Our Stories:

One of the greatest challenges in today's world is being a teen. Many young people have strong adult influences in their lives to help guide them through these crucial years. Unfortunately, there are many who do not. Left to their own devices and ingenuity, negative peer associations, various social and familial problems some of our youth participate in activities and display negative behavior that cause them to become involved with the juvenile justice system.

CROSSROADS, a Houston social service agency since 1968, is an organization that strives to prevent continued youth involvement with the juvenile justice system by fostering positive mentoring relationships between youth and volunteers. CROSSROADS' volunteers are concerned and caring individuals who understand that positive intervention in the lives of at-risk youth is an important tool to deter them from participating in delinquent behavior.

Mary is one of these volunteers. Mary has been a CROSSROADS mentor since 1997. She has had several long and meaningful relationships with youth who were involved in the juvenile justice system. With her guiding hands and loving heart, Mary has helped young people find their potential, increase their self -esteem, and anticipate with joy their futures. While working with one teen, Mary became acquainted with his younger siblings. Recognizing that they too, without intervention and encouragement, were at-risk of dropping out of school or engaging in delinquent behavior, Mary took them under her wing. That was a little over a year and a half ago.

For the last year and a half, Mary has nurtured, encouraged, and challenged Sean and Scott. Her primary role with the brothers is to develop a trusting relationship, to listen and to understand their views, to give direction and guidance and to most importantly build on their intrinsic abilities to direct themselves down the right path into bright futures. Together, they have set short and long-term goals. This "dynamic trio" has explored positive behaviors and problem solving from how to earn money for a video game to how to address conflict with an angry peer. They talk about consequences and about taking responsibility for one's actions.

Under the caring and wise tutelage of Mary, Sean has realized his potential in many ways and now excels in academics and sports. Last year he won several awards for his achievement in Mathematics and English, and he is an avid soccer player. Scott has discovered his artistic talents. Once being at-risk of dropping out of school, Scott now has a realistic and achievable goal of attending college and becoming a programmer or animator.

CROSSROADS volunteers like Mary are making a difference in both the life of our youth and our community. By meeting these at risk young people at the crossroads of their challenging lives, mentors are encouraging youth to make better and safer decisions that prevents their future involvement with the juvenile justice system. CROSSROADS - making a difference in the leaders of tomorrow.

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(Client names have been changed to protect their identity.)