At The Crossroads

I've seen how hard the staff here work to raise money and to provide services to the hardest to reach youths in San Francisco. They leverage volunteers, product donations and do a lot with what they have. Their staff are caring and passionate about helping youths on the street.

I've been involved with At The Crossroads for almost 13 years now: first as a foundation program officer, coaching the executive director in submitting applications for funding, then as a sounding board for the E.D. as the organization grew, then an advisory board member, and now as head of the board of directors of a 501c3 organization! I am really proud of ATC: this organization has strong values of non judgmental support and yet everyone is encouraged to hold themselves to high standards. It sounds like a contradiction, but staff and board and volunteers work hard to make it possible for our outreach workers to help youth on the streets of San Francisco. ATC has a great record of helping homeless youth to envision an outstanding future for themselves, and then helping them to make that happen!

I worked at At The Crossroads for a year, and aside from the great skills and super cool community of co-workers it provided, I think it was only really when I left ATC that I really appreciated how the ideas of nonjudgementalism and support extends not just to its clients but to its volunteers and staff members as well. We were empowered to join ATC in ways that were good fits for us, were given the skills we needed to adjust to our and the power to express and address challenges we faced. I'm learning now away from ATC that a lot of jobs - and a lot of life! - is fitting into other people's boxes (and in many cases being expected to be grateful that you have a box at all) and it's great to have been part of an organization that really values finding that good fit and respects that not everyone wants the same thing out of life or their job - be they a client, a volunteer, or a counselor. So even if other jobs and people don't give me that same respect in the rest of my life, because I got it at ATC I can now apply it to everything I do! So thanks for the memories, ATC! And the tools to make the life I want and be satisfied in it.

I have been involved with At The Crossroads for almost 10 years. First as a client, then a donor, and now a board member. When I met the staff of ATC I was a homeless youth on the streets of the Mission. It has been an evolving relationship for me and ATC. At no time did I feel as a client that I was being told what to do, they have always held my goals in the highest regard, with out trying to push an agenda. As some one who resists authority and being told what to do, I have found the approach of ATC to be both effective and refreshing. My experience with ATC is that they carry out exactly what their mission states. They meet their target population at their place of need. This is why after my life circumstances changed I went back to ATC to help them. It has been the most rewarding relationship I have ever had with an organization. I thoroughly enjoy my interactions with the staff and other board members and I have been able to encourage members of my family and friends to volunteer and donate to ATC.

Rob Gitin, the director of At the Crossroads, has pulled off something truly remarkable in this organization. ATC was founded on the principle that relationships can have a transformative effect when they are formed with “respect, thoughtfulness, transparency, and optimism.” And, even as it has grown, ATC has never strayed from these simple, yet powerful roots. What sets ATC apart from other non-profits is that fact that they are genuinely committed to meeting people wherever they are at – both physically and psychologically. They offer no pre-determined goals for their clients and do not place conditions on their relationship with ATC. Through this non-judgmental approach, ATC elicits positive change in the lives of homeless youth that other programs have failed to reach. I am continually amazed by the plethora of success stories ATC has helped create over the past 10 years. I feel very blessed to have found ATC as a volunteer. They have improved the lives of countless young people in our community and stand as one of the select non profits in San Francisco that anyone could feel very proud to support.

Rob Gitin's At The Crossroads crosses barriers unlike no other outreach organization in San Francisco. The enormous appeal and response by homeless youth to the ATC staff is a testament to the philosophy and unconditional support offered to young people on the street. Enabling and empowering young peeple to reach more satisfying lives has been the core mission and the success rate is a model to other organizations.

I have been a volunteer and donor of At the Crossroads for a few years now. I am attracted to ATC because of their impeccable mission and positive impact they have on our community. Everyday, Rob and members of ATC work hard to help homeless youths to become better citizen. As youths are the future of our society, we need to invest in improvement of their lives. I have admired ATC vigorous energy and their selflessness of help homeless youths in our community. To improve our community, we need to support organization like At the Crossroads.

I discovered At the Crossroads almost 3 years ago through another non-profit and fell in love with the work of this organization. This city is in need of ATC, with so many youth and young adults on the streets of San Francisco. The founder is passionate about the mission and purpose of the organization, which makes me want to be a part of ATC in whatever capacity I'm needed. I've met so many great people by volunteering during prep nights, and wish I didn't work during the day, so I could dedicate more time to ATC. Hands down - this is a MUST for anyone interested in helping out our youth. They need us and ATC is there not to tell them what to do, but to give them options! I welcome all to come to a Prep Night at ATC and get involved, or make a donation. I promise you .... you'll come back for more.

I volunteer with many non-profits in SF, and At The Crossroads is one of my favorites. It's mission to help those young people that are usually overlooked by traditional organizations is amazing, and the way they go about doing that (walking the streets, meeting clients at their comfort zones, giving them basic necessities, not passing judgments) shows a level of understanding and caring that is evident each time I volunteer. Rob (the founder) is always there, making sure that volunteers are having a good time, feeding them, answering questions about what ATC does, and showing his appreciation for how volunteers contribute to ATC. It's surprising that many non-profits actually DON'T do that. The result of how ATC treats its volunteers shows up in the volunteers that often go back again and again to help out. When people ask where I volunteer, I always mention ATC and try to get people to join me!

Rob and his staff/board members have set the tone for recognizing that everyone can play a valuable role in making a difference in the lives of the youth that ATC works with. Just as they work to connect with homeless youth at their own level, they engage donors, volunteers, and other supporters at their own level as well - starting with your strengths and contributions, and building a relationship from there.