Programs
Amachi Ambassadors — youth leading change.
A specialized youth organizing, advocacy, and leadership development program for high school students impacted by parental incarceration. Ambassadors become civically engaged, champion education reform, and amplify the voices of youth like them.
What Ambassadors do
Led by youth, for youth.
- Raise awareness and responsive action — in schools and the broader community — around children and families with incarcerated loved ones
- Dispel debilitating stigmas and prejudices related to familial incarceration
- Push to improve the institutions that directly affect their lives
- Build civic engagement, social-justice, and leadership skills through every-other-Saturday meetings
Program Details
What participants can expect.
Free for every youth
Underwritten through grants from The Heinz Endowments and Three Rivers Community Foundation — no cost to families.
Stipend + meals + transit
Youth receive a stipend for each meeting they attend. Lunch is provided on Ambassador Saturdays and a ConnectCard is available for those who need it.
Every-other Saturday
Meetings run roughly 10 AM – 1 PM. Subject-matter experts and community partners join sessions to build skills around issues that matter to the Ambassadors.
Rolling intake
No deadline — applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Ambassadors Coordinator.
Ready to lead?
High school students (ages 14–18) impacted by parental or caregiver incarceration are encouraged to apply.