Read the full article from KGOU here.
“When you walk into the former JCPenney at the Crossroads Mall, there’s a lot to take in.
A patch of ceiling lights illuminates a mountain of boxes, stacked chairs and even a couple of Christmas trees. It’s hard to imagine at the moment, but Santa Fe South Schools Superintendent Chris Brewster hopes to see the department store turn into a full-service health care clinic.
Brewster chairs the board of the Crossroads Renewal Project, a new faith-based nonprofit that hopes to transform a relatively empty mall space into a resource hub. Thanks to donations from groups like Hobby Lobby, the Inasmuch Foundation, Butterfield Foundation and Charter School Growth Fund, the nonprofit is $11.5 million closer to its goal.
The nonprofit purchased the remaining part of the mall that isn’t currently owned by Santa Fe South, which serves about 2,600 students in two anchor stores. Now the nonprofit is in the process of attracting other schools and services to expand into the mall.
If the effort comes together as envisioned, it would host up to 6,000 seats for students to attend school in proximity to a host of provisions, like a no-barrier health care facility, library, grocery store and play spaces. Brewster said it’s based on the community schools strategy, which works to advance equity and lower learning barriers by providing services to support students’ and families’ well-being.”