Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrystal Crawford.
Hi Chrystal, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My work with children started in Harlem New York City where I taught kindergarten through third grade at Harlem Success Academy. It was at that point that I was making a transition to in my career and didn’t really know it. From there I started my graduate program at the University of Missouri and focused on Special Education with an emphasis on Early Childhood Special Education and the rest is history!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Student and mentee retention are obstacles simply because relationships take time to form and require a lot of work on both sides to be effective. I have had to switch my mindset from “How do I keep everyone?” to “How do I create such a meaningful experience that parents, students and mentees want to stay, refer others, and speak positively about the impact that I am having on their lives?
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the founder of The Ekklesia Training and Equipping Center. Under that umbrella are several initiatives:
1. C.O.R.E Academy Schools, which is where I run and online and in-person Christian microschool. The virtual program serves k-12. The in person location in Belleville, IL serves k-5.
2. He’s Able Christian Homeschool Group serves students in Southern Illinois, specifically Belleville, Fairview Heights and O’Fallon, IL. All ages are welcome. We are currently engaging in a community project with through our garden club where students learn about community service, and get to do a little bit of gardening that beautifies our community. Through the school year we have field trips and such to help with socialization for homeschoolers and their families.
3. PowerUP Mentoring is another new initiative that I started in 2023. It consists of Christian virtual mentoring services for youth ages 14-24. Student have a prescribed curriculum. Every student has a different path. I teach biblical principles that help students with self regulation, decision making, relationship skills, etc.
4. The Apostolic Global Mentorship Network serves apostolic ministry leaders globally while partnering with them to reach their potential.
I am also a published author of books for ministry leaders and children.
I specialize in education and in organizational leadership. I am most proud of my work in education as we have gained ground in homeschooling by creating C.O.R.E Academy, the hybrid program that not only educates, but builds character, integrity and the next generation of faith leaders.
I believe my ability to rise from any circumstance is what sets me apart from others and in that I incorporate such into all that I do when working with multiple generations of people.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people do not know about some of the struggles I had as a child that went into my teenage years and that was low self-esteem and self-confidence. I know first-hand what this caused me and how it affected decisions I made and chose not to make in life. The surprise isn’t that I struggled. The surprise is seeing how far I’ve come and that is all with the help of Jesus Christ. I couldn’t have done any of this without him. Most of my organizations carry a theme of overcoming obstacles. My journey turns confidence from a theory into a testimony, and that testimony gives credibility to the work I do with young people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://apostlechrystalcrawford.us/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrystalcrawford116
