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Crossover Community Impact, a north Tulsa program dedicated to positively impacting underserved youth, continues to pave a path forward with the opening of its new community center.
Since 2012, CCI has taken a holistic approach to reversing the rates of crime and poverty in north Tulsa. At the end of 2023, the organization celebrated the opening of the new Crossover Community Center.
The state-of-the-art facility expands on CCI’s mission to impact education, economic development, leadership development, housing, healthcare, and youth sports.
For Philip Abode, pastor of Crossover Bible Church, plans to build a new community began in 2005. He noticed sports could be a fresh way to reach people.
“The decreased interest in the church caused us to strategically think about how we can better reach people by naturally making relationships with people in the community and being a blessing to the community,” Abode told the Black Wall Street Times.
The new community center, which houses Crossover Prep Academy’s 315 6th-12th grade students, also includes a gym, fitness rooms and workout facilities for its members in the historically resource-deprived community of north Tulsa.
“The community can use the center daily to develop individuals and families holistically. A traditional church building is only occupied about twice a week,” Abode said.
New community center expands CCI’s impact
Crossover Community Impact has made a difference in the lives of families for years, and there’s data that shows supporting these kinds of grassroots organizations can prevent crime.
A study published in the American Sociological Review found that increasing community programs in a city of at least 100,000 residents led to a lower murder rate, violent crime rate and property crime rate. The study looked at crime rates for 264 cities over a 20-year period.
Beyond the positive impacts on crime, programs like CCI and its new community center are important because of its location.
“The new community center adds value to the community by specifically serving those that currently live there without the threat of being displaced,” Abode said.
Rondalyn Abode says the accessibility is a key issue as well.
“It’s also a matter of being accessible because, for years, I’ve known how important it is to work out and attend wellness classes, cooking classes, and everything else, but that doesn’t mean I could afford those things,” she told the Black Wall Street Times.
Crossover Community Impact’s new $23 million community center provides hope and opportunity for underserved youth in north Tulsa. To learn more, visit their website.