Our History

First Steps

In early 2000, Caryn Green, social worker and ola chadasha (new immigrant), began seriously discussing the need to open a drop-in center for troubled English-speaking teens. The dialogue, which continued for roughly a year, was held between Green and a group of relevant organizations including:

  • The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
  • Ashalim
  • The Ministries of Education and Social Affairs
  • The Devorah Foundation
  • The Jerusalem Municipality
  • ELEM Youth in Distress in Israel
  • The Jewish Agency For Israel
  • Keshet

Following that in late 2000, the Jewish Agency leased to Green the offices that today comprise the Crossroads Center. Renovations were made to the Center space at the same time as streets outreach began, so that when Crossroads officially opened on January 1st, 2001, a group of teens was waiting to come in.