CrossingBarriers Information

CrossingBarriers provides leadership training and experiences for marginlized immigrant youth and youth of color through participation in projects designed to eliminate community barriers and institutional problems. CrossingBarriers provides space for citizenship development for where youth and families can come together to support each other, to discuss and learn about civic and political issues, learn about civic engagement and to develop ways to work with the mainstream community on constructive solutions. The leadership training is customized for each project and its participants and the end goal is to prepare students so they can have positive systemic impact. All of our students come from low-income families. As a result, community activists, high school students and college students that volunteer in our leadership projects learn to better understand the root causes of issues such lack of education, poverty, lack of access to resources and economic stability that face their communities. They learn how to address issues such as lack of access to quality education, neighborhood safety, crime prevention and steps towards self-empowerment. Volunteers are trained in navigating intricate and convoluted mainstream political administrations. While developing their skills, they also learn how to speak in public, conduct meetings, develop strategic actions and organize. In addition, we work to support the careers and educational paths our student volunteers want to pursue. We connect and prepare them for internship opportunities that they otherwise may not have been aware of or have access to. Many of our students feel invisible in mainstream society and are not connected to career programs or internships that will empower their careers. CrossingBarriers provides support to such students and helps them to achieve the goals they set for themselves.