledge of what to do after release. They do not know who to trust or who to turn to for help.
They do not know how to access, much less how to find and navigate, all the regional service providers and ministries that could assist and enable them to transition and reintegrate successfully back into Houston communities and neighborhoods.
Logistically, Houston is a challenging city for anyone to navigate. The city is not only initially overwhelming and frightening to get around in, but it can be nearly impossible because these men return to Houston with little or no money, no job prospects, and basically no means of financial support - just the $50 to $100 issued by the state upon release. It becomes more difficult when they have no identification, no means of transportation, and often no family willing to help them, nor a safe home.
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welcoming • serving • coaching • mentoring • giving hope for the future
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.
- Matthew 25:35-36
Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $1,000 for our first-ever Virtual Clothing Drive! We will be able to furnish our clients with brand new work clothes as they begin to rebuild their lives. ... See MoreSee Less
3 days ago
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We asked our new volunteer coordinator, Kiwanya Tende, about herself and what drew her to CrossWalk Center. Read more to learn a little bit about her.
1. Why did you choose a career at CrossWalk Center? - I chose to come to CrossWalk Center because I have a heart for those who have been incarcerated but are about to re-integrate back into society. Most of them feel shunned because of their pasts. These disenfranchised deserve a second chance just as Christ forgives us and gives us second chances. My heart is bent towards second changes. Interacting with volunteers who share a similar heart for reentry makes my heart smile.
2. Where were you working before? I had the awesome privilege of working with Care Net Pregnancy Center for the past 5 years as the Client Education Coordinator.
3. Do you have a family? Kids? Tell us about them. I have two beautiful adult children, Aundreia and Brandon, who reside in Houston. They are both married and between the both of them, I have six grandchildren: three boys and three girls, and one on the way. Being a Nani is by far one of the best things ever!
4. What is your favorite inspirational quote? My favorite inspirational quote is by Corrie Ten Boom: "It is not my ability, but my response to God's ability, that counts."
5. What are you looking forward to in your role as volunteer coordinator for CrossWalk Center? I’m looking forward to not only getting to know the current volunteers but being able to identify and bring on new volunteers who have a heart for reentry. ... See MoreSee Less
5 days ago
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Welcome to CrossWalk Center, Kiwayna!
Maybe one of your New Year's resolutions for 2020 is to find an organization to lend your time, talent, and heart. Consider volunteering with us. We're always looking for people to help fulfill our life-changing mission. crosswalkcenter.org/volunteer/ ... See MoreSee Less
Volunteer - CrossWalk Center
crosswalkcenter.org
Volunteer It may sound cliché, but it does take a village, an entire community of collaborators, coming together for the sole, unified purpose of positively impacting citizens journeying from prison ...1 week ago
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We not only consider Jim our partner, but he's also our friend. We are immensely proud of Jim and the work he's doing through TREXO. Thank you, Jim, for sharing your gifts with us and using them to transform lives through our reentry discipleship class. youtu.be/nxH46gY7-UU ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago
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