It is awesome to get a speaker every now and then whose work embodies so much of Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self. 
This week we heard from Brenda Banks, the Founder and Executive Director of the Cross Training Center, a non-profit organization with the mission of providing life skills training, vocational training and job experience for those who live in poverty.  Her students learn and receive job experience including recycling computers and electronics, automotive work and employment in their social hall. 

I found this presentation interesting because we have personally used the service of Cross Electronics a few times.  We’ve had old printers or electronic equipment that either no longer worked or we had no use for anymore and were excited to find this business that would take these items off our hands.  The beauty of this business is that the electronics that are dropped off are used as learning tools for the people that are employed.  These people are the disenfranchised, folks in generational poverty, homeless, recovering from addictions, former gang members, domestic violence etc.
 

Cross Electronics work to empower and equip unemployed and uneducated men and women to become self-sufficient.  The students learn the essential workplace soft skills such as building confidence, accountability, and teamwork.  They come to work because they are hoping for a life change and new possibilities.  The students also learn office skills, forklift driving, cashier skills, merchandising and more which helps them get on to career paths instead of just being hired for a job. They are also taught how to develop resumes and are helped with school possibilities.
 

At Cross Electronics the items that come in are separated into groups of what can be used and what cannot be used.  The unusable items are broken down and the components are sold.  Cross Electronics is also a Microsoft authorized refurbisher of computers that can then be sold. Cross Electronics also has an automotive service.  The students learn various mechanical skills using donated vehicles . The students are also able to provide full service auto repair for the community.   Another integral part of Cross Electronics is a Social Hall.  This hall can be rented for social events which the students manage. This space is also used to provide a meal for their students and often this will be their only healthy meal of the day. 
 

How can we help?  Individual donations, volunteer opportunities, share business experiences to encourage the students, help with corporate introductions and of course, use their services. 
 

Thank you Brenda for sharing your passion with us. 
 

Another great Zoom meeting, I hope you are planning to be with us next week! 

I’ll have my nails done by then! You don’t want to miss that!