Author Archives: Site Administrator
Crossroads in the Community: February 2026
February has been a vibrant month for Crossroads, filled with opportunities to connect, collaborate, and share our mission with the Tampa Bay legal community. Just after our last newsletter went out, we hosted our first AAL Quarterly Social of the year on January 29th at Magnanimous Brewing. Because all our AALs are Life Savers,… Read More »
Volunteer Spotlight: Scott Borders, Morgan & Morgan, P.A.
What inspired you to become an Attorney Ad Litem volunteer with Crossroads For Florida Kids? It goes back a bit. When I was a Criminal Justice major at USF, I worked for two legends of the department, Max Dertke, Phd. and Richard Dembo, Phd. They had a grant to study the relationship between physical… Read More »
Persistence Paid Off: Securing Returned SSA Benefits for a Young Adult
For young people aging out of foster care, turning 18 often brings more uncertainty than celebration. Overnight, they can lose the structure of placement, the support of a case manager, and sometimes even access to financial benefits they are legally entitled to receive. That’s exactly what happened to one young woman represented by Crossroads…. Read More »
Two Major Honors in One Week: Celebrating Daniela Mendez
Crossroads For Florida Kids is proud to celebrate Board Member and longtime volunteer attorney Daniela Estefany Mendez, whose extraordinary commitment to children was recognized twice this January. Within a single week, Daniela received major honors from both the Florida Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Association, reflecting the depth and impact of her service… Read More »
Strengthening Our Team: Welcoming Alicia M. Norton to Crossroads
We are pleased to introduce Alicia M. Norton, who joined Crossroads in September to serve as Executive Assistant. Alicia brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education and student affairs, along with a genuine passion for supporting our mission. Alicia most recently served as Student Affairs Manager at Stetson University College of Law… Read More »
Volunteer Spotlight: Lucie Fisher, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
1. What inspired you to become an Attorney Ad Litem volunteer with Crossroads For Florida Kids? I was inspired to become an AAL for Crossroads after being introduced to the opportunity by my wonderful coworkers at Bradley, Jacob Hanson and Ryan Hedstrom. Hearing about the impact of their work from colleagues I respect made… Read More »
A Path Home: How Advocacy Reunited a Family by Troy Mainzer, Carlton Fields, P.A.
By Troy Mainzer, Carlton Fields, P.A. In May 2023, Rosemary and I were appointed to represent a young man in Tampa, Florida who had been picked up by police and sent to the Hillsborough County detention center. He had been sleeping outside due to circumstances that led him to leave his home. Despite sleeping… Read More »
Crossroads Rising: Our 2025 State of the Union
By: Lisa Kilbride, Board President Crossroads For Florida Kids closed 2025 stronger than it began, propelled by continued growth in volunteer engagement and a surge in impact for the youth who need us most. Nearly 3,000 pro bono hours were contributed this year, and the number of attorneys reporting service rose from 65 to… Read More »
Campaign for Kids: Year-End Giving
Crossroads For Florida Kids launched our 2025–2026 Campaign for Kids in late October, and it continues through April. While Giving Tuesday on December 2nd was an important milestone, it’s just one part of our larger effort to sustain pro bono legal advocacy for disadvantaged youth in Hillsborough County. As the year draws to a… Read More »
Building Connections, Expanding Our Mission: Crossroads in the Community
Building Connections, Expanding Our Mission: Crossroads in the Community This fall, Crossroads connected with hundreds of legal professionals, law students, and community partners who share our commitment to youth justice. These events strengthen the army of advocates standing beside Hillsborough County’s most vulnerable children. Strengthening Support for Our Mission October 7 – Hillsborough County… Read More »