Who we are.
Who we are.
Crossroads of Michigan was founded by Father James McLaren in 1971 in response to a growing number of people in the community who did not have access to the same resources and were not being treated the same as others. 52 years later this continues to be important to us and influences our approach to finding better and sustainable solutions to people living in poverty than has been available to us.
Our strength is in our experience, caring power, talent and embrace of social innovation. Our mastery is in resource distribution that is complementary to our new and unique client interventions that rely upon a relationship-oriented approach to being partners in change for those who turn to us in trust. Community resources are necessary for people in need, but change occurs when people are intentionally and courageously cared for.
What we do.
We solve problems. We understand people and the conditions that contribute to poverty, and we attack poverty through creativity, experience, courage, and wisdom to alter the predictable. We partner with people and organizations who are smarter than us so we can learn and be stronger. We are willing to take risks and try something rather than relying upon practices that are vulnerable to impressive outcomes. We defend our mission like warriors because the victims of the war on poverty are not ourselves, but those we serve who trust us to help.
How we think.
We believe in the power of people and of care. We believe human potential is not a privilege, but a humanistic trait we all deserve and can achieve. Some need more help finding it than others, but we know it is a journey for all of us. To do our best work we are driven by purpose, and we demand it in our daily lives, and we support it in those around us. We know we can positively affect lives and we feel a responsibility to try our best every time. We believe in love.
On Ourselves
We see ourselves as facilitators of love. Between those who have it to share, and those who need it. That’s our success.
On Purpose
Contrary to popular belief, loving others authentically has a high price. It requires you to find the best of yourself and be confident your value to others is worth sharing. Find it, and you find purpose.