Next Gen Council Building Crossroads

HBA: Charlotte-DeSoto BIA

Category: HBA Operations

Location: Port Charlotte, Fla.

Size: Local Association: 201-600 members

Year: 2022

Charlotte DeSoto BIA’s Next Gen Council (aka YP Council) dedicated their time, talent, and treasures to helping get Crossroads Hope Academy ready to open. Crossroads Hope Academy is a foster home for boys ages 12-18 who recently expanded their footprint and purchased a second home closer to town to help more boys. The second home also allows boys ages 16-18 a chance to find employment and start preparing for life after foster care. Crossroads was in major need of repairs and reached out to the HBA. All the Next-Gen members signed up to assist where they could, including painting, cleaning, pulling permits, and helping with plumbing and electrical issues to prepare the home for the boys.

Next Gen Council is forming “Hardhats for Hardships” and fundraising to help home owners in the community with much-needed repairs. The council took this on as their first project when Crossroads reached out. The contractors set up times to fix the repairs, then the council set up a Saturday and finished detailing the home to get it ready. The young men have made an enormous impact on the Next Gen Council and the council now brings dinner once a month.

Some boys have also asked about members’ careers and want to learn more about construction. The project was funded all through donations. The HBA sent a list of what was needed, and the Next Gen Council members stepped up where they could.