About Us

Values, Mission, and Vision

Founded In 2016

Cross Over Community Development (COCD), a 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is committed to fostering the successful integration of immigrants and refugees into the community. Our multi-pronged approach includes advocacy, direct support, and mentorship, with the primary goal of empowering immigrants by providing essential resources for a dignified life. We prioritize English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, understanding its vital role in our beneficiaries’ ability to communicate their needs effectively. Our programs, designed to promote self-sufficiency, also prepare individuals to navigate social services independently. Annually, we interact with over 300 immigrant and refugee families, providing necessary guidance and support.

COCD offers a comprehensive range of services, such as in-person and online ESL education, GED preparation, and college readiness programs. We understand the challenges and obstacles that many families face upon arriving in the United States. This is why our collaboratively-developed programs are free and open to all. We recognize the difficulty in understanding the web of complex issues in the United States, which is why we provide a comprehensive case management model featuring wraparound support services to facilitate access to community resources. These services include employment aid, legal assistance for immigration matters, healthcare access, and provision of basic needs. To address the unique challenges faced by senior immigrants and refugees, we’re initiating a Special Senior program. In response to the insufficiencies in standard ESL instruction for workplace communication, we are developing an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) curriculum. This specialized course will emphasize vocational English, role-play in workplace situations, industry-specific idioms, and cultural norms within the workplace.

In the foreground is a a wall map of the United States with many pins covering it; in the background, a hand gesturing to other countries.

WHY CROSS OVER?

Our name ‘Cross Over Community Development’ was conceptualized and established to honor the experiences immigrants and refugees face upon arrival in the United States. It encapsulates the unique trials and emerging opportunities they encounter as they transition from their native countries to their newly adopted home in Dayton, Ohio. Thus, ‘Cross Over’ is more than a name; it stands as a testament to their resilience and courage, representing a new chapter of their lives, complete with inherent challenges and promising prospects that accompany such a significant change.

This transformative process embodies the physical, cultural, and emotional shifts these individuals experience. It underscores our organization’s commitment to facilitate and support this pivotal transition, thereby endowing the organization’s name and mission with a deeper meaning.

Our Mission

Our mission is to function as a resource center for immigrants and refugees. We are committed to advocating, educating, and facilitating connections to help immigrant and refugee families achieve and maintain self-sufficiency and successfully integrate and participate in their new communities. 

We also aim to raise public awareness about immigrants and refugees to increase their visibility and to change public attitudes for the better.

Our Vision

Cross Over Community Development will serve as the gateway for immigrants and refugees to build better lives, confidence, dignity and independence. Our work will help the Greater Dayton area become a safe place for anyone that seeks protection and a better life. 

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Our Values

Collaboration

We work with partners to create meaningful change and strengthen communities.

Resilience

We are problem-solvers, committed to finding solutions and never giving up.

Equity & Inclusion

We stand with immigrants and refugees, advocating for their right to safety and dignity.

Humanity First

We focus on people, not their nationality or status.