Giving Connection

Crossroads Campus

This nonprofit has not yet verified the listed information.

Volunteer

707 Monroe St, Nashville, TN 37208, USA

EIN Number: 27-2397528

contact information

Phone: (615) 712-9758

Hours: Closed

Mon - Fri 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM (EST)

Sat 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (EST)

Sun 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM (EST)

Website: http://crossroadscampus.org/

Email: info@crossroadscampus.org

NTEE Code: P85: Homeless Centers

MISSION - WHAT WE DO

We believe in the healing power of the human-animal bond. Our mission is to transform lives by creating opportunities for individuals facing poverty and homelessness to care for homeless dogs and cats.

SERVICES - HOW WE DO IT

Caring Connections is a humane education program that provides healing experiences for troubled youth through positive interactions with animals. Humane education enhances empathy, self-awareness, and self-esteem, all of which are critical to positive youth development and may play a role in reducing violence in our communities. For young people who have faced adversity, especially those who are dealing with the effects of neglect, abuse or trauma, humane education provides an opportunity to change not only the way these individuals view animals, but also the way they view themselves and other people. Caring Connections empowers young people by recognizing that they have something of value to give and can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable animals. Through lessons in animal companionship, dog training and animal safety, the students learn things like 'how to read a dog’s body language' and come to understand the effect that their own body language and tone of voice have on a dog. This enhanced self-awareness can transcend their interactions with animals and lead to improved relations with peers and adults. The students also learn the power of positive reinforcement, a critically important parenting tool, as they experience firsthand how much more effectively they can train a dog using treats and praise, than with threats or an angry voice. Of equal importance is the opportunity for these young people to laugh and experience joy as they work with the dogs-- using games such as hide-and-seek to teach name recognition or trying various antics to coax a dog through a tunnel during agility training. Lastly, Humane education teaches the proper treatment of animals, changing the way these young adults look at dogs, cats, and other animals in their communities. By empowering these young adults, we reduce the perpetuation of misconceptions that lead to animal abuse, neglect, and pet overpopulation, one positive interaction between person and pet at a time. Crossroads Pets- Shop & Adopt is a “pet retail” social enterprise, launched in 2013, to provide (1) job-training and employment for at risk young people, (2) shelter and adoptions for homeless pets through a public/private partnership with Metro Animal Care and Control, and (3) earned revenues to help sustain the program. This job-training/employment program provides work readiness, including the importance of punctuality, respectful communication with supervisors, customer service relations, and conflict resolution. It also provides job-skills training in the areas of pet retail, basic animal/kennel care, and grooming assistance. Through a partnership with Volunteer State Community College, we also offer a 10-week certification course in small animal care in order to provide tangible measures of success to both our interns and future employers. Based on Bureau of Labor statistics, faster than average job growth and a “bright outlook” for job opportunities are expected for animal care workers statewide. Our job-training Interns come to us through referrals from our community partners— which include Oasis, Monroe Harding, Goodwill, Martha O’Bryan, YouthCan and KIPP Academy— for internships lasting six to eight weeks. During these initial internships, stipends are provided by the referring agency. If at the end, an intern wishes to stay on and we are confident that they will benefit, we move them onto our payroll for extended job-training/employment. Through caring for our adoptable pets, assisting our groomers and working in our retail store, these young people acquire work readiness and hard job-skills, and enhanced confidence and empathy within a nurturing environment. The Crossroads Campus Affordable Housing Program for young adults opened in 2016 as a pilot, model program above our social enterprise pet store in Germantown. It consists of a 4-bedroom unit, with shared kitchen and living accommodations.